Charlotte bouclé throw, £25, John Lewis; Blanket-stitched basketweave throw, £625, Johnstons of Elgin
What about drying?
“Put it on a high spin, you don’t want it coming out of the machine wet,” says Browne. “If you’re going to dry it outside, make sure to space it out.”
For those who favour a tumble dryer, be mindful of temperature, says Douglas: “You can wash it on a high temperature but where people go wrong is that they put their bedding in the tumble dryer and they burn it to a crisp. Cotton needs an element of moisture within it to maintain the fibres. It’s a bit like your hair – if you over-dry it it will go frizzy, and it’s the same with your bed linen, it’ll feel a bit rough.”
And different fabrics dry at different rates. “Percale dries quickly – you can put it in the tumble dryer, but only for a short amount of time.” Sateen, on the other hand, can be tumble-dried. “Get a bit of warmth into it, take it out while it’s still damp, give it a good shake, and put it over an airer.”
How to fold and store
Folding and storing bedding in the right way is vital – especially if you have made an investment. It’s important not to fold your bedding too many times, says Browne. “Fold it as few times as you can to lay it flat in an appropriate space.” To get an even finish, “put your hand inside the fold and push against it,” he says. “If you leave it, the layers can crumple up, and a star appears in the middle of the sheet.”
This is where flat sheets come into their own, as they are far easier to fold and store neatly than fitted sheets (if you are a devotee of fitted sheets, however, there are various videos on YouTube demonstrating how best to fold them).
Store your bedding in a warm dry place, away from kitchen smells. An airing cupboard is ideal; if you don’t have one, adds Orr, a drawer works well, “but don’t have too much in the drawer.”