Linen care

Towels. wash before first use to remove loose fibres. Wash warm with similar colours and skip fabric softener: it coats the cotton and the towel absorbs less. White towels can be bleached occasionally.

Bed sheets and pillow covers. wash warm, and wash coloured sets separately the first few times. Take them off the line or out of the dryer while faintly damp for an easier iron.

Duvets. air them in the sun regularly. Wash on a gentle cycle in a large machine, or have them laundered, and dry completely before use. A duvet cover keeps washing to a minimum.

Waterproof protectors. wash warm, not hot. Do not iron, bleach, or dry-clean them, because heat damages the waterproof layer. Line dry, or tumble dry on low.