Laundering your own sheets and towels
- Details
- Published Date
- Written by Tim Monk-Mason, Britannia Textiles
There is much discussion about whether to hire your linen or do it in-house so I won't repeat a lot of very good information. What I will add is that you will not get the same life out your sheets and towels as a professional laundry does – their equipment simply washes and maintains whiteness better, with less damage to the cotton, and a crisper feel and look to the sheets.
Sheets DYI
Often hospitality providers want to minimise, or do without, ironing or pressing as much as possible.
So, what can you do?
First you will need a 50/50 Polycotton, preferably around 250 thread count with a finer thread as this has less fabric memory. We call ours SuperCale but each supplier has their own name. Basically you need good sheets; not budget, not cotton.
The first wash should be at a high temperature (at least 80c) and dried only until no longer wet (leave some dampness). Immediately press or iron really hot (no more than 180c ever), as this will seal the fabrics memory. If you are careful you may never have to iron or press them again. If they get too crinkled later then repeat this starting process.
Then on regular washes under-load the washing machine to about 80-85 per cent of full capacity, remove from wash immediately and under-load the dryer so they never get squashed. Remove from dryer and fold immediately.
Each stage in the PolyCotton wash cycle should not change in temperature by more than 20c, e.g. 80-60-40c etc. So don't do a hot wash and cold rinse as this causes 'thermal shock', i.e. shrinking and creasing. Also remember to tumble dry at no more than 100c.
So that's how to limit ironing or pressing. Next, the hard one.
Keeping sheets white
The most difficult thing for you to do is keep the sheets white. You want Polycotton sheets as pure cotton will need lots and lots of ironing, but polyester is grey and does not absorb whiteners well, so the sheet will slowly look a bit grey. Excessive bleaching (including sun drying) of polycotton will result in the fabric turning yellowish – not good. A laundry uses optical brightening agents finely metered and adjusted - you can but use good quality detergents that will have some in. Detergents designed for white only are good as they can use more optical brighteners.
Towels – DYI
Even more than sheets, the life of a towel is hugely dependant on circumstances. 70—120 washes is about right though they can last longer, but you can also ruin them in 50 washes.
First only use 100% cotton towels. Sounds obvious but there are towels with polyester in. The trouble is that polyester is oleophilic (attracts and absorbs oil) and will quickly go grey if any stray oil gets in the wash. If a stray oily rag got in there the result will be ruin, and you will not be able to wash it out and whiten it.
So you have bought cotton commercial grade towels. What now?
When new, wash at a high temperature, (80-100c), with plenty of detergent, followed by a cold rinse (opposite of my advice about sheets). This shrinks it and locks the fabric loops together. You can cut off any pulled threads.
Tumble drying is preferred; this will help in "fluffing" the pile, but don't over-dry as that will result in a harsh, dry feel, and excessive wear on the hems.
Never, ever, let dishcloths, teatowels...any cleaning items in with wash - fats and chemicals kill towels. Towels need plenty of rinsing to remove all suspended soils, soaps, detergents and alkali.
Do not store wet towels on concrete floors, or on timber (or other porous surfaces) as this will cause staining. Again sounds obvious but...
Like sheets whiten only when you must and only whiten those towels than need it – don't add extra whitener to the whole wash unnecessarily.
Lastly, that viscous New Zealand sunshine.
Solar energy
Only leave sheets and towels in the sun until not quite dry and then finish with a tumble. Our strong sun can hurt the cotton, especially in the hems, bleach towels white, and cause 'flaging' in sheets (looks like a flag that has been left in the wind too long). Just be careful and don't forget them out there.
Parting words
It's not easy doing your own laundry, many give in and return to the easy care and consistent quality of a good laundry. But if you have good equipment, good quality commercial grade linen, time, patience, and maybe staff to help, it can work if your careful.
Good luck.
