Day 6: LINENS & TOWELS
Let the overwhelm begin! Friends/ Family should be visiting right… about… Now! This is the season many will most likely encounter the most visitors at their home during a year. Therefore, ’tis the season to make sure your old, worn out towels and linens are no longer taking up precious real estate in your linen closet and are fresh and ready to use.
Bedding:
The Good Housekeeping Institute recommends washing your bedding at least once every two weeks. Once a week if sweating is an issue. With that in mind my general rule for bedding and sheets needed per bed is 2-3. Of course, this is just a general guide, but works for most clients who keep up with laundry on at least a bi- weekly basis. Typically, I factor in 2 sets of sheets for guest beds and three for the rest.
Towels:
The Cleaning Institutes recommends that you wash your bath towels every 3 baths or showers to prevent germs from growing. The bacteria that cause staph infections (MRSA) is known to spread on towels and linens. Therefore, it is further recommended that face towels (Healthline.com) and other towels used to wipe bodily fluids, such as gym towels for sweat, should be used only once. A person’s daily activities will greatly vary the amount of hand and face towels needed per person from 3 a day (washing your face with a towel twice a day and going to the gym) to 2 a week. Bath towels/sheets are between 2- 3 week per person.
My Client Guidelines:
Bed Sheets– 3 per Bed
Bed Sheets (Guest)- 2 per Bed
Bath Towels/Sheets- 3-5 per Person
Bath Towels (Guests)- 2 per Max Guest Count
Hand Towels- 4 per Bathroom
Face Towels- 4-20+
– I just cannot narrow this one down anymore on a blanket (or towel- hehe) scale because it depends on individual daily activities and grooming habits.
Standard Towel Dimensions:
If you just read this and are a bit confused because, like many, you’re thinking to yourself, “isn’t a towel a towel?!” Below are the standard towel dimensions used by retail and hotel businesses as found on webstaurantstore.com
Folding Tips:
Once you have decided on the sheet sets and towels to keep, how do you fold them to optimize space and still look aesthetically pleasing? Try one or all of the following tips.
a. Folding the elusive fitted sheet!-
*** Watch this video by Marie Kondo if you share the frustration of folding a fitted sheet. This may be life- changing! 🙂 ***
b. When folding your sheets and pillowcases, keep all items in a set wrapped in one pillow case. Martha Stewart agrees with this organizing method and has many other great ideas as well.
c. Roll your towels, rather than fold them.
DONATE:
***DO NOT THROW AWAY NON- SOILED TOWELS!- You can donate unwanted towels and sheets to the Humane Society or other animal shelters!***
Remember that in the end whatever way you choose to ‘roll’ with your linens is great! It’s about what works best for you!
Happy Holidays & Good Luck!