Thread & Fold
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Section Three

Household & Table Linens

Sheets, towels, tablecloths, napkins and fine dining linens — inventory, care procedures and storage.

Household linen inventory

ItemCategoryQtySizeMaterialLocationConditionWash

Table linen inventory

ItemCategoryQtySizeMaterialLocationConditionWash

Household linen procedures

Bed linens

  1. Strip beds weekly, or sooner after illness or guests.
  2. Wash at 60°C for cotton; 30–40°C for washed linen.
  3. Use an unscented detergent; never fabric softener on percale.
  4. Line dry where possible; tumble on low only to soften.
  5. Press flat sheets and pillowcases while slightly damp.
  6. Fold in threes and store in complete sets, tied with linen tape.

Towels

  1. Wash at 60°C with an oxygen booster for whites.
  2. Never use fabric softener — it destroys absorbency.
  3. Shake before drying to lift the pile.
  4. Tumble dry on medium, remove slightly warm.
  5. Do not iron; fold in three and stack with folded edge outward.

Storage

  1. Store only when completely dry.
  2. Keep linen shelves cool, dark and ventilated.
  3. Rotate stock so every set is used in turn.
  4. Use cotton bags, never plastic.
  5. Refresh with dried lavender; replace each season.

Table linen procedures

Tablecloths

  1. Inspect the whole cloth against the light before washing.
  2. Treat wine, oil and candle wax individually before the wash.
  3. Wash white damask at 60°C with oxygen bleach; coloured linen at 40°C.
  4. Dry until just damp, never bone dry.
  5. Press on the right side with a hot iron for sheen.
  6. Roll over a padded tube to avoid permanent fold lines.

Napkins

  1. Soak stained napkins immediately in cool water.
  2. Treat each stain according to its type before washing.
  3. Wash with matching tablecloths so ageing stays even.
  4. Press while damp, corner to corner.
  5. Fold in three and store flat in complete sets of twelve.

Special table linens

  1. Lace, embroidered and heirloom cloths are hand washed only.
  2. Support the full weight of the wet cloth; never hang it.
  3. Dry flat on a clean white sheet, away from sunlight.
  4. Press on the reverse over a padded surface.
  5. Store rolled in unbleached cotton, never in plastic.

Before the wash

Never allow a stained table linen to dry before it has been treated, and never press over a stain — heat sets it permanently. If a cloth is antique, embroidered or of unusual fabric, consult the Wardrobe Manager first.