Care tips for Bed Linens

If you wash your sheets, you're doing only part of the job.

All bed linens need to be cleaned from time to time. Here are some pointers from the Soap and Detergent Association:

All linens: Check the care label to determine whether the item can be laundered at home or needs to be dry cleaned. If the item is washable, follow the recommendations on the label.

Comforters, quilts and mattress pads: Queen- or king-size comforters may not fit in regular-size washers and dryers. If they don't, take them to a coin-operated laundry with large-capacity machines.

Pretreat heavily soiled areas with a prewash product.

Toss a few dry, clean towels into the dryer with the comforter or mattress pad to keep the filling from clumping. If you can find clean, white tennis balls, those work well, too.

Pillows: Wash two pillows at a time, agitating only one or two minutes on a gentle cycle.

Machine dry. During the drying cycle, periodically take the pillows out and fluff them to prevent clumping and promote even drying.

-- Mary Beth Breckenridge