Green/Eco Friendly Bed Linens

Have you considered what you are laying your head down to rest on? Just think of what chemicals and pesticides go into the bed linens, pillow cases, sheets and comforters you are resting your head and body upon. There are greener and more environmentally friendly alternatives, some of which are even very affordable. Find out what you should know before you “lay me down to sleep.”

Many of us are greening our lives and our homes. We’re using green household cleaners in our kitchens, reducing our use of carcinogen-laden plastics and splurging on organic foods and bath and body products. While all of these more eco-conscious buying choices are healthier for the environment, they are also healthier for our families.

The kitchen seems to be the place where many of us are concentrating our green efforts and that makes a lot of sense, as the kitchen is the place where we nourish our families. Another place to consider going green is in the bedroom. We’re not just talking about CFL light bulbs or soy based candles here. We’re talking about our bed linens. While many of us may wish we had more time for sleep many adults are spending at least 6 to 8 hours on their sheets and children may be spending up to eleven. Our bed linens are not only touching our skin for hours but are also up close and personal to our eyes, nose and mouths. What are you and your family touching and breathing in each night? Are there better, greener bedding options that are eco-friendly and healthier? A good nights rest is important to our overall health but our choices of comforter, sheets, pillows and pillowcases can be healthy ones too.

Why choose organic bed linens?

Typical bed linens often have harmful dyes and chemicals and harmful materials. Many people who have allergies, chemical sensitivities or skin problems find more comfort with eco-friendly bed linens but these options are healthier for all of us.

What should I look for in green bed linens?

Green bedding options will be made from natural and organic materials like organic cotton, wool, hemp or even bamboo. They will be chemical free and use only natural dyes. These products are also sustainable materials that are better for the earth too.

I can imagine organic cotton sheets but what are organic hemp sheets like?

Hemp sheets are similar in look and feel to French linen or Irish linen sheets. They have more texture and strength but get soft and cozy over time. Hemp sheets are often the top choice of green hotels, resorts and spas.

What is available in green bed linens?

No more bed bugs! Today selections of organic, natural bed linens are vast. You can choose organic comforters, sheets in all sizes, mattress top pad covers and pillowcases. Best of all, there are even organic baby bedding options for your nursery to be sure that baby’s sensitive skin is not resting on something with harmful chemicals.

Once you’re awake and ready to start your day, don’t forget about the options of organic towels, robes and even bathroom rugs. If you’re using hypoallergenic bath and beauty products, doesn’t it make sense to step out onto and wrap yourself up in organic towels made from organic cotton or natural materials without harmful dyes or chemicals?

Do I have color choices in buying environmentally friendly bed linens?

Yes! Your bed linens don’t have to look like a potato sack to be green. There are many rich, bold or subtle colors to suit your sense of style in eco-friendly bed linens.

How do I care for my green bed linens?

Of course to keep your green bed linens chemical free, use only eco-friendly laundry detergents without bleaches or fabric softeners.

Brides and grooms to be should consider green linens for their wedding gift registry and anyone who kisses babies and children good night or who suffers from allergies or skin conditions should consider green bed linens. Say “good night” to harsh chemicals and “good morning” to healthier, eco-friendly bed linens.

How Organic Crib Bedding Sheets Eliminate Chemicals

Did you know that babies sleep for about seventy percent of their first year? If you’re a parent, you’re probably aware of this fact, and you’re also probably aware – even obsessively aware – of everything in your baby’s room. Or, are you? Have you ever considered how cotton, which makes up the material for your baby’s sheets, clothing, and mattress, is grown and made into cloth?

Cotton sheets are common for both children and adults, and cotton makes up most baby bedding products, but how safe is ordinary cotton? Studies have been done to detect how long chemicals used to grow and treat cotton last in the fabric, and ordinary cotton, as opposed to chemical-free organic cotton fabric, involves several chemicals from the time it’s grown in a field to when it’s made into a fabric.

As going green in all aspects of living, from organic food to hybrid vehicles, has become more popular, what about going green at home with your baby? One option is organic baby bedding and, out of all the options for going green with your baby’s room, using organic crib bedding, made from 100-percent organic cotton, is an organic option for making your baby’s room safer. Cotton sheets that aren’t organic are coated with formaldehyde to be wrinkle free and are processed with chemicals that are, essentially, part of the sheets. When your baby is sleeping for most of its first year, it’s coming directly in contact with these chemicals. As the chemicals and concentrations of these chemicals aren’t regulated, non-organic cotton in sheets, as well as clothing, can have high amounts of substances that may aggravate allergies and respiratory functions and lead to headaches and rashes in adults and children.

As organic cotton isn’t grown with chemical fertilizers, sprayed with additional chemicals, or coated with formaldehyde, the organic crib bedding made with cotton eliminates all of these chemicals from a baby’s environment. However, organic cotton isn’t the only organic crib bedding available and the expanding market for organic products includes such options as bamboo or wool baby bedding, both of which eliminate chemicals from a baby’s environment, as well.

Bamboo fibers, a material now found in many organic cloths, is another organic material for crib bedding. While pure bamboo is rarer for fabrics, organic bamboo is often a mixture of bamboo fibers and organic cotton – neither of which are treated with chemicals in the growth or fabric making processes. Bamboo, regardless of whether it’s being used as crib bedding or clothing, can be mixed with rayon and, in this case, the fabric is no longer organic as rayon is not a natural fiber. Wool organic baby crib bedding, in addition, isn’t coated with chemicals and, in fact, has natural fire retardant, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties.

When you’re looking for organic products for your baby’s room to go green, where do you look? Some baby retailers specialize in organic sheets and clothing but, aside from going directly to an organic products retailer, you can see if the baby bedding has Organic Trade Association (OTA) approval. OTA approval is listed on the product to indicate that, regardless of whether the organic baby bedding is made of cotton, bamboo, or wool, that no chemicals are involved anywhere in the process.

Shopping For New Linens

Shopping for new linens can be a real treat. And since you’re shopping for something you’ll see and use every day, try to buy the highest quality sheets and towels you can afford. It will be a thrifty move in the long run, since good quality linens can last between 10 and 15 years, when properly cared for. With that in mind, here are some mix and match suggestions to help your linen budget stretch as far as your imagination.

* Think about your color scheme and the effect you’re after. Are you hoping to create a soft and romantic atmosphere or more of an avante garde statement? Wild and crazy? Warm and cozy? Color, even more than style, creates the mood of the room.
* In your bedroom, your first purchase should be a comforter. It’s the focal point of your bedroom and the starting point of your color scheme. A reversible comforter gives you even more style and color options!
* In the bathroom, the focal point is usually your towels. Mix and match textures, colors and patterns.
* Mix different shades of the same color, or match different patterns that share a similar color (red and white stripes with red and white polka dots, for instance). Mixing and matching not only saves you money, but can also downplay existing fixture or tile colors that you’re not so fond of.
* Consider using sheets to mix and match window treatments. Sheeting is an economical, quality fabric, and you’ll have no trouble matching and blending colors! Call 1-800-533-8229 for a free brochure from WestPoint Stevens, makers of Martex, called The Bare Necessities for Your Bed and Bath.
* In your bathroom, you can make two or three easy shower curtains out of full, flat sheets to dramatically change the color scheme anytime you want.
* Adding more standard-size or decorative pillows instantly makes your bed and bedroom look more luxurious and inviting. Cover those pillows with decorative shams and pillowcases that complement the mood of the room, or introduce a new color or pattern.
* If your bed doesn’t have a headboard, consider buying European squares — oversized pillows measuring 26 x 26 inches. Covered with dramatic shams, they make a real statement, as well as a comfortable headboard substitute.
* Don’t forget the “classic” solids for your linen closet. Solid white or ivory sheets complement every pattern and color scheme. A mix of solid and printed towels gives you the freedom to mix, match and create whatever mood strikes your fancy. Finally, since wash cloths are often the first part of a towel set to fade, buy two washcloths for every bath towel.

How Your Bed Linens Affect the Quality of Your Sleep

More Great Linen Care Tips

Bed linens come in all sorts of fabrics and materials that require different methods of cleaning. By following simple instructions, you can keep bedding hygienic, and make it last longer.

Silks, satins, wool and Egyptian cottons all need special care. Save care instructions – if they are not attached to the linen, remove them from the packaging and tape inside a laundry cupboard.
Sheet and Pillowcases

* Wash in cold or lukewarm water on a delicate cycle
* Hanging sheets on a clothesline is preferable, as it airs them well. Take the time to hang sheets evenly, aiding easy removal and folding.
* If using a dryer, remove sheets as soon as they are dry, and fold immediately to prevent wrinkles. If sheets are left in a dryer until they cool, simply dry them for a few more minutes after including a damp cloth.

For an organised linen cupboard, store matching sets of bed linen together. Fold the sheet, fitted sheet and pillowcases, and place them inside one of the pillowcases. A dryer sheet can be added to provide a gentle fragrance. Ensure that the linen cupboard is large enough to allow air to circulate and keep sheets fresh. Consider using cedar balls or shavings, or lavender sachets as they repel moths and bugs and are more pleasant smelling than chemical-based mothballs.
Comforters, Bedspreads and Pillows

* Care of filled bedding items such as comforters and pillows will depend on the type of filling. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. Bedspreads in particular are prone to shrinking when machine-washed, so dry clean only.
* Fluff pillows and comforters daily to redistribute the filling. Air them weekly on a clothesline in the sun when possible to help eliminate bacteria. Consider using pillow covers underneath attractive pillowcases to further protect pillows.
* Down items require special care, and should only be taken to a dry cleaner – once a year is sufficient. Look for one that specialises in bed linen.
* Wash duvet covers as per sheets, again taking care to air them well and fold immediately upon removing from the clothesline or dryer.
* Store filled items in a breathable bag. Plastic bags trap moisture that can lead to mildew. Alternately comforters and pillows can be wrapped in an old sheet when stored.

Care of Woollen Blankets

Wool is not as popular for bedding as it once was, but the need for care should not prevent purchases of warm woollen blankets, as good care only requires following a few simple rules:

Care Instructions for Bed Linens

1. Read Labels Before You Buy

Read the care labels before you buy your bed linens. Find out what it is going to take to keep sheets, comforters, quilts, and pillows in top condition. You may change you mind about the beautiful comforter when you realize it is dry clean only.

2. Buy an Extra Set

The most wear will come to your bottom sheets and pillowcases. To try to influence more even wear, get an extra set of these now.

3. Change Linens Weekly

In most homes, changing bed sheets weekly is your best bet to keep your bed fresh and comfortable, and to protect your linens from excessive wear. Pillowcases may need to be changed twice a week. Your comforter, duvet, and quilts will only need to be laundered monthly.

4. Follow the Care Label

Most sheets and pillowcases should be washed in cool water with less detergent than a regular load would take, unless the linens are heavily soiled. For comforters, duvets, and quilts be sure to follow the care instructions. Most home washing machines are not big enough to wash full size or larger comforters. When in doubt, take your prized comforter, duvet, or quilt to the dry cleaners.

5. Don’t Overdry

Take out bed linens as soon as they are dry and fold right away. If sheets are wrinkled, try throwing a wet sock or washcloth back into the dryer for 10 more minutes.

6. Rotate Linens

Rotate your bed linens to promote even wear. The set that comes off your bed should go back in the linen closet and a new set should go on. This will insure that your linens are evenly worn.

Tips:

1. Use a gentle wash cycle and avoid using bleach to protect linens.
2. Use a mattress pad between mattresses and sheets to extend the life of both.
3. Pillow protectors can be bought and used to prevent frequent laundering of pillows.

What You Need:

* Your Choice of Bed Linens
* Extra Sets of Bed Linens
* Mattress Pad (optional)
* Pillow Protectors (optional)

Three Tips When Buying Linen For Your Childrens Bedroom

Everyone wants their kids room to look great, but as with everything in life there is more to consider than just the look.

I have two boys and they have taught me more about kids than any book ever could.

1. Practical – Firstly it is worth remembering that most colored fabrics can only be washed at thirty degrees and usually you cannot use stain remover on them.

So, if your child never has food or drink in their room maybe you think that the bedding won’t get that dirty? I had one awful week where between my sons they managed to have a nosebleed, vomit and wet the bed. These are all symptoms of high fevers, so totally unavoidable.

2. Attractive – During the day you may rarely have time to consider the design of your kids bedding, but when you check in on them at night, you want to see them sleeping soundly in a beautiful calm which they deserve after an active day. At these times you may not want to see spider man or a dalek looking back at you!

3. Affordable – When they get a nosebleed and it leaves a stain, you don’t want to be angry that your beautiful bed linen is stained. Or when they leave a pen to leak on it you want to discipline them for not putting the pens away, not for ruining the bed linen. If they don’t mind that there is a stain on their duvet cover they probably won’t understand why it is bothering you so much.

If your child is still at the age when they wet the bed it is worth buying bet mats. Pampers have a very good design, it is very absorbent and unlike plastic sheets, it doesn’t crinkle and the kids are not even aware of its presence.

Finally, how much do you need? You can certainly get by with two sets, this allows for one to be in the wash or drying. If you are choosing two different designs then it is a good idea to keep them similar so you can mix and match pillow and duvet covers if you need to.

Top Theme Suggestions for Kids Bedding

Here’s another step in the development of your much-loved child: the purchasing of the Big Kid Bed. You’ve watched their first steps, carefully monitored cognitive development and ten… The right bedding  will make your child feel safe and content, and render his or her bed a comfortable place to rest.

The truth is, sometimes little girls are into things that little boys are into — taste is an individual thing. But we’ve gathered a few bedding picks that we think your child will love. Though it may be hard to believe, where your child spends his dreaming hours is important for his physical and mental development.

Purchasing bedding   can get expensive, so it might be a fun idea to try crafting your own accessories — which, in addition to being less expensive and allowing you to showcase your creative abilities, lends a more personal touch to the room and shows your child warmth and love, which will only add to his or her comfort. Cushions , blankets , and coverlets  are a few articles that you can learn how to create by crocheting, sewing or knitting, which are great and fulfilling skills to acquire. Check out our arts and crafts buying guide for more do-it-yourself information on putting your own spin on your child’s bedding decisions.

Theme Suggestions

Clueless about what kind of bedding to pick up your 3-year-old — and growing — child? Your child is old enough to have opinions on what he or she wants, so allow him to express his personality through bedding that he’s picked out himself. He has an assortment to choose from. Comprising a key component of the decoration of your child’s room, bedding theme and accessories that your child will enjoy will make him or her excited to go to bed each night!

Keep in mind that each girl and boy will have his or her own preferences and personality.

Safety tips:

* Keep in mind that your child may be allergic to a certain fabric, or that items may have sharp edges or come with small pieces which a younger child might try to eat.
* To reduce dust mites, you might want to try covering pillows, mattresses and box springs in allergen-proofed, zippered covers.

Below are a few bedding suggestions that your son or daughter will love.

* Harry Potter   — Send your child to bed to dream of Harry, Ron, Hermione and maybe a couple of dragons in J.K. Rowling’s magical world.
* Hannah Montana   — Beloved by modern  kids, Hannah Montana bedding will get your child excited about sleep.
* Dora the Explorer   — Great for kids ages 3 through 5.
* Twilight   — For the older of your kids…. (As long as you don’t mind seeing the preternaturally pale face of Edward Cullen every time you go into your child’s bedroom).
* Hello Kitty   — For the girly girls! Hello Kitty sheets, comforter, and pillow sets offer an engaging and colorful theme for your child’s bedroom.
* Eric Carle   — The author’s timeless illustrations and visual art would make for a colorful bedding scheme for a boy or girl.
* Disney  — from Ariel the mermaid   to Cinderella , Disney offers no shortage of princesses  — or maybe The Lion King , The Princess and the Frog  or Lilo and Stitch   is your child’s Disney movie of choice.
* High School Musical  — Get your head in the game and this theme in your child’s bedding.
* Batman   — For the young one who can’t get enough of the popular comic series, and loves Batman, the Joker, and Catwoman.
* Barbie   — A perennial classic for young girls.
* Transformers   –  Robots  in disguise! A favorite of little boys.
* NFL bedding  — Are you (or your child) ready for some football? Our condolences if your progeny is a Saints fan. Bedding is also available for baseball , hockey , and basketball  teams.

Top Sellers

* Bakugan Battle Brawlers Twin Sheet Set  : Twin sheets featuring characters from the popular anime Japanese television series.
* InStyle Home Collection Canopy  :  Ideal for princess- or fairy-themed bedding, this frothy accessory adds a feminine touch to your daughter’s bedding.
* Spiderman 3 Movie Twin Set Sheets  : Your little boy will relish bedtime with these awesome twin sheets featuring graphics from the blockbuster movie starring Toby Maguire.
* Disney Cars Slumber Lounger  : A combination cot and sleeping bag featuring images from Disney’s 2006 animated movie Cars.
* Star Wars Pillowcase  : A graphic pillowcase depicting inter-galactic battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker.

Kids Bedding Gifts

Giving kids bedding and bedding accessories as gifts.   I want to tell you that this certainly is one of my favorite subjects.  I enjoy watching how much excitement is generated by a room when that room is well decorated. Remember the first time your child saw his/her room after it was redecorated? Could you ever forget the excitement and joy your child displayed?  It is a natural thing for kids display their emotions. They do it without thinking about it. Who hasn’t noticed how kids react to things that make them happy?  Children do not pretend at a time like this.  Their reactions are spontaneous.

Just to see kids jumping on their beds and snuggling in the blankets with that big smile on their faces and to watch them as they dance with joy.  These are some of the things that leave us memories that most of us will never forget.  These memories are priceless both for the children and the giver of the gift. That is why most of us do things that excite our children.  It is the joy that children express by having their own room with their things in it.  Things they have picked out for themselves.  Perhaps they have selected the pictures on the wall.  Maybe they helped to choose the color of the paint on the walls.  And if they are really lucky they helped to picked out the bedding on their beds.  They choose what they like best and that is reflected in the blankets and sheets on the beds.  That is why we should know what they like and dislike.  It all reflects in their personalities.

When we think about what would be a great gift for our children or grandchildren.  Sometimes the answer can be as simple as something for their rooms.  This could be the best gift that you could give (not counting your time of course).  As parents and grandparents this should be something that we keep in the back of our minds.  So when the time comes to give a gift to our children or grandchildren we will remember that giving something for their rooms will always be welcomed.  How about giving them a growth chart?  This is where they can check to see how much they are growing.

Getting big is a big deal for children.  This is just one way to give them something that will delight them.  Or, how about considering giving them a clock, or a picture for the wall?  Another idea may be a rug for the floor by their bed.  There are so many different things that we can select from.  Of course it is important to know the personality of the child so you can give them what they really want.  If you go online you will be able to find a great variety of bedding accessories.  And that is why kids bedding and bedding accessories is one of my favorite interior design subjects.  It brings such joy in the lives of children and that helps make life worth the living.

Tips on Choosing Bedding

Sleeping in bed is the most rejuvenating part of a person’s life. So a comfortable bed and bedding that complements the overall bedroom Decor is a must. Since bed sheets are the most visible part of a bed, high quality bed sheets can make quite a difference to the visual appeal and comfort level of the room. Here are a few tips on choosing the right kind of bedsheets:

* While most of the mattresses come in standard sizes such as ‘King-sized’, ‘Queen-sized’ and ‘Full-sized’, the customized mattresses with pillow tops and other accessories attached to them can make them larger and wider and will need larger bedsheets than the standard ones available in the market. Thus, it is better to measure the bed and the mattress size that you use beforehand, so that the bedsheets you buy are of appropriate sizes.
* Thread count per inch or TPI is an important factor to be considered while buying a bed sheet. Bedsheets with higher TPI (more than 250) are softer, more comfortable and last longer. The bedsheets having lower than 200 TPI are not recommended for daily use.
* Cotton bedsheets are the most popular ones though one can use flannel and cotton mixed fabrics as bedsheets depending on our taste.
* On the high end of fashion and comfort level, satins and silks with their soft feel on skin win almost every romantic heart.
* Colors and designs of the bedsheets should match the overall theme and color scheme of the room, though it can have a deeper hue than the color of the walls.
* Pale colors suit summer season while fall bedroom Decor can accommodate more bright and bold colors.

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