New York, NY (PRWEB) May 4, 2007 -- For most people, shopping for bath linens typically involves trying to find the right colors to match the bathroom tile work. But learning a few tips and knowing the basics about terry cloth, gram weight, fiber-type and yes, even color - can help turn the casual consumer into a near expert on bath linens.

And to keep towels extra fluffy, simply shake them when they come out of the dryer

Gram weight refers to how many grams per square meter a towel weighs. Towels made from densely woven loops will feel thirstier and have a higher gram weight. Longer loops make for fluffy towels. Generally, a towel of 600 gram weight or more is considered plush - anything upwards of 700 and 800 gram weight is luxury hotel quality. Consumers should keep in mind, however, that a 600 gram weight towel made from exceptional cotton or microfiber may feel better than a heavier towel made with a cheaper cotton.

The type of material used in the towel fabric is also very important. Turkish and Egyptian cottons are the industry gold standard, as the long-stapled fibers result in softer, stronger and more lustrous material. Occasionally "Turkish towel" is used synonymously with "terry cloth" and may not necessarily be made out of Turkish cotton, (terry cloth originated from Turkey). In recent years, microfiber has become a popular material for towels. Microfiber is twice as fine as silk and both softer and more absorbent than regular cotton. Because of the lightweight and ultra absorbent nature of microfiber, gram weight is a less reliable indicator of quality.

Towels come in all sizes and colors, but it may surprise shoppers to learn that the lighter the color, the softer the towel will probably be. Cotton that has been dyed a deep, rich color must go through an involved process that can leave the cotton yarns slightly less soft than their less-extensively dyed counterparts. Extra washings should help soften them up. Microfiber towels like those made from modal take dye readily and well, so even the darkest or brightest colors remain very soft. Care should be taken to wash these towels in warm, not hot, water.

Heather Young, Vice President and buyer for Linenplace.com, an online luxury online bedding store retailer, has a couple washing tips to offer customers: "Never use dryer sheets or fabric softener when washing towels - most of them are made with wax or silicones, which are water-repelling by nature. It might feel like you're trying to dry yourself off with a plastic bag.

"Always wash your new towels before using them - this will remove extra dye, lint and other coatings left over from the manufacturing process. My secret to fresh-smelling towels is a half or full cup of baking soda added to the wash cycle.

"And to keep towels extra fluffy, simply shake them when they come out of the dryer," Ms. Young adds.

NEW York, NY (PRWEB) April 13, 2007 -- Summer is around the corner, and soon people will start peeling off layers of their beds to make sleeping more comfortable in the warmer temperatures. Duvets, or down-filled comforters, are popular bed coverings, but can offer too much insulation in milder weather. What consumers may not know is that duvets come in different weights and with different 'fill-powers' - and knowing which is best for a particular climate or season can help shoppers find the best fit.

A cover will protect your down duvet, which can be difficult to wash and takes several hours to fully dry. Duvet covers are also a great way to update your bedding ensemble without having to buy a new blanket.

So how does all this translate into down bedding? Down has exceptional lofting capabilities, and "fill power" measures this as how many cubic inches of space are filled (or rather, displaced) by one ounce of down. A higher fill power means a higher quality of down, as less of it is needed to trap the same amount of warmth. If you had two duvets, one filled with 50 ounces of 575+ fill power (1 oz fills over 575 cubic inches of space) down and the other with 30 ounces of 700+ fill power down, they would both keep the sleeper equally warm but the 700+ duvet would feel less heavy.

Different types of down tend to have different fill powers. Large-cluster down, coming from Hungarian and Polish white geese, can have fill powers between 650 and 700+ and are considered premium grade. Goose down from China, Canada and Europe tends to come from younger birds and carries a fill power of about 575+. Anything below 575 fill power is not considered desirable.

When choosing a duvet, especially one for the summer, it is important to look at both the fill power and the number of ounces the duvet is filled with. Summer weight duvets will generally be filled with no more than 30 oz (for a queen) of 575+ fill power down, 27 oz of 650+ fill power down, and about 23 oz for 700+ fill power down. An all-season 650+ fill power down duvet will be filled with about 38 oz in a queen size.

Another factor to consider when looking for down bedding is duvet construction. A duvet that is baffled or "baffle box" has had vertical walls of fabric sewn into the outer covering, joining the top and bottom together but allowing the down more room to loft. This is preferable to regularly sewn-through comforters, which will be a little flatter and possibly less warm. They may, however, make good summer covers.

Lastly, shoppers should take note of what material the "ticking" is made from. The ticking simply refers to the fabric encasing the down - usually cotton. A higher thread count casing does a better job preventing down feathers from escaping, and will also help to keep dirt from getting inside. Heather Young, vice president of online linensboutique Linenplace.com, says she recommends that customers always use a duvet cover. "A cover will protect your down duvet, which can be difficult to wash and takes several hours to fully dry. Duvet covers are also a great way to update your bedding ensemble without having to buy a new blanket."

While the terms are used interchangeable, a comforter differs from a duvet in that it is not usually intended for use with a duvet cover. Comforters are often filled with cotton, wool or synthetic fibers and covered in a patterned or colored fabric that is meant to be both decorative and functional. While most people who are allergic to feathers are not allergic to pure down, synthetic down is available as a comparable filling that is easier to care for.

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 6, 2007 -- In the last year, the popularity of bamboo sheets and other bamboo products has shot up almost as quickly as the plant itself. This versatile natural fiber has many qualities prized especially by the linens industry - including antimicrobial properties and 'breathability.' As customers spring for more eco-friendly products, bamboo has found its way not only into sheets, but towels, clothing and flooring as well.

The Zen Comforts sheets are actually the best of both worlds - 60% bamboo and 40% cotton. The bamboo, of course, makes them very soft and breathable, and the cotton adds durability, greater elastic recovery and greater ease of care. They're a whopping 300 thread count, too. That definitely puts them in the luxury linens category.

Unlike cotton, bamboo requires no pesticides or fertilizers and needs very little water to grow and sustain. Another unique and highly beneficial feature of bamboo is something called "bamboo kun." This naturally antimicrobial, antifungal bio-substance protects bamboo from pests and pathogens in nature, and is found in the spun fibers as well. Its antibacterial qualities have been put to the test by a number of groups, including the Chinese Industrial Testing Center and the Japan Textile Inspection Association. The results showed that after a 24-hour bacterial incubation period, bamboo fabric displayed a 99.8% kill rate. In the JTIA test, bamboo fabric was first washed 50 times, and then subjected to 24 hours with live bacteria. Bamboo was still over 70% effective at eradicating the bacteria.

Another advantage of fabrics made from bamboo fiber is breathability. Even more absorbent than cotton, bamboo wicks moisture away from skin so that it can quickly evaporate. This keeps the wearer or sleeper dry and comfortable. Bamboo material is also softer to the touch than cotton, and drapes similarly to silk. Its feel is comparable to modal and rayon - other natural wood-based materials.    

Bamboo bedding has been popping up in big-name stores all around the country, including Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens 'n Things. As bamboo grows in popularity, a wider range of items made from it has sprung up as well. Wamsutta has recently introduced a line of bamboo products such as sheets, blankets and pillows called Zen Comforts. Heather Young, Vice President of Linenplace.com, Inc. - an online retailer that carries Wamsutta's Zen Comforts sheets - explains this item's draw:

"The Zen Comforts sheets are actually the best of both worlds - 60% bamboo and 40% cotton. The bamboo, of course, makes them very soft and breathable, and the cotton adds durability, greater elastic recovery and greater ease of care. They're a whopping 300 thread count, too. That definitely puts them in the luxury linenscategory."

Although the growing process of bamboo is eco-friendly, there is still some debate as to how eco-friendly the production and manufacturing processes are. Sheets made from 100% bamboo are still relatively expensive at upwards of $200 for a set. Wamsutta's Zen Comforts bamboo/cotton blend sheets are about $70 for a queen set. Some sites sell sheets for as low as $30.

As the popularity of bamboo rises, so does its number of loyal followers. Ms. Young, a recent advocate herself, puts it like this: "I never thought there'd be a day when I put something on my bed other than Egyptian cotton, and I never would have guessed it would be bamboo!"

NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) January 10, 2007 -- In the textile industry, "ring spinning" has been the standard method of manufacturing cotton yarn for decades. A recent advancement in technology has not only improved the quality of the yarn, but has made the process more environmentally friendly as well. This new technique, called compact spinning, creates a compact yarn that is significantly smoother and stronger. An online luxury linens boutique, http://www.linenplace.com, has taken advantage of this trend and is now offering a 100% Egyptian cotton sheet set made with compact yarn.    

Ring spinning is a method of twisting fibers together (usually cotton) and then around a bobbin to be stored. The characteristics of the cotton fiber itself are very important in the quality of the spun threads - the length of the fiber staple being one of the most important. While many improvements have been made over the years to increase the speed and practicality of production, a certain mechanical weak-spot has prevented weavers from fully taking advantage of long-staple cotton, such as Egyptian or Pima.

During the ring-spinning process, a "triangle" is created as fibers are drawn out of an apparatus to be twisted. This unwanted but seemingly unavoidable triangle resulted in a yarn (or thread) that was uneven and hairy - meaning the ends of fibers stuck out from the thread. Unevenness compromises the strength of the yarn, and hairiness will cause the resulting fabric to pill, (develop little balls of stray fiber that can make sheets feel rough).    

Compact spinning virtually eliminates the twisting triangle, and significantly reduces the amount of stray fibers and weak spots in the thread. It is called 'compact' because outside fibers are compacted towards the core of the yarn as they are twisted. Sheets made with compact yarns are smoother, stronger, dye more uniformly, and tend to be less wrinkly out of the dryer.

Heather Young, Vice President of http://www.linenplace.com, explains some of the pros and cons of compact yarn: "Our Echelon sheets made with compact yarn keep their sheen quite well after multiple washings, and we were very pleased with how wrinkle-resistant they were after drying, (all Linenplace.com products are personally tested by in-house experts). The fabric is smooth and supple, but some people actually prefer a lighter sheet with a touch of hairiness for added softness - although those sheets won't last as long."

Ms. Young continues, "An added bonus is that because compact ring-spinning technology uses up less energy, these sheets are more eco-friendly."

New York, NY (PRWEB) November 21, 2006 -- The people at Linenplace.com are slapping themselves on the forehead for not having thought of this sooner. Rather than trying to persuade people to read volumes about the ins and outs of bed textiles before they make a purchase, why not use their own considerable knowledge as industry insiders to create a rating system that everyone can understand?

Several years ago, consumers started hearing a lot about thread count. Companies were marketing sheets much like they do horsepower -- the higher the number, the better. Right? Well, like horsepower and cars, thread count and sheets are a lot more complicated than just a number. In fact, thread count isn't even the greatest indicator of quality.

Factors like weave and construction, fiber size, etc. all greatly impact the look, feel and most definitely the price of a sheet -- but they don't mean much to anyone who doesn't spend an unhealthy amount of time with linens. For most people, it's enough to feel the fabric in person and go from there. Of course, when it comes to buying bed linens on the Internet, it helps to have more information to ensure you're getting a quality product for the right price. What online customers ultimately need, however, is someone to be their hands for them.

Heather Young, vice president of Linenplace.com and linens aficionado, really does spend an unhealthy amount of time around sheets. But she has put all of her knowledge to good use and created a comprehensive five-point system by which to rate all of the sheets sold on the luxury linens website. She and other employees with bedding expertise personally product-test each rated item, so ratings are never made up or "guesstimated."    

"It gets tricky when you're trying to explain to the customer that a 600 thread count sheet isn't necessarily superior to a 300 or even 200 thread count sheet," Heather explains. "There are so many technical aspects that tend to put people right to sleep." Not hard to sympathize with, especially with all that talk about beds and sheets.

While http://www.linenplace.com/ has its share of detailed product guides explaining different types of bedding as well as its take on thread count, the rating system is more intuitive and doesn't require any extensive research of industry jargon to understand. A five-point scale scores the five criteria most valuable to shoppers: softness, crispness, luster, weight and price. Customers can click on the rating for any sheet and see how it compares to others.

Heather is confident that the rating system will clear up some of the confusion about thread count generated by marketers and the industry: "Thread count should be less about the number, and more about how it translates to the feel and quality of the fabric. There are certain things you always want to look for in sheets -- like long staple cotton and high yarn size -- but ultimately it's about personal preferences and budget."

So if a person prefers to shop for bedding in, well, bed -- they should do the homework. Or at least find a trusted online store like Linenplace.com that will do the homework for them. They won't even have to give them lunch money.

Here at Linenplace, we are crazy about down duvets.  They are great because they provide a lot of warmth but are super lightweight. Our deluxe duvets: Heirloom and Mirage are filled with Hungarian (Heirloom) and Polish (Mirage) white goose down.  These are super premium down qualities with fill powers of 650+ and 700+ respectively.  Higher fill power downs are loftier; meaning that 1 ounce of the down will fluff up and fill more space than a lower fill power down.  Higher fill power downs also trap more heat, so they are warm and light!  For example, a duvet with 50 ounces of 575+ fill power down will provide the same warmth as a duvet with only 30 ounces of 700+ fill power down. That is 40% less weight on top of you, but the same warmth… talk about luxury!

Wool is also a great option because of wool’s wonderful thermal properties.  It draws heat away from your body and allows it to be released into the air instead of getting trapped in your bed.  Studies have actually shown that people sleep better under wool because their body temperatures stay more stable.  Our classic merino wool blanket is a great choice, but we also have wool filled blankets that combine the comfort of a cotton covering with the benefits of wool.

If you’re in a warmer climate a cotton blanket like our Peacock Alley Natural blanket may be an adequate extra layer of warmth.  Or if you love down, our Heirloom and Mirage Summer weights are the perfect way to have your cake and eat it too.

Stay warm and enjoy the beautiful Fall season!

Worried about keeping your white bed clean?  Good concern!  Common sense is all that needs to be employed, certainly your dog can't jump on the bed and you can't spread out your newspaper on it!  Simple solution: toss a throw blanket (not white) on top of your bed if you're putting anything on it that might rub off.

A white bed also reminds me of some hotels where I've stayed.  The Boulders in Carefree, AZ is one of those.  They make their beds in white Italian sheeting by Mascioni.  (p.s. we're getting Mascioni sheets in stock at Linenplace very soon!) Their beds have really thick mattress pads, Mascioni white solid sateen sheets, and a light and fluffy down duvet in a Mascioni white striped duvet cover.  This was a truly sublime bed!

White beds are not just for Summer either!  You can have a white bed any time or all year 'round if you want.  Just like "no white after Labor Day" for apparel, there are no rules anymore; it's just whatever you like!