Are linen sheets a worthy investment?
Linen sheets, especially those made in France or Italy, have great cachet, and during the summer months they are especially cool and absorbent. But they tend to be expensive (Sferra makes a queen-size flat sheet that sells for about $245) and can be rough to the touch, at least initially. It can take many washings before they soften up. Plus, linen should not be subjected to a hot clothes dryer and will not look hotel-perfect if left unironed. For those who can afford to buy them, of course, the solution is simple: Send them to the same service that takes care of those designer denims. Do special sheets require special care? Some experts say that, like those made from linen, luxury cotton sheets benefit from careful handling. It’s a good idea to launder them with warm water (not hot), and some manufacturers recommend a detergent for delicates (such as Woolite). Line-drying the sheets reduces wear from the dryer and allows them to lose some of their wrinkles, as does pulling them out of
