In the hotel business, details matter. Especially when we’re talking about linens. Your customers expect to fall back into a comfortable bed at the end of a long day. And, of course, you want to deliver a better night of sleep while still making wise financial decisions for your business.
To do that, it’s helpful to understand how bed linens are produced. Then you’ll know what characteristics to look for—and what not to be fooled by—when selecting linens that last for your hotel. Let’s look at three factors to consider if you want to offer a luxury bedroom experience.
What to Consider When Choosing Hotel Bed Linens
Thread Count
Did you know that a higher thread count doesn’t necessarily mean better sheets? Well, it’s true.
Thread count reflects the number of horizontal and vertical threads in one square inch of fabric. In general, as you increase thread count, a sheet’s softness and durability increases too, but only to a certain point. Higher thread count sheets also have a tighter weave, so they lack the breathability and cooling benefits many guests look for in sheets. That’s why a 400-thread-count sheet could very well be just as soft as and much more durable and breathable than a 1600-thread-count sheet.
In fact, given manufacturing limitations, it’s tough to fit more than 400 threads per square inch, no matter how advanced your machinery is. Getting a sheet with a thread count higher than around 400 requires some creative math. According to Consumer Reports, “some manufacturers boost their numbers by counting plies, or the very thin yarns that make up the thread.” So while thread count is still a factor to consider as you shop for sheets for your hotel, the number alone shouldn’t inform your entire decision.
Quality Consideration
To evaluate a sheet’s quality, you need to consider how it’s woven together. The actual fabric of the sheet is a weave composed of warp threads and weft threads. Warp threads run lengthwise, and weft threads run widthwise.
To achieve a higher-thread-count sheet, many manufacturers will play with the warp and weft of multi-ply thread. This often decreases the overall durability and quality of the sheets. The linens may seem nice until they’ve gone through a few washes. Then the sheets start to wear out, and you have to replace them.
That’s why durability is key when considering a sheet’s quality.
A hotel needs sheets with a long product life that withstand industrial laundering and repeated use. For example, our patented Venus Performance Twill Luxury Sheets. These bed sheets feature a twill weave with cotton warp threads for comfort and polyester weft threads for durability. And, they were independently tested by SGS Labs for up to 200 industrial launderings. That’s twice the lifespan of other poly-cotton blend sheets.
Sizing
Finally, you’ll need to pay close attention to sizing when selecting sheets for your hotel. Sheets are not one-size-fits-all, especially if you have extra-deep mattresses or mattress pads on your hotel beds. Consider the length, width, and depth of your hotel’s mattresses before purchasing new sheets.
Better yet, work with a linen manufacturer that has custom production capabilities to meet your hotel’s unique needs. The last thing you want is guests complaining about their fitted sheets slipping off the corners of the bed. Or housekeeping taking longer to clean each room because the sheets won’t stay put.
Your Source for Quality and Custom Bed Linens
Venus is proud to produce some of the most comfortable and durable sheets available. Plus, our manufacturing facilities on both US coasts and distribution points across the nation allow us to care for custom orders with a short turnaround time. To learn more, speak to a textile expert today by calling 800.421.6599, or you can request a quote online.
