Bed Bug Protection and the Bed and Breakfast Supplies Industry

Warning: This Post Is Not For The Squeamish

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has much to be proud of.

It is a unique city comprised of neighborhoods, each with its own identity. The quality of life is affordable. Sports fans are the most fiercely loyal (and unabashedly honest) in the country. Several of the nation’s finest colleges and universities calls Philadelphia home. The art and music scene is world-class. There are countless fine-dining experiences and even more amazing neighborhood restaurants and cool diners to satisfy any palate.

Hoagies. Cheesesteaks. Pretzels.

And then there’s the history. It goes without saying.

However, Philadelphia has just been bestowed a rather dubious “honor”, overtaking New York City, as being the most bed bug infested city in the nation, according to pest control giant, Terminix. Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco and Washington DC have also been named as cities with a growing bed bug infestation problem.

In Philadelphia, as well as across the country, the rampant bed bug issue has become a major source of concern for the hospitality industry. Once eliminated by the use of DDT (which was banned for use in the US in 1972), bug bed infestation has grown steadily due to greater international travel, the use of non-effective treatments to which the pests have now become resistant, and a general disregard of the advancing epidemic over the years.

InnStyle, the source for innkeeper supplies and linens since 1952, offers many solutions to the bed and breakfast and the hospitality industry. For example, InnStyle carries products to enclose and defend vulnerable soft surfaces from the pests, such as mattress and box spring encasement, anti bed bug sheets and pillow protectors. InnStyle also carries Rest Easy Bug Spray, an environmentally green and all-natural product proven to kill bed bugs and prevent infestation. It is easy for hospitality staff to use and has a natural cinnamon scent.

InnStyle also offers tips on how to defend the hospitality property from this bed bug epidemic. Please visit their website to take advantage of this helpful tip sheet at: https://www.innstyle.com/images/BEDBUGSmay609.pdf.

With diligent attention and protective products from InnStyle, the hospitality property or bed and breakfast proprietor need not fear that these pests will negatively impact their business.

Even in Philly.

Contact InnStyle for more information on how to protect your property with Bed Bug Protection – Call us at 800-877-INNS (4667)

The Hospitality Industry And the “New Economy”

With the economy reportedly heating up as rapidly as the weather, the financial forecast for the hospitality industry is hotter than it has been in years. This is not to suggest however, that innkeepers and hoteliers can now sit back and wait for business to effortlessly roll in the door. In the wake of the new economy that has emerged since the recent recession, travelers have different (higher) expectations of your value proposition. Upping the ante even more, advances in technology, mainly social media, have put travelers in the driver’s seat, thus ensuring that those in the hospitality industry who fail to heed the traveling public’s discerning demands will be left behind the progression.

Examples of the consequences of the new economy on the hospitality industry include:

After years of delaying capital expenditures, the new economy demands that innkeepers and hoteliers renovate, upgrade and otherwise beautify their property. In this age of Facebook, Yelp, Pinterest and Instagram, one poor review with a corresponding picture to support the claim, can cause a business owner countless reservations and dollars.
Online bookings will continue to grow and become the mainstay of the industry. More than 114 million people will research travel online this year, with 94 million actually making a reservation online. This accounts for more than 50% of all travel being booked online exclusively. This number is expected to continue to rise every year. A well-designed website with an easy to navigate reservation system is an essential tool for anyone in the hospitality industry to survive in the new economy.
More and more travel research and bookings are taking place on mobile devises. According to Forrester Research, mobile channel bookings increased four-fold between 2008 and 2010. Google is projecting that mobile access (i.e. tablets and smartphones) will overtake PC access by 2013. It is imperative that innkeepers and hoteliers optimize their websites for mobile usage in order to capture these mobile transactions.
Social media has revolutionized how business is conducted. 22% of the travel industry currently uses social media as a revenue generating tool. This number is projected to rise to 27% within the next 5 years. Furthermore, social media presence is integral in search engine algorithms, with Facebook’s posts integrated into Bing search and Google+ integrating into the Google search engine. It is crucial that innkeepers and hoteliers embrace social media as a means to drive traffic to their most important business asset—their web presence.

New technology demands that the hospitality industry become “social” and engages their customers online as a major component of their marketing strategy. The onus is squarely on the innkeeper or hotelier to convince the potential customer that they offer the best value for the travel dollar via the internet; by virtue of a well-designed website with a mobile application and an intentional social media presence. The good news is that these hard-won loyal customers will then become your best, most vocal “sales team”, spreading the word via viral marketing that yours is the best destination for their travel-dollar.

For Personal Service at Wholesale Pricing, contact InnStyle. From wholesale bedding to fine linens we can help you upgrade and beautify your inn or hotel.
Call us at 800-877-INNS (4667)

Pilling Got You Down? Consider Percale

Percale is defined as a fine woven cotton cloth, used primarily for sheets and industrial uses, has 17th century French origins (ooh la la!). The word itself is believed to be derived from the Persian pargālah, meaning rag.

Why is percale weave, such as Grande Hotel, Orlo, Celeste or Sereno, a good choice for customers who yearn for the smooth, sleek feel of pill-fee sheets? The answer is simple, if one has just a little education on the nature of fabric. It is a common, yet mistaken belief that the answer relates to the fabric content (i.e. cotton, polyester or a blend thereof). Not true. Rather, the solution is hidden deep in the core construction of the fabric and in the length of the fibers themselves. Simply put, the longer the fabric (known in the industry as long staple) and the tighter the twist of the yarn, the more resistant to pilling.

Here’s why:
Pilling occurs when fibers in the fabric break, tangle, and “ball up.” The shorter the fibers used in the fabric, the more likely the chance for breakage, leading to tangling and inevitably to pilling. The shorter and more brittle the fiber, the more breakage (pilling) will occur.

And what exactly causes fiber to break and getting intertwined in itself? In the case of lesser quality sheet (i.e. that which is constructed with short, brittle fibers) the simple act of using the sheets as intended, that is sleeping, causes fibers to snap, twist and pill. As an individual sleeps, the predictable act of tossing, turning and moving against the short, weak fibers creates friction which, over time, causes fibers to break. This is why fitted sheets tend to pill more heavily at the foot of the bed, the very place where the most abrasive and recurrent movement occurs.

It should be noted that even high quality sheets, such as Sferra’s fine linens, can pill without given correct care. Sferra uses only long staple (long length) fibers; however, even the finest of fabrics can pill without proper handling and laundering. The most common “abuse” such fine linens endure is the use of chlorine bleach and excessive fabric softener (which can weaken the fibers), followed by drying at high heat levels (which can cause fibers to break). Weakening + Breakage = Pilling.

Fine linens must be handled like the investment that they are by following the prescribed care instructions. For the care of Sferra’s fine linens, we recommend a short wash cycle with gentle detergent. Then, use a low-heat setting during the drying cycle and remove the bedding while still slightly damp. Please take note that even the agitation of the washing machine or the tumbling of the dryer can cause breakage, so never overfill the washer or dryer to avoid additional friction during these cycles. Also, avoid laundering your sheets with other items, such as towels, for the high nap on a towel may cause a breakdown of the cotton fibers. To be safe, launder sheets separately.

Your fine linens will give you years of satisfactory, sleek, smooth use by following a few simple rules. Although its origins maybe in the word “rag”, if handled correctly, your fine percale linens will not be reduced to such a state. Even the most discerning Persian would agree.

For more information on our cotton Percale sheets or our best selling 600 thread count ‘wrinkle free’ sheets please contact us at 267-354-6020 or toll-free at 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

Wrinkle Free Sheets Our Customers Love

We always like to share comments our customers make, but our Wrinkle Free Sheets have created quite a ‘buzz’.

About our Wrinkle Free Sheets

We have been using these sheets since 2008. They have been fantastic, our laundry service, housekeeping, and of course our guests have commented on how nice the sheets are, and where they could buy them. We were very distressed in 2010 when they were discontinued and bought up whatever inventory you had back then.

At that time I thought there are a lot of “Sateen Sheets” that said they were wrinkle resistant I had seen from retailers. The problem with retailers is getting the quantity needed, with each store only carrying a few sets of sheets, but I had to try. I started buying sets of these sheets and taking them home to wash. None of the so called “wrinkle resistant” sheets where in fact wrinkle resistant. If the fabric didn’t show wrinkles the stitching all puckered up in one washing! The quality of every set I tried was very poor. It didn’t matter where I bought them, what the thread count was (400, 500, 600, or 1000!), the stitching puckered or the sheets wrinkled on one washing. The other noticeable difference was how thin all the other sheets were, and again the thread count did not matter, all were very thin.

The Inn Style Wrinkle Free Sheets always had a nice sturdy weight, never puckered, and kept their sheen. That weight contributes to the quality, wrinkle resistance, and makes these sheets unique among all I have tried.

I was very happy to see the return of this item. We received a sample pillowcase last week, washed it, then washed it again, ran it through the dryer each time. Each time it came out beautifully. Finally we have our sheets back!! ~
Dennis Ynclan – Owner Daytona Ocean Front Rentals & Sales, LLC

The Boathouse Bed & Breakfast ~ can not tell you how happy we are that the Wrinkle Free sheets are coming back!

Fig Street Inn ~ Can’t wait to see them! We have missed the 600TC wrinkle free sheets.

Boathouse Bed & Breakfast ~ These are the best sheets. Our guests love them and glad that they are back.

Pre-order the only Truly Wrinkle Free Sheets. !00% Cotton – 600 Thread Count Sheets save time & Money. Manufactured by InnStyle. Delivery Scheduled for July 2012.
Phone 800-877-4667 To Place your Wrinkle Free Sheet Order!

Why Fabric Softener is Not Recommended for Use in the Hospitality Industry

Fabric softener is a conditioner, made of oils, waxes and fragrances, designed to coat fibers with a thin layer of chemicals, making fabric softer to the touch and preventing static cling. In use since the 1930’s, the demand for fabric softener increased dramatically in the 1950’s with the introduction of synthetic fibers and detergents, as well as the modern washing and drying machines. The result of these advances was clean but scratchy fabrics that were less than appealing to wear, or in the case of sheets, sleep between.

Although popular for home use, Fabric softeners may not be a good choice in the hospitality industry. The build-up of chemicals left behind by repeated use of fabric softener can damage the fabric, causing yellowing and reducing the absorbency of towels. Most good quality all-cotton towels do not need to be treated with fabric softener and with repeated washings and dryings, will become softer naturally.

The chemical build-up of fabric softener also clogs the pores of Egyptian cotton sheets, preventing them from breathing, thus decreasing the luster and gloss that customers come to expect when staying at a quality hotel or bed and breakfast. Like towels, sheets will become softer with repeated laundering without the assistance of the clogging, water-repelling residue found in fabric softeners.

One way to expedite the softening process of towels and sheets, without resorting chemical agents, which is often highly scented and thus toxic to many sensitive customers, is to “beat” your laundering despair away – literally. Plastic dryer balls, available to purchase through distributors that provide bed and breakfast supplies, wholesale hotel supplies and hospitality supplies (or in most large chain stores), are a perfect alternative. These balls pummel the fabric while in the drying process, increasing fluffiness and reducing static cling as it tumbles.

Another excellent method to soften clothes without commercial fabric softener is using 1/8-1/4 cup vinegar in the last rinse…it softens and leaves linens fresh without any scent or fragrance as it removes any detergent left in the laundry.

Choose Oxygen-Based Bleach when Laundering Sheets for Hotel and B & B Use

There is no doubt that cotton is the most used textile fiber in the world, especially when it comes to the manufacture of bed sheets. As any inn-keeper or hotel supplies manager knows, guests love slipping into bed when a set of crisp, freshly-laundered cotton sheets await. The ratings given by guests about the cleanliness and quality of your sheets can make or break a business, thus the choice in how to launder sheets for your guests is a vital one. It begs the question, what is the best and most efficient way to keep my sheets clean and bright, with that firm yet soft feeling that my guests demand, while increasing the longevity of my sheet-investment?

The answer is simple: Don’t use Chlorine bleach! Bleaching weakens the cellulosic fibers, actually causing whites to deteriorate and look yellow and dingy (of course it goes without saying what becomes of colored fabric when bleach is introduced). Because of the damage to the fabric over time on a cellular level, the life of the sheets is shortened, thus requiring more frequent replacement than if bleach wasn’t used. Also, conventional bleach products are a harmful respiratory irritant that can cause burns to the skin and is dangerous when used in a bed and breakfast that hosts children and pets (birds can die from the fumes of bleach).

What then can someone responsible for hospitality supplies choose to launder sheets that will maintain the desired look and feel? Oxygen-based bleaches are an excellent alternative. They are chemically different than chlorine bleach and they are safer workers and customers with chemical sensitivities, is gentle to the skin and friendlier to the environment.

Oxygen bleach works very well in removing soil and organic matter and doesn’t damage the fabric, even after repeated use, and is safe for whites and colors. Oxygen bleach comes in power or liquid under many different brand labels and is the preferred choice in commercial sheet care.

Sleeping on Wrinkle Free Sheets

Excerpts from Online Shopper
The New York Times
By MICHELLE SLATALLA
Published: March 22, 2007
E-mail: Slatalla@nytimes.com

“To get to the bottom of the mystery of wrinkle-free fabric that stays wrinkle-free, I phoned Cotton Inc., a trade organization, which researches fiber as part of promoting the interests of cotton growers.

“To get wrinkle-free sheets, the fabric should be finished the same way as for wrinkle-free khakis or wrinkle-free cotton shirts,” said Lee Snyder, the associate director of technology implementation, who has been working on specialized wrinkle-free finishes for Cotton Inc. since 1974.

He said you treat the cotton with resins so that the hydrogen bonds in the fabric stay flat, instead of getting all wrinkled up.

“Does the chemical treatment wear off?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “It should last as long as you’re using the sheet.”

That’s all I needed to hear. Eagerly I rushed to my computer, typed Innstyle.com into the keyword search box and prepared to elevate my bedding to the next level.

“The source for innkeeper supplies and linens since 1952,” the site announced, and the rest of the text on the site — phrases like “innkeepers only” and “wholesale supplier” — made it clear that retail orders weren’t encouraged.

I decided to investigate anyway. That’s how I stumbled upon a product description of 300-thread-count wrinkle-resistant sheet sets, 100 percent combed cotton with a sateen weave, available in four colors (sage, white, blue and cream).

I phoned Susan Sternthal, the site’s co-owner, and told her my story.

“This happens to people all the time,” she said. “I had my own nephew just stay in a hotel. He said, ‘I want those sheets.’ I said, ‘If you don’t tell me the name of the hotel, I won’t know what sheets they used.’ ”

“If I tell you the name of the inn where I stayed, will you sell me the same sheets?” I asked.

Ms. Sternthal said: “We had a retail linen store for 53 years in Pennsylvania, but we closed it last year, and now we’re not looking to sell to the general consumer. I will tell you that now.”

She paused.

I felt a glimmer of hope.

“But we will still take retail phone orders,” she said.

Then she added: “No returns. That’s because my manufacturers aren’t going to take it back unless it’s really damaged.”

Before she could change her mind, I said, “The inn where I stayed was called Cornucopia at Oldfield.”

Ms. Sternthal said, “Let me see what she buys.” She looked up the information. “She buys the 300-count sheets for the twin beds and the 600-count sheets in king size.”

“I slept in a king-size bed,” I said.

“Then the 600,” she said.

“I don’t see them on the site,” I said.

Ms. Sternthal said: “There was a change of who was manufacturing them, and for some of our customers, if the color didn’t match, they had issues. So we still stock some of the 600-count sheets for people who ask. But they aren’t shown on the site.”

I said, “While I have you on the phone, can you tell me what blanket they had on the bed at Cornucopia?”

“She bought the waffle blanket cover, the 60-40 cotton blend,” Ms. Sternthal said.

“I’ll take that, too,” I said.

“I’ll have one of my sales reps call you with retail prices,” she said.”

Our best selling 600 thread count ‘wrinkle free’ sheets are available in limited quantities, but more are on the way. Get your orders in now to be assured of shipment on “innkeepers’ most popular wrinkle free sheet style”. To order , please contact us at 267-354-6020 or toll-free at 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

Wrinkle Free Sheets

The InnStyle 600 Thread Count – 100% combed cotton Wrinkle Free Sheets are back. Limited quantities currently available, but we are taking pre-orders for the next shipment.

Here’s what our Innkeepers are saying about these sheets:
We have been using these sheets since 2008. They have been fantastic, our laundry service, housekeeping, and of course our guests have commented on how nice the sheets are, and where they could buy them. We were very distressed in 2010 when they were discontinued and bought up whatever inventory you had back then.

The Inn Style Wrinkle Resistant sheets always had a nice sturdy weight, never puckered, and kept there sheen. That weight contributes to the quality, wrinkle resistance, and makes these sheets unique among all I have tried. .

I was very happy to see the return of this item. We received a sample pillowcase last week, washed it, then washed it again, ran it through the dryer each time. Each time it came out beautifully. Finally we have our sheets back!!
~Dennis Ynclan
Owner Daytona Ocean Front Rentals & Sales, LLC

Our best selling 600 thread count ‘wrinkle free’ sheets are on the way. Get your orders in now to be assured of shipment on innkeepers’ most popular wrinkle free sheet style. To order , please contact us at 267-354-6020 or toll-free at 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

Why Cotton Sheets?

There is nothing like slipping between cotton sheets. That is because nature has designed the perfect fiber for softness and comfort. The superior characteristics of cotton have been praised for thousands of years, and today cotton is synonymous with quality, comfort and beauty.

Softness – The unique shape and dimensions of cotton fibers naturally
InnStyle 600 Wrinkle Free Sheets
result in softness.
Year Round Comfort – Cotton bed linens keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Launders Beautifully – Cotton releases soil easily so bed linens are clean and smell fresh throughout their wear life, and cotton sheets become even softer through washings and use.

The most popular sheet offered at InnStyle is their InnStyle 600 Wrinkle Free Sheets. They get such positive reviews because they have the comfort and softness of cotton sheets without the need for constant ironing because they don’t wrinkle like all the other cotton sheets. Please give InnStyle a call for more information about these sheets or any other of their hospitality products. InnStyle can be reached at 267-354-6020 or 800-877-4667. Their website is https://www.innstyle.com/.