The Laundress is featured on "The Daily Basics"

SNAP THOSE SHEETS
Picture this …

A deep mattress bed. Soft down pillows. The covers turned back just waiting for you to climb in at the end of your tortuously tough day. The kids are asleep, that book you have been dying to sink your teeth into sits waiting for you by your bedside. You finally get in sliding between the softest, lavender scented pressed sheets. You have found luxury right here in your own home. You take a deep breath and sigh. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Suddenly your eyes snap open and you realize that your sheets are scratchy, your pillows are too hard and you are facing a night of tossing and turning as usual.

Time for a change.

You spend 1/3 of your life in bed, sleeping, being sick, reading, watching t.v. or whatever. Doesn’t your bed deserve a bit of attention to detail? Wouldn’t you like your whatever life to improve? Darn tootin’ you would.

Not only will the following seven steps make your life feel more luxurious, but you will be better rested, healthier and happier.

Step One:
The bed. If you don’t have a proper comfy bed, get out there and get one. A bad mattress can ruin your posture, your sleeping habits and can cause all kinds of aches and pains. Go to a few bed stores and test them out. Make a Saturday out of it.

Step Two:
The pillows. Get yourself some fabulous pillows. Try down pillows (if you are not allergic) . They come in all kinds of softness. Fabulous down pillows can be found at L.L. Bean or Lands End.

Step Three:
Mattress covers. Yup, those, too. Make sure you get a good quality quilted one. It will be protective of the mattress and add comfort to your sleep. Good ones are at L.L. Bean or Lands End or just go down to your local Bed, Bath & Beyond or Target for good basics.

Step Four:
The sheets. Here is the zinger. You are going to go buy sheets. New sheets. Cotton sheets. Not polyester. You might put your foot down here and not want to buy the pure cotton sheets because, face it, you are going to have to iron them. You might want a blend. That’s okay, too, but you must buy quality. Not only will they give you that much more pleasure, but they will last so much longer! Look for Egyptian, Italian linen, Combed Cotton or Pima.

Some favorites, expensive but SO worth it…. Matouk, Pratesi, Porthault, Anichini, Sferra and so on. Get educated. Compare the fine linens with the average ones. You'll see the difference. You’ll want the best.

Step Five:
Washing. If you want your sheets to feel the best and last the longest, listen up. Do it right every time, no cheating. The Laundress will tell you everything you need to know from A – Z.

Lindsey Wieber Boyd and Gwen Whiting This is no joke - these gals are laundresses. That's right. They graduated from Cornell with degrees in Fiber Science, Textile and Apparel Management and Design. They figured out the science of doing laundry to perfection. Check them out at www.thelaundress.com

The Laundress products are Eco-chic, concentrated, 100% biodegradable and are allergen free. Their soaps are specific. They include laundry soap for ; general, lights, darks, delicate, baby, swimwear, wool & cashmere, denim and sports clothing.

In addition to the laundry soaps, they have developed a complete home cleaning line including an herbal scented vinegar that cleans like no body’s business!

Click here to get recipes on how to get your laundry looking as good as the day you bought it!

Step Six:
Drying. What brand of washer and dryer you choose is certainly up to you. The new front loaders with steam are mega-fantastic. Much of the time, a quick iron is all you need to finish off what these machines do to your laundry. The other way to dry your sheets is the old-fashioned way. On a clothes line. There is something about line drying clothes that makes them smell fresher and cleaner. Besides that, it is eco-friendly or as we like to say here at The DB, it’s just like Grandma use to do it.

Step Seven:
Ironing made easy. The Rowenta. The cream of the crop in irons, Rowenta’s irons are pricey and worth it. This light weight iron has steam features you have never heard of before. It makes ironing a pleasure and your clothes and linens come out perfect every time.

How do you iron sheets? Easy. Immediately after they finish drying, fold them flat. That is the initial pressing. When you go to iron them (use steam or spritz with water or starch), you iron the top 10″ perfectly. Fold the sheet twice over and press again. Fold twice over again and press. Fold to storage size. Make sure you iron your pillowcases to perfection.

Pleasant dreams and…whatever.

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