 |
How to Choose the Best Linens for Your Vacation Home
Egyptian cotton, Pima cotton, cotton percale...what-s the difference? Making sense of thread count, fiber-length and other mysteries of sheet-selection
 A HomeAway focus group revealed that linens are one of travelers' most memorable amenities. That's right, bed sheets and towels can send your renters into a rebooking frenzy. So, what's the secret in the thread counts and brand names that will put you on the linen “A” list? Strategy
Hotels often play up the quality of their bed linens, and you can, too. Hotel sheets are usually crisp, luxuriously soft, and…expensive. While we're not so sure that having the very best linens will make or break your rentals, we do think advertising top-quality linens will make a difference to some guests.
Do you speak “Linens?”
Thread count is the number of threads used to weave one square inch of the fabric. It's often used as a gauge to measure the fabric quality. Higher thread counts mean a tighter weave, a softer and stronger fabric, and a finer quality. Thread counts can range from 180 to over 2,000. The softer and better quality the fabric, the higher the thread count is. Typically, 300-count or above is what you would want to buy for your vacation rental.
“Single ply” threads are what all true thread counts use. It's becoming more common to twist up to four short lengths of thin, cheap thread in the weaving process. This makes the ‘thread count' higher, but the fabric isn't nearly as high quality. Longer fibers give bed sheets a silkier and smoother feel. You always should make sure that the thread count is “single ply” for the best quality. (Egyptian, Supima, and Pima cottons have the longest fibers.)
Recommended Options for Vacation Rentals
Egyptian cotton is known to be the highest-quality cotton. Strong, lustrous, and long-threaded, it is 100-percent cotton and has the least amount of pilling. Although it  lasts for many years and washes well, you pay for it. Egyptian cotton tends to be very expensive, running about $200 and up per set, and it wrinkles very easily – which may become a chore for a busy housekeeper. Be sure to check that the sheets you buy are “100 percent” Egyptian cotton, as anything above 10% Egyptian cotton content can also be called Egyptian. ($60-$1800)
Pima cotton is the American, budget version of Egyptian cotton. It is significantly less expensive than Egyptian cotton and won't last as long. But, no one will snub their noses at Pima cotton. It is still a very nice, soft, and more affordable version of Egyptian or Supima cotton and would work fine in your vacation rentals. ($40-$270)
Percale is a cotton or a cotton/polyester blend. Sheets made from it are resistant to wrinkling and dry very quickly, but they're also thinner, tend to pill, don't hold up to bleaching, and usually don't last very long. Regardless, some vacation rental owners actually prefer blended percale sheets because they dry very quickly, they're relatively inexpensive, and replacing them when stained or damaged is generally pretty affordable. ($20-$400)
Flannel is commonly made from wool and cotton or wool and synthetic fiber. Its fineness generally varies and is more popular in colder climates. Flannel sheets are typically breathable, warm, durable, and relatively inexpensive. A disadvantage is that flannel tends to pill and is generally lower quality than the alternatives. ($30-$400)
Sateen is a cotton fabric with a shine that resembles silk. It is soft to the touch, has a high thread count, and drapes well. It uses the satin stitch, which concentrates the threads mostly on one side of the fabric, making it look very smooth. The downside is that it does tend to pill and snag, and sheets made from it are not as crisp. However, because it is made from cotton it is much cheaper than silk satin, much more durable, and machine-washable. ($20-$750)
Bamboo sheets are made from organic and eco-friendly bamboo fibers. They are antimicrobial and hypoallergenic. Bamboo also has a natural “wicking” ability to absorb water much better than other fabrics. What's more, bamboo sheets are extraordinarily soft and can be machine-washed and dried. The major downside – most bamboo sheets are too warm for summer use. ($40-$380)
Not Recommended for Vacation Rentals
Satin is relatively easy to care for, and its smooth, soft texture is not slippery, unlike many synthetic fibers. That being said, satin sheets should never stray far from the heart-shaped beds of Vegas. ($25-$1,300)
Silk sheets are durable, breathable, hypoallergenic, cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. However, silk is probably the most difficult to care for, as it is extremely sensitive to the sun. It should generally be dry-cleaned or hand-washed and never machine-dried, which makes it impractical for all but the most luxurious of luxury properties. ($50-$1,000)
Plan of Attack
Light-colored sheets are generally the way to go because you can bleach them if necessary. Replacing nice sheets when ruined can get pricey fast, so every cost-saving method you use will go a long way.
Buying quality linens is the first step, but to get the most of your investment, you need to make sure potential renters know about them, too. Update your listings, change your websites and shout your thread counts from the rooftops!
.gif)
What kind of linens have worked or not worked at your vacation rental?
“I use 100% Egyptian cotton sheets. They come out of the dryer wrinkled so I iron on the TOP foot and a half of the top sheet, the rest I don't iron. I do, of course, iron the pillow cases. The top band that I iron gets turned down over the coverlet. It looks neat, no one sees the rest of the sheet. The bottom sheet starts out wrinkled but by time you stretch it over the mattress and leave it for a few hours, the wrinkgles all but disappear.” -Kris, Kelowna, Canada (HomeAway #288513, VRBO #239094)
“I think that mentioning good linens is a great way to create difference. I buy 600-thread counts in discount store for $39.99.” -Martha, Brigantine (VRBO)
“100% Bamboo. They feel like a blend of cashmere and silk. They wick-away moisture so it seems as if there is a layer of air between your skin and the sheets. They are quite wrinkle resistant. Best of all, they are bacteria and mildew-resistant so I don't have to use harsh chemicals to clean them. My guests rave about the sheets and towels.” -Texas (VRBO)
"I started my cabin rentals with 400-thread count Egyptian cotton, and I did get one man who noted how pleased he was! But then I had to lower sights a little when I bought replacements – my housekeeper said getting the wrinkles out was a nightmare! Now I buy a 350-thread count from JC Penney that is wrinkle free and can still advertise 'luxury bedding.' I only buy white so they can be bleached." -Connie, Smoky Mountains, TN (HomeAway #145938, VRBO #147247)
|
|
© HomeAway.com, Inc 2007, U.090507.AF
|
Related Tips
|
|