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Care Guide

Your SFERRA linens have been expertly woven using the finest materials, and with proper care will grace your home for years to come. This simple guide will address everyday care and provide helpful hints to ensure the longevity of your SFERRA bed, bath, and table linens.

Many of our products are made from natural fibers that can be machine-washed at home, however, please be sure to read the care label on each item for best results.

MACHINE WASHING

Always check the care label before laundering, and separate linens into light and dark colors.

  • Always pre-wash linens before first use.
  • Wash light and dark colors separately.
  • Machine wash on gentle cycle. For bed linens, use warm or cold water. For table and bath linens, use hot water for whites and cold water for colors.
  • Use a mild liquid detergent without added bleach, whiteners, or fabric softeners.
  • Pre-treat any stains prior to washing. Do not use bleach. Bleaching may weaken fibers and cause yellowing.
  • Avoid laundering fine linens and bath towels with other items, especially those containing polyester, and items made of heavy material, rivets, buttons, zippers, and other hardware (for example, denim jeans) as these can damage fibers and fabric.
  • Delicate lace and embellished linens should be placed in a pillowcase or a mesh laundry bag before being placed in the washing machine.
  • Unless linens are very soiled, you need only use half the recommended amount of detergent.
  • Do not overload the washing machine, as this can cause unnecessary abrasion to the fabric.

Tip: Do not pour detergent directly on textiles. Rather, add it to the water as the wash tub fills or dilute detergent with water, then add linens.

DRYING AND IRONING

Drying

Natural fibers will wrinkle, but there are steps you can take while drying linens to minimize wrinkling. Line drying linens in soft, outdoor sunlight is ideal—it is the gentlest method of drying, and the sun provides natural bleaching—though this is not always practical.

  • To machine dry bed and table linens, gently shake out and smooth damp linens before placing in the dryer (unraveling any items that may have twisted in the wash cycle). Do not use dryer sheet fabric softeners.
  • Tumble dry bed and table linens on low heat until slightly damp. Tumble dry bath towels on low to medium heat until dry.
  • Avoid overloading the dryer so items will dry evenly.
  • Set to the lowest heat—high heat settings will weaken the fibers and increase shrinkage.
  • Remove items from dryer promptly and while still slightly damp. Smooth and let air dry before storing, or press with an iron while damp to remove any remaining wrinkles. 

Ironing

Always check to make sure your steam iron is clean—mineral deposits may build up and cause brown spotting.

  • Iron bed and bath linens while still slightly damp. Do not iron bath towels.
  • Use a steam iron on a warm/hot setting for cotton or a hot setting for linen.
  • Spray with water from a spray bottle for stubborn wrinkles, if needed.
  • To restore the lustrous face of sateen and jacquard fabrics, iron on the reverse side.
  • To preserve the three-dimensional effect of embroidery, iron on its reverse side, atop a white towel to give soft support to the thread work design.
  • Linens with delicate lace and cut work should be ironed beneath a press cloth.

Tip: If you cannot iron immediately, roll linens in a towel or a plastic bag and temporarily store in the freezer for up to 24 hours. This trick will make your linens easier to iron while preventing mildew.

BED LINEN CARE

Always pre-wash new linens before using. As fine fabrics are generally not pre-washed, this first wash is important for setting the threads, preserving the fabric's beauty, and prolonging its life. Be sure to fully unfold, set the machine to include a cold pre-soak, and use minimal liquid detergent. Following the first wash, refer to the instructions below.

Use of a fabric softener (liquid or dryer sheets) is not recommended for any fine linens, as it coats and weakens natural fibers. Your luxury linens will soften naturally with frequent use and additional washings. 

We recommend using three sets of bed linens in rotation: one on the bed, one in the wash, one in the linen closet. This will allow each set a rest from use and a rest from wash. Similarly, we recommend that you wash matching linens (e.g. sheets and pillowcases) together, as each piece should be cared for similarly to help maintain color consistency and brightness.

Remove jewelry and watches, or other accessories that may damage fibers while sleeping. The added abrasion can break down the fibers over time, possibly resulting in pilling.

Wash off all makeup, sunscreen and harsh skincare products before bed as strong chemicals can react to the dye and damage fine fibers.

Take care when drawing up your sheets or shimmying a pillow into its case: pull from below the hem—not on or above the hemstitch, lace detail, or embroidery—so as not to subject these delicate threads to undue stress.

Natural fibers need to breathe. Store bed linens in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, shielded from long exposure to direct sunlight. Linens stored long-term should be wrapped in white cotton, muslin (old pillowcases work well), or acid-free paper. Avoid storing linens in plastic bags, boxes, or in cedar chests which can all cause permanent yellowing or streak fabrics.

TABLE LINEN CARE

A well-dressed table sets a beautiful scene for family gatherings and special occasions. Caring for your table linens by following these suggestions will ensure that your tables are properly dressed for years to come.

Always wash matching table linens together to allow them to wear at the same rate. Whenever possible, treat stains when they are fresh. If allowed to set, stains may be impossible to remove at a later date. See Helpful Hints below for treating difficult stains.

Store tablecloths rolled around cardboard tubes or hung on hangers (without plastic) to prevent crease marks from setting, which can weaken fibers. Store in a well-ventilated place. Cover linens only in cotton, linen, or muslin, or wrap in acid-free tissue. Never use plastic, cardboard, or cedar chests to store your fine table linens.

BATH LINEN CARE

Bath linens should be a soft, absorbent, cozy cocoon to wrap yourself in after a relaxing bath. Follow these simple suggestions to preserve the look and feel of your bath towels.

Never use fabric softeners (liquid softeners or dryer sheets) when laundering towels, as they reduce the absorbency of cotton fibers and can damage your towels.

Tumble dry towels on low to medium heat until dry.

Smooth towels by hand before folding and storing.

Do not iron bath towels.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Hair and Beauty Products

Some hair and skincare products, such as acne lotions, face creams, or toothpastes that contain oxidizing agents, may cause discoloration of colored sheets and towels. When using such products, it is safest to sleep on white bed linens.

Shrinkage

All natural fibers will shrink to some extent, but in most instances we generously overcut our products to allow for shrinkage. Do not wash or—especially—dry linens on a hot setting, which is most likely to cause over shrinkage. Follow instructions on the care label.

Hand Washing

If the label says “hand launder,” never machine wash. Hand wash in gentle soap. Rinse thoroughly in clean water to eliminate all soap residue, then line dry, lay flat (on towels), or hang to dry. Avoid wringing linens by blotting on towels before air-drying.

Professional Cleaning

Professional hand washing is recommended for delicate linens—those with heavy embellishments or embroideries, heirlooms, or worn linens. Be sure to use a reputable launderer who knows how to launder delicate linens.

Dry Cleaning

We do not recommend dry cleaning for our natural cotton and linen products. Dry cleaning is recommended for luxury fibers such as cashmere, merino wool, and alpaca. Dry cleaning helps avoid excessive shrinkage on formal top-of-bed items such as matelassé blanket covers. Be sure to use a professional dry cleaner with experience in natural fibers and luxury linens.