Care Guide

TOWELS

Wash before first use. New cotton carries a finishing agent that resists water. The first wash removes it, and it is why a new towel can seem less absorbent than it should be.

Wash at 40C to 60C. Use half the detergent you think you need. Excess detergent is the single most common cause of towels going stiff, because the residue coats the loops and stops them opening.

Never use fabric softener on towels. It works by depositing a waterproof film. It makes the towel feel soft and stops it doing its job. For softness, add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse instead.

Tumble dry on medium, or line dry and finish with ten minutes in the dryer to lift the pile.

BED LINEN

Wash at 40C. Wash percale and sateen separately from towels. The loops of a towel abrade a smooth weave and will dull it over time.

Remove from the dryer slightly damp and make the bed immediately. Percale will finish itself smooth. If you iron, iron damp and on the reverse.

Avoid bleach on coloured linen, and avoid drying in direct sun for long periods, which weakens the fibre and fades the dye.

PILLOWS

Wash the casing monthly with your bed linen. Wash the pillow itself twice a year at 40C, two at a time to balance the drum, and dry it fully. A pillow that goes back on the bed damp will hold that smell.

Replace a pillow when it no longer holds its loft. Fold it in half. If it stays folded, it is finished.

STORAGE

Store cotton in a cool, dry, ventilated place. Not in plastic, which traps moisture and yellows the fibre over time.