Creases in Sheet Hems Dilemma
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Creases in Sheet Hems Dilemma Phaedrine Stonebridge 04-25-2008
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Posted by Nick and Judy on April 28, 2008, 3:18 pm
I have had success with minimizing wrinkling by drying my king sized top and
bottom sheet separately. Even though they both fit into the dryer together,
they come out less wrinkled when they have more room.
>
>> >
>> > Before I returned to the practice of line-drying my bedding, some
>> > of my sheets developed deep creases--- pleats actually--- in the
>> > hems. I can wet-press them after washing but the creases are so
>> > "set" that they begin to pleat before I can even get the sheets on
>> > the bed. The pleats are rather uncomfortable and unsightly and run
>> > the length of the hem. Despite that these are expensive sheets with
>> > a high thread count, the hems are only two and not three
>> > thicknesses.
>> >
>> > So, I'm desperate for a solution to this problem. I know, now, how
>> > to avoid it in the future: never put my sheets in the dryer and
>> > never spin them at too high a speed. Has anyone dealt with this
>> > problem?
>>
>> Are we speaking of the large hem (top) or the small (bottom)?
>
> Thanks for responding (and to Judie too!). Like I said in my post, it
> is the 4 inch wide hem.
>
>> Have found this problem mainly on new sheets, though the first few
>> washes of my vintage Wamsutta percales gave similar problems. However
>> since I line damp-dry all my linens, then iron, pulling the hems
>> straight isn't that much of a problem.
>>
>> Try using warm water instead of very hot or hot for laundering. Also
>> spin for as short time as possible, then allow sheets to line dry if
>> possible. What is probably going on is some contraction of stitching,
>> especially if hems have cording or some such decoration. Find pulling
>> the hems taut before sheets are totally dry helps. Back in the old days
>> two people, one on each end would pull sheets taut, especially the hems
>> to smooth things out, even if they were not going to be ironed.
>
> I have to use hot water since I have a pretty terrible dust mite
> allergy. I spin the sheets at a low setting. But, like I said, this
> happened before I started hanging out my laundry again. Unless this is
> just an inherent problem with some new sheets, I think I can prevent it
> with line-drying. What I'm looking for is a fix for the already
> affected sheets.
>
> It's interesting that you mention old sheets though. This has not
> happened with *any* of my vintage sheets (still in use), either percale
> or muslin, despite the exact same treatment. These particular sheets
> are 350 thread count pima cotton from The Company Store. I wonder if
> newer factory fabric treatments are causing this problem.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Phae
> --
> "The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time
> with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
> -- Thomas Jefferson



Posted by Phaedrine Stonebridge on April 29, 2008, 1:34 am

> I have had success with minimizing wrinkling by drying my king sized top and
> bottom sheet separately. Even though they both fit into the dryer together,
> they come out less wrinkled when they have more room.

I've been line-drying almost all our laundry for over a year now and
I'll never willingly go back to using a dryer for everything. I even
line-dry my towels and then air-fluff them in the dryer w/no heat. I do
make an exception for cotton knits shirts, however. I dry them on the
lower heat setting for 15 to 25 minutes, depending how many, and then
finish drying them on hangers. That way they do not wrinkle and need no
pressing.

My husband installed a retractable clothesline thingy in the basement
for me for the winter and bad weather. It has 6 lines and spans up to
30 feet, IIRC, for a total of about 150 lineal feet of line. Best thing
since sliced bread.

Phae
--
"The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time
with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
-- Thomas Jefferson

Posted by Taria on April 28, 2008, 3:23 pm
I have sheets that do this also. I would think just cutting that hem
section off and re-hemming or adding a wide lace or maybe contrast
fabric trim would fix them. I never have been able to get the creases
out. I hang sometimes and machine dry sometimes. I don't remember
this problem with my old top loader machine and wonder if the front
loader has some part of the problem.
Most of the sheets around here are Penneys brand. I wonder if you wrote
the manufacturer whether they might have a reason or solution or
explanation?
Taria

Phaedrine Stonebridge wrote:
>
>
>>
>>>Before I returned to the practice of line-drying my bedding, some
>>>of my sheets developed deep creases--- pleats actually--- in the
>>>hems. I can wet-press them after washing but the creases are so
>>>"set" that they begin to pleat before I can even get the sheets on
>>>the bed. The pleats are rather uncomfortable and unsightly and run
>>>the length of the hem. Despite that these are expensive sheets with
>>>a high thread count, the hems are only two and not three
>>>thicknesses.
>>>
>>>So, I'm desperate for a solution to this problem. I know, now, how
>>>to avoid it in the future: never put my sheets in the dryer and
>>>never spin them at too high a speed. Has anyone dealt with this
>>>problem?
>>
>>Are we speaking of the large hem (top) or the small (bottom)?
>
>
> Thanks for responding (and to Judie too!). Like I said in my post, it
> is the 4 inch wide hem.
>
>
>>Have found this problem mainly on new sheets, though the first few
>>washes of my vintage Wamsutta percales gave similar problems. However
>>since I line damp-dry all my linens, then iron, pulling the hems
>>straight isn't that much of a problem.
>>
>>Try using warm water instead of very hot or hot for laundering. Also
>>spin for as short time as possible, then allow sheets to line dry if
>>possible. What is probably going on is some contraction of stitching,
>>especially if hems have cording or some such decoration. Find pulling
>>the hems taut before sheets are totally dry helps. Back in the old days
>>two people, one on each end would pull sheets taut, especially the hems
>>to smooth things out, even if they were not going to be ironed.
>
>
> I have to use hot water since I have a pretty terrible dust mite
> allergy. I spin the sheets at a low setting. But, like I said, this
> happened before I started hanging out my laundry again. Unless this is
> just an inherent problem with some new sheets, I think I can prevent it
> with line-drying. What I'm looking for is a fix for the already
> affected sheets.
>
> It's interesting that you mention old sheets though. This has not
> happened with *any* of my vintage sheets (still in use), either percale
> or muslin, despite the exact same treatment. These particular sheets
> are 350 thread count pima cotton from The Company Store. I wonder if
> newer factory fabric treatments are causing this problem.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Phae


Posted by Phaedrine Stonebridge on April 29, 2008, 1:21 am

> I have sheets that do this also. I would think just cutting that hem
> section off and re-hemming or adding a wide lace or maybe contrast
> fabric trim would fix them. I never have been able to get the creases
> out. I hang sometimes and machine dry sometimes. I don't remember
> this problem with my old top loader machine and wonder if the front
> loader has some part of the problem.

I also have a front loader and it's taken me some time to get used to
it. Because of excessive wrinkling problems, I spin very few things at
the highest speed (1200 rpm). Most things I spin at 800 rpm or lower to
prevent my clothing from being ruined. So much for that part of the
alleged front-loader efficiency. What kind of savings is it if your
clothes are ruined from excess creasing or you have to iron a whole lot
more? I also never had this problem with my top loaders.

> Most of the sheets around here are Penneys brand. I wonder if you wrote
> the manufacturer whether they might have a reason or solution or
> explanation?

I have Penny's sheets that are over 35 years old. They are only now
just starting to seem a bit thin. And they do not have wrinkled hems.

Phae
--
"The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time
with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
-- Thomas Jefferson

Posted by Candide on April 28, 2008, 7:24 pm




>
> > >
> > > Before I returned to the practice of line-drying my bedding, some
> > > of my sheets developed deep creases--- pleats actually--- in the
> > > hems. I can wet-press them after washing but the creases are so
> > > "set" that they begin to pleat before I can even get the sheets on
> > > the bed. The pleats are rather uncomfortable and unsightly and
run
> > > the length of the hem. Despite that these are expensive sheets
with
> > > a high thread count, the hems are only two and not three
> > > thicknesses.
> > >
> > > So, I'm desperate for a solution to this problem. I know, now,
how
> > > to avoid it in the future: never put my sheets in the dryer and
> > > never spin them at too high a speed. Has anyone dealt with this
> > > problem?
> >
> > Are we speaking of the large hem (top) or the small (bottom)?
>
> Thanks for responding (and to Judie too!). Like I said in my post, it
> is the 4 inch wide hem.
>
> > Have found this problem mainly on new sheets, though the first few
> > washes of my vintage Wamsutta percales gave similar problems.
However
> > since I line damp-dry all my linens, then iron, pulling the hems
> > straight isn't that much of a problem.
> >
> > Try using warm water instead of very hot or hot for laundering. Also
> > spin for as short time as possible, then allow sheets to line dry if
> > possible. What is probably going on is some contraction of
stitching,
> > especially if hems have cording or some such decoration. Find
pulling
> > the hems taut before sheets are totally dry helps. Back in the old
days
> > two people, one on each end would pull sheets taut, especially the
hems
> > to smooth things out, even if they were not going to be ironed.
>
> I have to use hot water since I have a pretty terrible dust mite
> allergy. I spin the sheets at a low setting. But, like I said, this
> happened before I started hanging out my laundry again. Unless this
is
> just an inherent problem with some new sheets, I think I can prevent
it
> with line-drying. What I'm looking for is a fix for the already
> affected sheets.

Take the freshly laundered sheets that have creases, and rewash in warm
water allowing them to soak for abit. Rinse in cold water and spin for a
short time, then allow to drip dry. When damp start pulling and
smoothing out the hems until they are straight. I would iron them or use
some sort of press to smooth them furhter and help reset the fabric
"memory". Stay away from using straight vinegar on cotton and linen, as
both are weakened by acids.

It is also possible that the heat and tumble drying are causing the hems
to distort, and heat will also "set" these creases. Find all but sateen
sheets are dried best outside of dryer. Indeed only really dry sateen
sheets in the dryer when circumstances prohibit line drying outdoors, or
in the airing cupboard.


>
> It's interesting that you mention old sheets though. This has not
> happened with *any* of my vintage sheets (still in use), either
percale
> or muslin, despite the exact same treatment. These particular sheets
> are 350 thread count pima cotton from The Company Store. I wonder if
> newer factory fabric treatments are causing this problem.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Phae

Am thinking again, there is something in how the hems were constructed,
perhaps the tension was a bit tight and one is getting lots of
constriction. Find so many variations in new linens these days, that am
grateful one mainly uses vintage Pequot,Wamsutta, Cannon for cotton
linens, and pure Irish or French linens for pure bed linen. Don't care
whose name is on the label, most everything is made in China these
days, and quality varies from good to down right horrible.




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