Regular Cotton and Long-staple Cotton: What’s the Difference?

Cotton is classified as long-staple cotton when the fibers are from 1 1/8” to 2 ½” long. Some types of long-staple cotton are Pima, Egyptian and Sea Island cotton. Pima cotton is grown in the Southwestern United States, Egyptian cotton is grown in the Nile River Valley. Sea Island cotton is grown in the Sea Islands, which are off the coast of Georgia, the Carolinas, and in the Caribbean.

Long-staple cotton is known for being softer than ordinary cotton because of those longer fibers. It is prized for use in sheets and comforter sets because it is so soft and supple.

What Is the Difference Between a Comforter and a Duvet?

The word “Duvet” in French means “down.” The term duvet and the term comforter both apply to the think quilted type cover you put on your bed. Sometimes you hear the term “duvet cover” or “comforter cover.” The word “cover” is the clue that this is a cover for your comforter. Think of a duvet cover as a giant pillow case for your comforter. You slip your comforter inside the “cover” and button or zip it up.

Duvet covers and comforter covers are less expensive than a full comforter. They are easy to remove and wash. And they allow you to change them out and change the look of your room without spending a ton of money.

Washing Your Comforter Sets with Shampoo?

When you need to wash a down comforter or any other type of comforter, if you are not going to take it to a dry cleaner then you need a gentle detergent. You could go for the Woolite, but think about this. You use shampoo on your hair day in and day out and it continues to stay soft while it gets clean. Shampoo is very gentle and actually makes an excellent “detergent” for your comforter. Use just enough to get a little bit of sudsing but not too much. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and then dry thoroughly.

Better Sleep!

Do you have the right pillow? Mostly we don’t think about our pillows. They are just there, doing their job… or not. Maybe it’s time for a pillow makeover.

Do you sleep on your stomach? You probably don’t like your head to be at a funny angle. You may need a very soft pillow. If you sleep on your side you probably need something that is going to support your neck. If you are a back sleeper than you may need a flatter pillow so that your neck is not cranked up.

When shopping for pillows, they typically come in extra soft, soft, medium, firm, and overfilled. Overfilled will be the most firm, while of course, extra soft pillows are the softest.

There’s Always Time for Romance!

No matter when your anniversary is, it is never the wrong time for a romantic surprise. Your house may not be a fancy hotel, but how about going upstairs a little early one evening, and turning down the sheets, and putting a little chocolate on the pillow? You could add a romantic note, and even light some candles. It is always these little things that keep our marriages fresh and romantic.

Doing What Your Mother Did

Most of us do what our mother’s did. I heard a story once of a woman who was cooking a roast for the first time. She prepared the roast and hacked off the end, then put it in the pan and placed it in the oven. A friend was watching and asked why she hacked off the end. The woman said because that was how her mother had done it. But now she was curious and so she called up her mother and asked her why she did roasts that way. Her mother said it was because that was how Grandma did it. Really curious now, the woman called Grandma. Grandma informed her that she always hacked off the end of the roast because her pan was too small.

This story is funny, but it illustrates a good point. We tend to do what our parents did without even asking why. My example is the way I make my bed. My mother and her mother before her always pulled the comforter up and covered the pillows. So that is how I have always done it. But now I am looking for a fresh look and am considering folding it over and letting the pillows show.

What do you do? And more importantly, why? I would love to hear your stories.

The Benefit of Candle Snuffers!

The wax from candles can get very hot. When children especially blow out candles they can be very enthusiastic about it. They blow very hard and can actually splash wax out, staining furniture or burning another person. But there is a better way, and even children can have fun doing it. I am talking about purchasing an inexpensive candle snuffer. This is a small metal cup positioned on the end of a long handle (think of an oversized thimble). When you place it over the flame it cuts off the oxygen and the candle goes out. Some people actually touch them down onto the top of the wick to tamp it out, but this is not usually necessary. Just removing the oxygen supply will be enough.

Snuffers are easy to store and even children can be taught how to use them correctly. After  all, this is how it was done in the days before electricity.

Thinking Out of the Box, or Bed!

When you decide to redo your bedroom, the bed is the first thing that comes to mind. And the truth is that it is usually the central piece of furniture in that room. You may already have something in mind, or you may not.

Most of us, when picturing a remodeled room, tend to picture the same type of bed we had before. But how about thinking out of the box a little bit? Imagine the room with a completely different bed type (for example instead of a regular bed you picture a platform or storage bed). Then imagine the comforter set that would go best with that bed type. You never know what direction this will lead you in. You might find that the finished product is completely different than you first imagined. And it’s usually way better than you originally imagined.

Don’t Forget Candle safety!

Lighting some pillar candles or votive candles, or using some floating candles can be a real treat. But anytime we indulge we can’t forget to always be safety conscious. The U.S. National Fire Protection Association at one time estimated that misuse of candles was one of the leading causes of residential fires in the U.S. This is a sobering fact and should not be taken lightly. So when enjoying your candles, be sure to follow some basic guidelines.

1.      Don’t leave candles unattended.

2.      Don’t light candles in any location where the heat from the candle can ignite any flammable material.

3.      Don’t let children play near the candles or dip their finger into the hot wax.

4.      Be sure to blow them out or use a snuffer.

5.      Follow up and make sure the wick is no longer glowing before you walk away.

The use of candles doesn’t have to be dangerous. Following a few basic safety tips can ensure years of pleasure and enjoyment.

Accent Rugs Are Just the Thing!

Do you have wood floors and love how they look? But when it’s chilly outside you hate those cold floors on your feet? Pick out some accent rugs and place them in selected spots, such as along the side of your bed or in front of the sink and toilet. This way when you get out of bed or when you have to stand in the bathroom your feet aren’t freezing.

Small rugs like this can be purchased anywhere and they usually come in a variety of colors and patterns. You can find them to match just about any décor. They are small enough that they don’t completely cover your wood floor so you can continue to enjoy the look of the wood without freezing your toes off!

Cleaning Up After Your Candles

When we burn candles we sometimes spill wax. There are ways to clean up that wax that we have already discussed. But one thing many forget to think about is the ceiling. If you burn a candle in a location once then there probably won’t be any noticeable grime on the ceiling. But if the candle is burned often in the same place you might take a look at the ceiling and see if it needs to be cleaned.

Those repairing the Sistine Chapel discovered this same problem. For decades they thought that Michelangelo had just used dark paints with bland colors when he painted his magnificent work of art. But during a period of repair as they started to clean the painting they were astonished to see the bright colors appearing from under the grime. It turned out that years of candle smoke and ash had accumulated and dulled the painting. Once clean the artwork was restored to its original glory.

This can happen at your house, too. Use a cloth and cleaner that are appropriate for the paint you have and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see how easy it is to clean the ash and grime from your ceilings. Then continue to enjoy your candles as before.

Pillows Can Make a Splash!

If you want to change things up a little but don’t have a huge budget, consider decorative pillows. They can be found just about anywhere and come in all sizes, shapes and colors. By exchanging the current pillows in a room with pillows of another color you can give the room a whole new look. Or add some decorative pillows to a bed and add that splash of color that brightens up the entire room.

Use decorative pillows in living rooms on chairs or couches to draw the eye. You can use them also on outdoor furniture (assuming you will bring them inside or they are waterproof). They go just about anywhere and can adjust the balance of a room just enough to make it look fresh and new.

Let Candlelight Inspire You!

Do you sometimes need a fresh inspiration but you feel pretty dry and empty? There are some tried and true methods for calming your mind and allowing a fresh inspiration to flow. One of them is watching fish. There is something about just watching fish swim back and forth that is very calming. If you don’t have access to fish, then another method is watching fire. You can light a fire in your fireplace if you have one. However, being that it’s summer time this might be impractical. So instead you could light some candles. Try a group of different sized pillar candles. Move them somewhat close together and then light them. If you have a lavender scented one in the group this is helpful. Lavender is very soothing.

Or even better, if you have the space to do it, set some lighted floating candles afloat and then just watch them as they float around. The flickering of the flame will calm your mind. Let all those nuisance thoughts just rise up and away on the smoke from the flickering of the flame. Soon your mind will feel less cluttered. Continue to just stare into the flame and let your mind wander. After a while those new and fresh thoughts can begin to flow.

Enjoying Candles

There’s nothing like lighting some candles and turning the lights down. Then you just sit back and stare at the flames, or at the shadows they produce on the wall. It is cozy. It is romantic. It is comforting. A candle can make a dull room look better. It makes the room feel warmer. It adds that little something that no other accessory can give. Scented candles also fill a room with a gentle fragrance that can relax or stimulate romance. There’s just nothing like it.