Your bed linen is designed to last for years to come, especially when cared for properly. We asked the experts at Kair to share their top tips for making your laundry routine more sustainable, while ensuring your sheets and sleepwear stay looking their best.
Tip #1: Choose a quality detergent, free from stringent chemicals
To maintain the quality of linen bedding and maximise its lifespan, avoid harsh, fabric-degrading detergents: these can damage the natural fibres (for coloured linen in particular, avoid bleaching agents and optical brighteners: these can cause irreparable fading). Instead, choose a gentle formulation such as Kair, which cleans, softens and refreshes linen with effective plant-based ingredients and long-lasting, luxurious fragrance. For extremely dingy or yellowed whites, simply pre-soak your sheets overnight in a solution of distilled white vinegar - a natural, inexpensive way to whiten, brighten, reduce odour, and soften.
Tip #2: Use the right formulation for your fabric
For pure linen sheets (such as Piglet in Bed’s White Bedtime Bundle), wash on a normal cycle with one of Kair’s Signature Clothing Washes. Avoid temperatures over 40ºC, as well as overly long cycles, as these can cause fabric degradation. For merino sheep’s wool (such as Piglet in Bed’s Merino Sheep’s Wool Inserts), only wash when absolutely necessary, using a specialist gentle detergent, such as Kair’s Wool, Silk & Delicates Wash, on a cool wash (with temperatures no higher than 30ºC).
#3: Air dry rather than tumble dry
We recommend air/line drying where possible, as most damage occurs in the tumble dryer (due to the combination of heat and spin). Plus, air drying is the most earth-friendly option: a household running a tumble dryer 200 times a year could save nearly half of CO2e by switching to a clothes rack or washing line. Weather permitting, dry your sheets outside for that hard-to-beat natural freshness (the sun’s UV light also naturally sterilises natural fibres like cotton and wool, killing any lingering bacteria).
#4: Use finishing spray or steam
To enhance the freshness of your bed linen without over-washing, spritz with one of Kair’s Signature Finishing Sprays. They’ve been formulated to neutralise lingering odours and release creases and wrinkles, whilst adding a scent-boosting finishing touch and locking in fragrance. To avoid large creases in linen without ironing, simply remove your sheets promptly from the machine, give them a few good flicks and then air dry, or hang to dry in a bathroom after taking a hot bath or shower (the steam will relax the creases).
#5: Avoid over-washing your bed linen
We recommend changing your bedding once a week for optimum freshness and hygiene, max twice a week. It’s important not to over-wash though, as it can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on the fabric, making your sheets feel rough and tough on the skin. Before making your bed, air your linen and ventilate your bedroom by throwing back the covers and opening the windows, to avoid body moisture lingering in the fibres. Aim to air merino sheep’s wool in the sunshine at least four times a year, preferably at the start of each season, to sterilise the fabrics and encourage the fibres to naturally expand.
