The options for sheeting are endless when it comes to hoteliers. There are many choices available, from classic cotton to microfiber and polyester blends to classic cotton.
Greg Eubanks, Standard Textile’s group VP for hospitality sales and marketing, stated that cotton sheets still reign supreme in hotels, but microfiber is slowly gaining ground in economy properties. It’s inexpensive to buy and very easy to process, because it’s all Polyester. He acknowledged that microfiber can feel soft if brushed correctly, but it has a short life span. He also said that it doesn’t absorb moisture well so it is less comfortable to wash between washes.
Eubanks stated that the “Holy Grail” of hotel linen is one that feels and performs like 100 percent cotton but has the same durability. Standard Textile offers a proprietary product called Centium Core Technology. It features a microfilament-encircled core of cotton. Eubanks explained that the microfiber gives the sheet “a tremendous amount strength while the cotton absorbs and it feels fantastic to the skin.” He said hybrid products such as this could be the future.
A Higher Thread Count Doesn’t Mean a Higher Quality
Thread counts have been promoted by linen manufacturers as a measure of quality for many years. But numbers can be misleading. Chris Gowdy (VP of Riegel Linen) stated that thread counts can be manipulated by many people. He suggested double-pick insertion and twisted yarns are used to increase the thread count. “But a T-300-T-400 is all you really need when it comes down to luxury because it’s going give you a nice feel [and] it will last a long time.” Riegel Linn’s 60/40 cotton/poly blended T-300 sheeting is a “real workerhorse”, he said. It’s the right blend. A lower [thread count] is not good for hotels.
The 200-thread count of DreamCotton sheets in Mascioni’s Hotel Collection might seem low. However, Angelo Fugazza who is the brand manager for the collection, said that the percale can withstand industrial laundry machines and still remain crisp and smooth. Fugazza explained that the sheets are made from 100 percent Supima cotton, which does not need ironing and dries 50% faster than regular percale sheets. This makes them a more eco-friendly option for hotels.
Protecting your Bed
Hoteliers want to protect their investment, as some hotel beds can cost upwards of $3,000 per night. Eubanks stated that most people can replace traditional mattress pads with mattress covers, which will extend the life of the mattress. However, older encasements can be difficult to fit onto the mattress and can emit heat back up to guests. They can also make a loud “crunchy”, if made from plastics, sound. Eubanks stated that the new technology has two benefits. The material is as quiet as regular linens and the pieces can be easily removed by a housekeeper. Back injuries continue to be the leading cause of injury for housekeepers as they get older. He stated that back injuries are the No. 1 injury in housekeeping. You don’t want your children lifting mattresses so a mattress encasement which zips off and backs on is very convenient.”
Protect-A-Bed’s Miracle Membrane, a proprietary fabric, is described by Nicole Pasik (director of marketing at Focus Products Group International) as being similar to a mattress film. It is water repellent and air permeable. Pasik stated that the protectors can withstand 200 washes and are made to last between seven and ten years.
Hoteliers should keep bed bugs out of their rooms. However, waterproofing mattresses is just as important. Pasik stated that even if guests don’t spill any, most people sweat a lot at night. It’s human nature. As you go to sleep, you will lose the moisture. If there isn’t a waterproof barrier between you and your mattress, the moisture will seep into the fibers and cause the fibers to begin to fall apart.