How should you keep your linens from fading?

Q: How do you keep luxury linens from fading? A: It is important to understand just what causes linens to fade. Most likely, fading is due to a combination of factors, including cleaning techniques, exposure to weather/sunlight, and normal wear and tear. Some of these factors are out of your control. However, in order to minimize fading, it is essential to take special care to control those factors you can. It is a best practice to read and understand the fabric care instructions label and adopt its laundering recommendations. Before washing, sort your laundry into like colors. Always use a mild detergent, with no Chlorine. Never use a fabric softener. Think cool! Washing in hot water and drying on high temperatures will not only damage the fabric, but it may also cause fading. If you line-dry your linens, avoid direct sunlight, as the ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause colors to fade. Here’s something to keep in mind: if you have matching linens (a set of sheets and pillowcases, a tablecloth and matching napkins, etc.) each piece should be cared for equally regardless of whether or not it is soiled, or even used. Wash them all together. The idea is to give each piece the same frequency of trips through the laundering process to help maintain color consistency. This practice will not necessarily help avoid fading, but it will make any fading that does occur much less noticeable.