Thread Count
It is a commonly held opinion that the higher the thread-count of bed linen the better the quality is. This is for the most part true. However there are exceptions to this rule. To achieve a high thread-count you need to weave a high number of yarns into a square inch of cloth. This can be achieved using very fine yarn or thicker yarn. If thick yarn is used then the effect is very heavy cloth with limited breathability if very fine yarn is used this can be difficult to control due to yarn breakage and also the yarns can break under the pressure of constant washing and ironing.
If you are supplying a hotel with bed linen they will usually use an external commercial laundry which could process up to 50,000 pieces of bed linen everyday in a busy period. In order to do this the bed linen is put into a commercial washer and then once washed is put under a huge amount of pressure to squeeze out the water. It will then go on to be ironed. If the thread-count of this bed linen is high and achieved by using thick yarn there is nowhere for the excess water to pass through the cloth easily and so under immense pressure you get what's known as Hydro-bursting. This is where the water simply tears a hole in the cloth in order to escape. If a thinner yarn is used the water can escape easier but the yarn itself is weaker and can be torn by the fast escaping water.
To avoid Hydro-bursting you would need to use bed linen of no higher than 400 thread count and made with fine yarn or simply reduce the pressure of the steam press in the laundry.
If the bed linen is only intended for domestic use hydro-bursting is not an issue as tumble drying or line drying puts no pressure on the cloth. However the lack of breathability if a thick yarn is used does still make the bed linen warmer to sleep under as the air cannot flow freely. This can cause perspiration and an uncomfortable night's sleep.
Bed Linen - Softness
The level of softness of bed linen is directly linked to the thread count. Generally speaking the higher the thread-count the softer the bed linen. Softness can also be achieved using a 'Sateen' finish which gives the surface of the cloth a silky feel to touch.
The other way bed linen is made soft is by continuous washing. The washing process over time breaks the surface of the yarns used to make the cloth and after a while makes them 'Hairy'. You should notice that an old pillowcase is much softer than a new one. The 'Hairy' yarns feel softer to touch similar to felt. Felt is made intentionally 'Hairy' from the outset to achieve this softness.
The lifespan on bed linen is linked to the number of times it is washed. The more the yarns break down the softer the bed linen becomes but of course the weaker the yarn becomes at the same time. Finally the yarns will break and holes appear.
When someone stays in a hotel and sleeps in for example 200 Thread-count bed linen they might find it incredibly soft. If they went to a retail shop and bought 200 Thread-count bed linen for their own bed at home it probably won't be as soft. This is because the hotels linen would have been washed from between 10 to 300 times, breaking down the yarn and softening the cloth.
With this in mind we purposely supply higher thread-count bed linen than most hotels would use. The reason for this is a 400 Thread-count bed sheet or duvet cover would have the same softness straight of the packet than a 200 Thread-count bed sheet would after approx 150 washes. The 400 Thread-count bed linen then itself continues to get softer as it is washed over and over again.
Bed Linen Lifespan
Used commercially, bed linen can last up to 6 years but the general rule is you should replace your bed linen every 4 years. That said, in a domestic environment bed linen can last up to 10 years as there is no bleach applied to the linen to keep it white. Tumble drying can reduce the life of the linen as the cloth is in regular contact with the side of the washing machine drum, this can cause wear and breakage of the yarn. The secret to extending the life of your bed linen is to have at least 3 sets per bed and rotate them regularly, try and line dry and not tumble dry and avoid heavy bleaching.
Bed Linen Creasing
This is the biggest complaint of anyone laundering bed linen either at home or in a hotel. Pure cotton creases, there is no getting around this. There are finishes you can put on to Cotton to stop it from creasing but these finishes are not permanent and will wash out after 20-30 washes. The only way to reduce creasing in bed linen is to add Polyester. The more Polyester yarn there is incorporated in the cloth the less creasing there will be.
Polyester however comes with its drawbacks. It is an, oil based man-made fibre which is not naturally soft. It also retains heat a lot better than cotton and so can lead to an uncomfortable night's sleep due to being too hot. It also can be difficult to wash carefully. It has a tendency once dyed white when washed with cotton to turn a Grey colour over time. Polyester is a stronger yarn and so the larger percentage of polyester there is in the bed linen the longer the life of the cloth will be. The yarn is much hardier and less likely to become 'Hairy' and breakdown like cotton. Polyester/Cotton mixed bed linen is often used at the lower end of the market where comfort is not the main concern and ease of laundering is more important.
