Some Tips You Can Use To Maintain The Life Of
If you've taken the time to research your organic bedding options, settled on the textile of choice - whether it be bamboo, organic cotton or wool - and you've made the investment, you'll want to do everything you can to ensure you take proper care of your natural sheets and comforters. We've gathered some time-tested wisdom to help you care for your organic bedding so that you can enjoy hundreds of green sleeps with them.
By and large, organic cotton bedding will be machine washable, though it is always recommended that you use cold or slightly warm water instead of hot water. This helps to prevent shrinkage and fabric wear and tear. Use a natural, phosphate-free detergent and fabric softeners to ensure you're not adding toxins to your local water systems or to your green fabric.
If you need to treat stains in your organic bedding, try a solution of 1:3 parts water to vinegar. Soak the bedding for several hours, and then hang your bedding in the sun. The sunlight will act as a natural stain-fader. Grapefruit seed extract may also work for heavy stains (applied directly). Baking soda is also a great deodorizer for organic bedding.
As with all cotton, organic cotton can shrink if exposed to high temperature heat. Not only that, but high heat drying will wear the fibers of your bedding much faster than air drying. Plus, air-drying is much less energy intense, so the greenest way to care for your cotton sheets. If you must machine dry your bedding, air dry it as much as you can, then be sure to use the lowest heat setting possible for as short a session as possible.
Once a month, it's a great idea to air your organic cotton bedding outdoors in the sun. The breezes and sunlight will help to eliminate odors and give your bedding a thorough drying to help prevent mold and mildew.
If storing your organic bedding for a long period of time, be sure to store it in paper or a cloth bag to allow for proper air ventilation and prevent mold. Also add cedar chips or use a cedar chest to prevent moth damage.
If you find your wool comforters and pads require cleaning, it is generally recommended that you trust a professional cleaner to care for your organic bedding. Look for one that uses wet cleaning rather than dry cleaning (dry cleaning is toxic for workers and will cause off-gassing in your home).
However, if you're not able to find an eco-friendly wet cleaner in your area, you may attempt to wash your wool with extreme care. Use absolutely cold water and never agitate. Then air dry in direct sunlight if possible.
Since wool is naturally anti-bacterial and resistant to mold and mildew without chemical treatments, you won't have to worry about problems with odors or asthma attacks. Nevertheless, airing out your wool bedding once a month will keep it fresh and completely dry. If drying your wool organic bedding outdoors is not possible, you can put it in the dryer on COLD for 10 to 20 minutes with a clean tennis ball to give it a nice air fluffing.
We hope you enjoy your organic mattress-organic bedding set and hope these tips help you get the most out of your eco-friendly sleep system purchase!