Hotel Linen Jargon Buster

When buying you hotel linen you'll come across quite a bit of jargon. These are terms used throughout the linen industry to explain different types of fabrics and the treatments used to create a particular finish. Our jargon buster guide is designed to give you a helping hand in finding the ideal linen for your establishment.

Pillowcases

• Bag pillowcase; A popular choice for hotels and B&B's, due to its design. Rather than featuring a zip, button or flap, a bag pillowcase has a handy opening to slot the pillow straight in, making the process of changing beds more efficient for housekeepers.
• Oxford; An Oxford pillowcase features a decorative border around the outside of the pillowcase as an added feature that can add a sophisticated finish to your guestrooms.
• Housewife; This conventional pillowcase has no border around the perimeter. More basic looking than its oxford counterpart, a housewife pillowcase tends to have a flap, buttons or a zip.

'Calendaring'

This is a finishing process used to give a fabric more lustre. The cloth is pressure treated using rollers under high temperature to achieve a more shiny finish.

'Jacquard'

This is a type of weave, where a more complex pattern is achieved through combining different threads. The Jacquard Loom was invented in France by Joseph Marie Jacquard at the beginning of the 19th Century. It used an early form of what we now call computer cards to programme the pattern and allow for designs that are more intricate.

'Percale'

This refers to a type of weave used in manufacturing. Percale gives a fabric strength and this means it will last longer in multiple washes. Percale is generally only found in high thread-count fabrics.

'Damask'

This is a reversible fabric with a pattern weaved into it that gives the appearance of a sheen, reflecting light as it is moved. Today, damask fabric is manufactured using Jacquard Looms that are controlled by using computerised software.

'Mercerization'

This chemical treatment process for cotton was invented by John Mercer. The modern development of this process gives a softer and stronger fabric. Mercerized Egyptian cotton is the most durable and will be less likely to fade or lose its high-quality feel in repetitive washes.

'Hospital Corners' & how to make them

Making a beautiful bed is part of making your guests feel welcome.

Nowadays with fitted bottom sheets the first step is made much easier, but it's still good to make sure the sheet's elastic is stretched evenly around the mattress, because this will prevent the corners from riding up. Smooth out the sheet from the middle to the edges and tuck any loose bits firmly under the mattress.

Nowadays with fitted bottom sheets the first step is made much easier, but it's still good to make sure the sheet's elastic is stretched evenly around the mattress, because this will prevent the corners from riding up. Smooth out the sheet from the middle to the edges and tuck any loose bits firmly under the mattress.