Tips - Part 5

Table Runners to Enhance Decor

Using Table Runners is a Fast, Easy, and Inexpensive Way to Enhance Décor

As the days grow shorter, and colder weather drives people indoors, autumn is traditionally the time that thoughts turn to creating a warm, nurturing indoor environment. Our next few blog entries will focus on small ways to enhance your living space that make a big difference in your interior refuge from the harsh winter elements.

Table runners are one such way to not only compliment a table setting for mealtime, but to create an elegant “tablescape” that inexpensively transforms a room’s décor.

First, let’s define what a table runner is: a table runner is a strip of decorative cloth that varies in width, length and adornments, which “runs” the span of a table. Ways to use a table runner in a decorating scheme is limited only by one’s imagination. When used over a beautiful wood table, one may want to use a runner alone so as to enhance the natural elegance of the table. Additional drama can be introduced into a tablescape when a runner is used over a tablecloth, especially when fabrics of differing colors and textures are used.

Table runners are not limited to use on a traditional dining room table only. Runners can enhance the look and feel of end tables, side tables, buffets, teacarts, coffee tables, or almost any piece of furniture with a flat surface.

There is no hard and fast rule regarding the size of the table runner. It can have a drop and hang over the sides of the table or it can be shorter than the table and sit in the middle. But the runner should not hang down past the drop of the tablecloth.

Establishing a mood by the imaginative use of a table runner can result in a particularly dramatic decorative effect. Colors, textures and centerpieces can be mixed and matched in order to celebrate special occasions, observe a holiday, or simply change the “feel” of a room.

Quick tips for enhancing drama by simply using table runners:

Lay two table runners across a round table, creating four “sections”. If four people are dining, each diner can be centered on the length of a runner. Eight diners can be seated with two diners per “section”, thus creating an intimate effect.
For a less formal effect, use a shorter runner (one that is one-third the length of the table) and place a visually interesting, textural centerpiece on the runner.
For longer tables, place multiple shorter table runners across the width of the table, preferably with no more than a six-inch drop. Be careful not to place the runners closer than two feet apart, otherwise the table will appear too cluttered.

InnStyle stocks table runners at wholesale pricing in many styles, fabrics, sizes and colors. You will be pleased with our selection, prices and customer service. Call us Toll Free: 1-800-877-INNS (4667) or 1-800-877-4667.

Considering Opening Your Own Bed and Breakfast? There are Many Things to Consider First

So you’re thinking about opening up your own bed and breakfast establishment? Congratulations!! You are among a growing number of entrepreneurs who have accepted this calling. So much so that the innkeeper industry, which only had approximately 1,000 properties and hosted a million guests in 1980 has grown to 28,000 properties hosting 50.5 million guests annually by the turn of the millennium, according to the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII).

Certainly your imagination is filled with images of a perfectly restored historic home, romantic rooms that are tastefully appointed, lovingly rejuvenated and re-purposed antiques, the smell of fresh coffee and warm cinnamon buns made from your grandmother’s secret recipe wafting through the kitchen and up the stairs, gently waking your smiling guests…

But wait! The Lavender Room has a clogged toilet and the gentleman from the Queen Ann Cottage just spilled Pinot Noir on your homemade chintz pillow case!

The life of a bed and breakfast owner is undoubtedly a mixed bag of developing and nurturing positive visitor relationships and, well… dealing with flawed and often demanding human beings, known in the industry as “guests”.

Here are just a few of the many important considerations you must be clear on BEFORE you commit to making inn keeping your life’s work:

Look at your home objectively, as if you were a guest in your own home. Sleep in each room and be sensitive to annoyances such as street noise, barking dogs, squeaky bed frames, glare from outside security lights and signage, ticking clocks and other potential irritants. Is there adequate closet space, climate control, space to move around?
There is a growing demand among those who frequent B&B’s for private baths. Although this may not be a deal breaker for all potential guest/customers, adequate sharing arrangements must be made and the rules made clear to guests. Ultimately you may lose free bathroom access in your own home.
How will security be handled? Will you supply keys for the front door and individual rooms, or set times by which the front door will be locked. What if a guest loses a key? Will you require an upfront deposit or charge a lost key fee after the fact? There is not right or wrong answer; you must however have established policies regarding security.
Are there enough year-round activities available to your guests to keep the vacancy rate low and the profit flowing 365 days a year.
And speaking of 365 days a year… are your ready to forfeit your own privacy as many days?

Once you have made the decision to enter the hospitality industry, let the knowledgeable staff at InnStyle be your source for everything you will need for establishing your B&B or inn. Call us at 800-877-4667 and ask for our B&B or Inn start-up guide. Inquire about our wide variety of wholesale bed and breakfast and inn supplies and services. Let us assist you in selecting the perfect bedding and linens to suit your unique needs, saving you time and money. We will guide you about the items and quantities to make your opening day run smoothly. Of course we will send you samples to see, test and touch.

We are certain you will not find another company as accommodating as InnStyle in providing you with the personal service you need to provide the accommodations your guests expect.

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.

Stain Removal Hints

Check all linens for stain and pre-treat them before laundering
Patience and time are require when working on stains. There is NO immediate solution
Test all bleaches in an inconspicuous area to avoid damaging colored items
Do not use chlorine bleach on wool or silk – it will dissolve both fabrics
Do not use vinegar on acetate material – it will soften and dissolve acetate
Oily based stains like salad dressing, sauces, etc. should be treated with a solvent prior to laundering. Laundering even without drying may set these types of stains
Use solvents such as Carbona, mineral spirits or other dry cleaning fluids in a well ventilated area. Try to avoid excessive inhalation of the fumes from the solvents
Avoid drying items in the dryer with heat unless stains have been removed

Facial Wipes - Prevent Stains
For information on products to help prevent stains or properly cleaning stains, contact your Personal Shopper at InnStyle or call toll free 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

Save your linens from cosmetics with our facial wipes! 13″x13″ 100% cotton facial wipes are sure to please your guests while preventing staining!

Triple Sheeting – An Efficient Bedding Solution

Triple Sheeting is a luxurious, cost effective and efficient bedding solution. A clean, crisp bed easily managed by housekeeping – saving time and money.

Clean & Fresh: Components for the triple sheeting can be laundered after each guest ensuring a sanitary environment.

Reduce Costs: By replacing a bedspread with one additional sheet, Triple Sheeting can reduce overall operational costs of purchasing and laundering bedspreads.

Saves Time: Triple sheeting is an easy process that can greatly increase housekeeping efficiency.

Step 1: Building the foundation
The Bottom Sheet – Lay a flat sheet on the mattress and tuck all the way around the bed – or usa a fitted sheet to cover the mattress.

Step2: The Next Layer
The Middle Sheet – Place the top hem of the flat sheet so it is even with the top of the mattress.

Step 3: Add Filling
Place a lightweight blanket on top of the middle sheet – 6 inches below the top of the mattress.

Step 4: Top Sheet

Place a decorative top sheet on top of the blanket. The top hem should be even with the top of the mattress.

Step 5: Fold
Fold both flat sheets down together about 6 inches (blank should not be included in this fold).
The fold the 2 flat sheets and the blanket down another 6 inches.

Step 6: Finishing Touches
Tuck in both flat sheets with the blanket beneath the foot of the mattress. The hanging fabric at the sides of the foot will have made a U-Shape. Turn back the U-shape along the length of the bed and pull towards the headboard – parallel to the mattress. Tuck the hanging corners of the sheet and blanket together under the mattress.

Your guests will appreciate the hygienic appearance of the bed and with a few simple accessories like Bed Runners and Coordinating Cushions; your rooms will have a fresh modern look.

For more information give us a call at 800-877-4667 and avail yourself of our knowledgeable staff.

Save Linens from Stains

Time is of the Essence so the earlier you catch a stain and treat it, the better your chance of removing it. Different types of stains require different treatments and often times regular household solutions can be the key to removing stains.

Why not prevent stains before they happen by discouraging your guests from creating stains in the first place. InnStyle offers amenities such as make-up remover wipes so your female guests aren’t tempted to use towels or light colored wash cloths for removing their makeup.

Here are a few ‘tips’ we call Simply Spotless:

1. Find stains immediately
2. Determine what kind of stain it is – if possible
3. Pre-treat oil-based and fresh stains before washing
4. Use cleaning solvents in a well ventilated area
5. If stains remain, treat again
6. Avoid washing & drying if you are not sure the stain is out
7. Test bleaches before using them in the wash
8. Do not use vinegar on acetate materials
9. Do not use chlorine bleach on wool or silk
10. Prevent stains from happening

For additional information on products to help prevent stains or properly cleaning stains, contact your Personal Shopper at InnStyle or call toll free 1-800-877-INNS (4667).