We have been asked by many Innkeepers which amenities are most important to have available for their guests.
Below is a list of basic items which most guests would expect to have in their guest room.
Continue reading Which Amenities are Most Important? →
As a homeowner and the only person/people sleeping on your mattress, you may not be as concerned about mattress protection as an innkeeper or hotel manager. Although it is important to use the same care as described in this article for saving your mattress investment, an innkeeper will find it even more important for their guests.
As an innkeeper or hotel owner, you cannot be too careful about protecting your mattresses from human contamination, bedbugs, dust mites, etc. So we, at InnStyle, always recommend good mattress hygiene by protecting your mattresses from bodily fluids, including blood, urine, perspiration and what cannot always be easily seen on the mattress.
Continue reading Protecting Your Mattress →
Bath TowelsWe have many customers asking us about the best size to purchase in a bath towel. Many years ago the most popular size of a bath towel was 27”x 50”. As the years went by, manufacturers were offering larger sizes starting with 27”x 54” up to 30”x 56” for a bath towel and in some cases 30”x 60” or 34”x 64”(in the past, considered a bath sheet size). Customers are requesting large bath towels which will wrap around their body. Larger bath towels are, in most cases, more luxurious in size, weight, cotton content and softness. Most bath towels can fit on a normal size towel bar.
Continue reading Bath Towels, Bath Sheets & Pool Towels →
Do not use Chlorine Bleach on your sheeting or towels as it will cause fading and discoloration. It breaks down and permanently weakens the cotton fibers. It is important to ensure that your linens do not come in contact with face creams or toothpaste as these may leave stains on your towels or sheets. All stains need to be treated properly before they are put into the washer and dryer. If a stain is not caught before it hits the washer and dryer, the stain will set. Try to use makeup remover towels to remove makeup such as our InnStyle makeup remover towels or Facial Wipes (you will save many towels, washcloths and pillowcases if using these). When washing your linens, use an oxygen-based product or a product without a brightener and fragrance to wash the linens. Brighteners in washing detergents can leave white spots. Oxygen based products are safe for use on almost all washable fabrics including color fabrics. When using an oxygen-based product, the chemical ingredient oxidizes to help remove soil and organic matter brightening the fabric and removing stains without taking out the color of the fabric.
Fabric softener is also Not Recommended!! Fabric softener is designed to coat fibers in oils, waxes and fragrances that might make the fabric feel soft but the build-up of chemicals can damage the fabric and make it less absorbent. In addition, fabric softeners clog the pores of cottons including Egyptian cotton . This applies to any sheeting or toweling. It prevents the cotton from breathing and it decreases the luster and gloss of the appearance. High quality Cottons including Egyptian cotton linens do not need to be treated with fabric softener. The Cotton will become softer naturally, without fabric softener, after repeated washings and dryings.
The InnStyle staff would be happy to go over proper care of our fine linens with you. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
How long should my bed sheets last?
This is a question asked frequently by both our innkeepers and by our customers for home use.
For home use & hospitality use, with proper care, fine bed linens (depending on the sheets you purchase-this is why I state “fine linens”) can last for many years. It is best to alternate the use of each set on a weekly basis for home use. For innkeepers, of course, sheets need to be changed each time a guest checks out and a new guest arrives. Innkeepers will find that most sheets will need to be replaced sooner (than a homeowner) depending on how often their turnover is of guest occupancy in their properties. Three sets of sheets for each bed is a good guideline to follow for hospitality and for your home: one on the bed, one in the wash, one in the closet. In between each use, launder and store your linens in a well-ventilated space. For best results when laundering, use a non-chlorine bleach and a gentle liquid detergent. Wash on a gentle cycle with warm water. Tumble dry until slightly damp. Over drying or drying on too hot a setting is the single biggest factor in reducing the life of your sheets.
Continue reading Cotton Sheeting →
Since there are so many choices out in the marketplace on pillows, innkeepers are always concerned about purchasing the correct and best pillows for their Inn. We usually can solve these concerns by speaking to them about their options and budgets and sending them samples to try. The truth is that everyone has different likes and dislikes when it comes to pillows. So we will always advise to have a few different styles of pillows in each room and extra styles/sizes on hand.
Size of Pillows
The size of bed pillows you choose will depend on the size of the bed and the preferences of your guests and how they sleep. In general, for a twin size bed, a standard pillow would be the correct size. For a queen bed two queens is a preference and for a king bed two king pillows would fit best on the bed. We always suggest having 2 pillows in the room for each guest. It would be best to have a soft (down-like) pillow and a medium firm pillow. It is always good to have available a few down pillows and a few firm pillows (in standard, queen & king) on hand for those guests who prefer “real down” or very firm pillows. Also, guests sleeping on a king bed may prefer a smaller pillow then a king. Having these extra pillows on hand in different fills and sizes is a thoughtful accommodation for your guests who will appreciate your consideration of their sleeping needs. On our site we have a pillow menu that may help with making pillow choices for your particular property. Guests appreciate it when they can have the pillow of their choice to ensure a good night’s sleep.
Continue reading Purchasing Pillows For Your Inn →
Traditionally a quilt is a cover that is able to be used in a variety of ways. Quilts have a layer of batting or padding placed between two layers of fabric and then stitched into a specific pattern or design to hold the layers in place. Batting is a soft and bulky assembly of fibers that gives the quilt loft and creates a layer of insulation.
There are 2 different types of quilts. The first type is made with a single uniform piece of fabric for the top layer. This is different from the second type, a piecework quilt that joins smaller sections of fabric together to create the top layer. On each type of quilt, the underside will be a single piece of solid color fabric. Pieced quilts are often made from fabrics that may have been used previously in clothing, upholstery, former drapery, or bedding. Any fabric that is not being worn or used for its original purpose can be reused in this fashion. Some quilters will purchase bolts of fabric or yards of fabric and cut into smaller pieces to make a quilt of their own artistic design. This makes for an interesting and unique cover for a bed, couch, throw, or chair. Some quilts are made from a combination of antique fabrics, old clothing pieces, or upholstery fabric.
Continue reading Quilts and Matelasse’ Coverings →
If you are an innkeeper and you have a shelf or a corner of a room in your property, you should consider using this space for a gift shop. Gift shops are a great way for innkeepers to earn a little extra income. You do not need a lot of space, just a small area in which you can display some products that you may currently be using in your inn. Many of our innkeepers have been using our InnStyle 600 Wrinkle Free Sheets for the beds in their bed and breakfasts or inns. Their guests love these sheets, comment how wonderful they are to sleep on and want to purchase them. On a shelf, a set of sheets can be displayed with a list of sizes and prices. You can take orders to be shipped direct to your customer by InnStyle. It really is that easy!
Continue reading Add a Gift Shop to Your Inn →
A fingertip towel is a small towel designed to be easy and convenient for drying hands and particularly ‘fingertips’ quickly. It is smaller than a hand towel, yet larger than a wash cloth. A fingertip towel can be functional, decorative, or both. It is a versatile towel that can be laid on the countertop next to the sink, hung on a small towel rack, or draped over coordinating bath towels or hand towels, particularly in guest bathrooms.
Continue reading The What and Where of Fingertip Towels →
You’ve probably seen the terms on the labels: Egyptian cotton, Pima cotton, various thread counts. You may be thinking to yourself, are these just marketing terms or do they have meaning that you should know before you buy. Let us break these terms down for you so that you know what you’re purchasing.
Egyptian cotton
This term refers to a particular type of cotton that is grown in Egypt. This is an extra long staple cotton. Long staple cottons are known for their smooth glossy finish and their luxurious feel. As a general rule, longer cotton creates a more comfortable finished product than those made with shorter staple cottons.
Continue reading Sheet Terms: Egyptian Cotton vs. Pima Cotton (With Bonus Info on Thread Count) →