The summer holidays are in full swing! Hopefully you’re out there enjoying the sun, either on holiday or basking in the warm weather we’ve been having here in the UK. The warmer weather of course goes hand in hand with both sun cream and insect repellent, so it’s a good time to be thinking about the creams and oils we’re putting on our skin, and how they can potentially damage our bed linen and sheets.
We know it’s hard to keep bedding sets safe from all the elements! But what about those days when you’ve slathered yourself (and your loved ones) in a healthy layer sun cream, insect repellent, and after-sun? We sat down with Georgia - founder of French Bedroom and mother of two - to document her top tips for keeping your luxury bed linen protected.
Create a barrier between you and your luxury bedding
Sun cream is made from oils and chemicals which, over time, will break down the natural fibres of luxury bed linen, especially cotton and silk. A main ingredient in some creams is avobenzone, which is a direct cause of stains, so it is worth finding one that doesn’t contain this ingredient.
Another handy tip Georgia has shared is to protect your sheets by using a flat sheet underneath your duvet. Fold the top section of the sheet over the duvet and create an ‘apron’ effect – this will ensure no contact between sun cream and your favourite bedding sets!
Use old sheets
Insect repellent is full of chemicals. It can be easy to fall into the trap of buying insect repellent full of natural repellents such as citronella and peppermint, to try and alleviate the effects the chemicals have on your sheets and clothes. Unfortunately, even these are harmful to your fabrics and can damage the natural fibres of cotton! In a pinch, Georgia recommends using old sheets if possible.
Take precaution if you have insect repellent spray or cream on your skin. Make sure to apply the spray outdoors and wash it off before going to bed. To ensure nothing impacts the quality of your favourite designer bedding, don’t sleep with it on and instead opt for older sheets during the summer.
Naturally deter insects from your linen
During the warmer months we want to make sure our homes are well ventilated, so naturally we keep the windows open whilst we’re home. However, with windows open, we are running the risk of small insects and bugs ending up on our linen. These can cause problems, especially with moths who love to take bites out of sheets!
To help prevent this, put fresh fragrances in the bedroom. Dry lavender and cedar wood around the bed will not only keep the aroma of the room nice and fresh, but it will also naturally repel bugs like moths and flies.
Even better, purchase a scented cotton fitted sheet such as our Lavender Scented Cotton Fitted Sheets and Pillowcases which will also naturally deter insects from bed linen, alongside helping you fall asleep easier.
Remove stains with items from the pantry
Should an accident occur, and a sun cream stain appears, treat the issue with talcum powder or bicarbonate of sofa before washing. A tried and tested method shared with us from Georgia, she explains: “This works in the same way as dotting oil stains on a silk dress with talcum powder. The talcum powder or bicarbonate of soda absorbs the excess oil, leaving the washing powder to remove the marks.”
For white linen, a 60-degree wash with whitening agents may be required, however we do recommend avoiding washing bed linen at this temperature where possible, as hot washes can break down the fibres. Once washed, hang your clothing out to dry in the sun. The sun is good at naturally bleaching stained white fabrics safely.
We hope these top tips on how to remove sun cream stains from bed linen help! As with anything special in your wardrobe, when it comes to stains or potentially ruining the bed linen, prevention is best, and easier than having to cure a problem!
