Understand how it develops
The very first step to keep you away from substance abuse is to be aware of “how actually one develops this habit”. This habit in most of the cases is unconsciously developed. By the time a person realizes that he is addicted to a drug, the damage is already done. And this damage is entirely irrevocable. Hence, it is wise on part of an individual to be proactive and understand the actual cause of this problem and prevent the habit before it develops. The basic reasons for getting into drug addiction include mental illness, work pressure, depression, bad company, temptation, etc.

Avoid temptations and peer pressure
This is the major cause for drug addition, as temptation and peer pressure are very hard to overcome. These are the probable motivators for substance abuse for any individual. Drugs are specifically designed with the elements which make the individual habituated to them. This tunes the mind of the drug abuser towards it and the temptation to abuse it regularly starts immediately.

Another aspect that affects drug abuse is peer pressure. This is very common among teens. Most of the teens, even adult drug abusers provoke others to abuse drugs. They tend to tease the persons who refuse to abuse, which makes the non-abusers to take up drugs in order to fit in the crowd. It is very hard to overcome peer pressure, it needs great courage to say ‘NO’ and stand by our own principles.

Stay away from substance abuse hangouts
One of the best ways to turn away from drug abuse is to stay from the substance abuse hangouts. They are the potential starters for drug abuse in a society. These places encourage temptation and peer pressure will be high. Avoiding these hangouts will be of great help in preventing and overcoming the drug abuse. Especially, it is very much useful in cases of out-of-city parties or rave parties.

Practice healthier living habits
The most positive way of turning away from substance abuse is to practice healthier lifestyle. Healthy living ensures good habits, mental strength, and good health and most importantly averts the negative influence. Being a part of social activities, being in a good company, exercising physically and mentally, and good diet is a part of healthy lifestyle. Healthier lifestyle imparts positive energy and increase confidence to overcome any kind of wrong temptations.

Keep a balanced life
The main reason for developing drug addiction is lack of mental strength. An individual most often succumbs to the pressures associated with life and work. These pressures result in imbalances leading to the addiction of drugs. One of the best possible ways to ensure a well-balanced life is to be in a good company. This enhances the positive outlook on life which leads to good mental health. Hence, for a good living one needs to balance all the phases of his/her life well, which results in ultimate happiness, thus depriving from the negative habits.

Staying away from drug abuse may sound impossible, but nothing is impossible before strong determination and will power. All the above points provide a clear understanding on how to deal with the problem of substance abuse. Hence, by concentrating on these aspects, one can lead a healthy and happier life.

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In order to track products throughout their life cycle and to improve the performance of automatic tracking systems, many businesses today are using the Direct Part Marking (DPM) method. It involves engraving permanent barcodes directly on the products by various methods. Here are some features of direct part marking barcode scanners that are designed to read such barcodes.

Features of DPM barcode scanners
Direct part marks are 2D or 3D barcodes marked on substrates such as metal, plastic, rubber or glass. Different methods such as dot peen, laser or chemical etching, molding, and casting are used for marking them. There is low contrast between the symbol and the product surface, so it is challenging for regular barcode scanners to read them. DPM barcode scanners have special features that allow them to efficiently read those marks. They read the barcodes by determining the height of lines.

Image-based barcode reading
The most important feature of DPM barcode scanners is advanced digital imaging technology. DPM scanners use special lighting techniques to read the low-contrast barcodes. They provide a uniform illumination on the barcode through specific low-angle lighting and quadrant control features.

A DPM barcode scanner contains a high resolution image sensor that captures the image of the barcode. It can capture low and high contrast marks on any surface including reflective, irregular and curved ones. They have the ability to read even wrinkled marks on the products.

More durable
Direct part marking identification requires rugged and self-contained scanners that can read codes on a wide range of surfaces. As they are image-based scanners, they do not have any moving parts. They are less likely to fail because of damage and are shock-resistant. They are designed in such a way that they can withstand harsh environments. So DPM scanners are more durable and preferred mostly for manufacturing and warehouse applications.

Reads all types of codes
DPM barcode scanners are generally used for reading engraved 2D and 3D barcodes. However, they can also read linear barcodes printed on different types of barcode labels. You can therefore choose DPM barcode scanners when you deal with DPM as well as linear barcode applications in your business. This helps you to eliminate the need to purchase, maintain and support multiple devices for reading barcodes of various symbologies.

Easy to use
DPM barcode scanners are available in corded and cordless versions. They possess omni-directional functionality and can read marks on products aligned at any angle or direction. Hence, they are easy to use and reduce your time and effort in aligning the barcode properly. You do not need any specific training to handle them. Thus, DPM scanners help you to save your money and time that in turn improves productivity and throughput.

As discussed above, DPM barcodes are developed to avoid damage to barcodes due to high temperatures and chemical solvents. With advanced features like image-based scanning and high durability, DPM scanners are the most suitable for manufacturing, warehousing or other industries where environments are harsh.

Barcodescannersstore.com has been in the barcode scanners business since 1994 and proudly serves a nationwide customer base of more than 13,000 customers. Our dedication and focus on only barcode scanners makes us the experts in various types of barcode readers, applications and scanning technologies. We stock a wide range of symbol scanners and symbol barcode products.

Blinds provide one solution, but then you lose the light, one of the main reasons people choose a conservatory over an extension with a closed roof. The most effective solution is air conditioning. This has become much more affordable in recent years and modern air-conditioning units now provide the added benefit of a heating supply in the winter.

Portable or Fixed?
There are essentially two ways to install air conditioning in your conservatory: portable or fixed. If you choose the portable option, not only is this very affordable with prices starting from £230 for smaller units, but it also does not require an external unit and the necessary holes to be drilled through to it from the internal unit. Instead, ducting simply takes the warm air outside from the unit through a window or open door.

Fixed systems do require both an internal and external unit, and careful consideration should be given to the location of both units before installation. The external unit will generate heat and noise, and it can spoil your barbecue if it is located right next to your seating area outside. The internal unit will blow cold air (as you would want) but again this can be uncomfortable if it is directed straight at the back of your neck.

Fixed air-conditioning systems are best fitted when you actually build the conservatory, and a reputable conservatory firm will be able to advise you on specifically where you should best place both the internal and external units as part of your overall design. This is important because fixed systems require a hole through to the outside for the ducting, as well as an electrical supply. The internal unit can be placed high on the wall and a remote control used to operate all functions. It is worth noting that you will want to familiarise yourself with the function for changing the vertical direction of the air. Because in the summer the cold air is best directed upwards as it will drop, whereas in the winter the warm air is best directed downwards where it will rise. Having warm air directed at the seating area is not so unwelcome in the winter, whereas the cold air would be in the summer.

Thermostats and Dehumidification
A real advantage of air conditioners is that they are thermostatically controlled, including most portable units and all fixed units. This means you can find your preferred temperature and keep the conservatory at that point, both when cooling and when heating. In a conservatory setting this is likely to be more accurate than a central heating thermostat as it is a single, isolated space. Another bonus of an air-conditioning unit is that it will remove moisture from the air inside your conservatory. This is often what causes the discomfort on hot days. A dry heat, such as that in a desert location like Las Vegas, is much more bearable than a wet, humid heat such as that of New York City in the summer. If you have experienced these very different kinds of heat, you will immediately see the potential benefit of a system that reduces the humidity of a room. When we do enjoy a hot British summer, it is often accompanied by heavy humidity.

How Many Kilowatts?
The key factor in choosing an air conditioner is how much power you need, that is how many kilowatts (KW) can the unit generate to cool your room. What you will need depends on the size of your conservatory (height as well as width and length) and which way it faces (north or south). It also depends on whether you intend to cool/heat just the conservatory or the adjoining room too. When calculating what you need, you should be aware that this is only applicable if that space is closed (doors and windows) otherwise the unit will attempt to heat/cool the space until it reaches a closed door or window. You wouldn’t want to leave your windows open and let it attempt to cool the entire garden.

A good conservatory designer will quickly be able to tell you what you will need, and can advise on the heating aspect too. But as a rough guide: smaller, north-facing conservatories measuring 4 metres by 3 will only need a 2.5 KW unit; whereas larger conservatories or those that face southwards, will need 3.5 KW or even 5KW. The higher the kilowatts the higher the price for the unit.

Heat Pumps
If you are intending to use the air conditioner as a heater in the winter then you should consider what kind of heat pump it employs. Many air-conditioning systems will cope with heating a room if the outside temperature is above zero degrees Celsius, but once it drops below that they will become erratic and eventually shut down at very low temperatures. By paying a little extra, you can purchase a system fitted with technology that will be able to cope with sub-zero temperatures. In recent years this has become more relevant in the UK, with winters that saw thermometers regularly drop below zero. Again, a reputable conservatory firm will be able to give you advice specific to your needs.

Breckenridge offers the most comprehensive choice of hardwood conservatories, contemporary extensions and orangeries in a choice of materials as well as a range of pool enclosures, summer houses and windows & doors.

Types of heaters
Before selecting a home heater, it is better to know about different types of heaters. Home heaters are generally classified as electric and non-electric heaters.

Electric heaters
Electric heaters are most commonly used for heating purposes at home and office. They provide clean and gentle heat to your home which is safe and non-hazardous. These heaters are highly efficient when compared to any others. They do not use any combustion fuels and hence are more environmentally-friendly. Convection heaters, radiant heaters, and fan heaters are some of the types of electric heaters. They are available in fixed and portable models.

Non-electric heaters
They are suitable for outdoor heating purposes in patio and garden. Wood, gas and kerosene heaters are the common forms of non-electric heaters. As they include use of fuels, they emit carbon monoxide that is harmful for your health. So they are not suitable for indoor home heating.

Factors to consider
With many types of heaters available, it may be confusing to choose a right heater for your home. You need to consider certain factors which help you in the process of selection. Some of them are mentioned here.

Purpose
You can choose a home heater based on the purpose of its usage. Non-electric home heaters can be used for outdoor home heating at a patio or a garden. Electric ones are used for indoor home heating. You can select a fixed electric space heater if you need centralized heating for your home. If you require heating at selected place or if you want to move your heater to different rooms, you can opt for a portable heater.

Mechanism
Mechanism of heating is also an important consideration while selecting a home heater, especially when you opt for an electric heater. On the basis of mechanism of heating, electric heaters are of two types. They are convection heaters and radiant heaters.

Convection heaters contain heating coils and powered fans for circulating warm air inside the room. Convection heaters are best suitable for outdoor home heating. Whereas radiant heaters directly warm up the objects present in the room instead of heating the air. You can prefer radiant heaters when you require instant heat that can be felt within no time.

Durability
It is obvious to select a heater having high durability. Many people prefer to use electric heaters as they are much durable than others.

Cost
Selection of a home heater also depends on the cost of the heater. You can select one based on the amount you can afford. Purchase, installation, and maintenance costs associated with a heater have to be considered before choosing one.

Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is nothing but the ratio between the amount of energy consumed to the amount of energy generated as heat by the heater. Electric heaters are 100% energy efficient in conversion of heat from electricity. Heaters having a thermostat and an automatic on or off function can be chosen for saving energy costs.

Reliability
Reliability is another factor to be considered for choosing a right heater. A reliable heater has to be selected that can heat a wide area more effectively and efficiently. Also consider the reliability of the brand which you choose.

Comfort
You need to select a heater that is comfortable and safe to use. Make sure that it does not harm kids or pets. Electric heaters are more comfortable as they are not associated with fuel combustion. Non-electric heaters involve fire and carbon combustion releasing hazardous gases which are uncomfortable and harmful to your health. In turn, maintenance of non-electric heaters is also cumbersome. Hence, it is better to choose an electric heater that provides comfort as well as safety.

The above mentioned factors can help you to choose a right heater. Also stay away from the home heaters offered by unreliable brands. Make sure that you are choosing the heater from a reputed company, which offers quality products.

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These lethal effects make it necessary to conduct alcohol testing. The first and the best place to conduct alcohol testing is ‘home’. Among various testing tools available, alcohol breathalyzers are easy and efficient to use at home. Here is some information that helps you know the importance of using alcohol breathalyzers at home.

Drinking and driving is dangerous
Driving under the influence of alcohol is very dangerous. Many vehicular accidents and traffic fatalities are associated with drunk driving. This is because alcohol affects the parts of the brain that control vision, skill and judgment. Blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% is found to affect driving skills of alcohol abused persons. Anything above it is considered unsafe and illegal. So, it is always better to check BAC at home using alcohol breathalyzers.

How alcohol breathalyzers work?
Alcohol breathalyzers are the devices which analyze alcohol content in the air expelled from your lungs. Different technologies such as infrared absorption spectroscopy, fuel cell and semiconductor oxide are used by them. These days infrared absorption spectroscopy is used often to detect alcohol content.

Special devices called spectrographs analyze interactions between particulate matter and radiation. Alcohol breathalyzers measure the absorption of infrared light by the molecules in breath sample. Reaction to the infrared light is different for different molecules. This helps the device to detect the chemical composition of the sample. The analyzers can therefore detect the alcohol content present in your breath sample. The blood alcohol content is then calculated from it and presented as result.

Helps you decide whether you are in a condition to drive or not
It is known that alcohol abuse is the most probable reason for car accidents. BAC of suspected drunk drivers is therefore checked by traffic and police officers. However, in order to detect your driving risk, you can conduct a self-test at your home by using an effective alcohol breathalyzer. It helps you to decide your driving condition. Using this, you can avoid any legal hassles that are linked with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Detects alcohol drinking habit in kids
The other major use of alcohol breathalyzers at home is to detect drinking habit among kids. Kids are more susceptible to alcohol abuse because of their peers. They try to hide the drinking habits from family members. Poor academic performance and behavioral problems are also associated with alcohol abused children. So it is necessary for parents to monitor their activities and prevent them from alcohol consumption. Home breathalyzers help you to detect the abuse easily.

Affordable and easy to use
Different models of portable alcohol breathalyzers are available in the market at affordable prices. They are efficient in providing quick and accurate results. They are designed in such a way that they can be handled and used by anyone. Hence, they are more preferred for alcohol testing at home. It is better to buy alcohol breathalyzers which are approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for reliability and safety.

It is therefore beneficial to use alcohol breathalyzers to detect alcohol abuse among your family members. They also help you to reduce the risk of traffic problems associated with alcohol abuse.

Drug Test Strips is an online store offering reliable, easy to use and FDA approved Drug test Kits at affordable prices. Our Marijuana drug testing strip is a rapid urine screening test that can be performed without the use of an instrument. Our Nicotine drug test kit is a device used for the detection of cotinine in human urine.

The Direction of Sunlight
When designing your conservatory or orangery it is useful to consider the direction of sunlight around your home. The glass of a conservatory will benefit from the sunlight in the winter, but this can make the space unbearable in the summer.

We all know the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Many people also know that a south facing window in the UK will enjoy the most sunlight. However, a conservatory facing south will likely be very hot in the summer. Facing south-west is good for your plants, but will be hot as it has the warmest sunlight longest. South-east facing will offer morning sunshine and some in the afternoon, even in the winter, and not be so hot as if it was facing directly south. Northern light is favoured by those who enjoy painting, and a room facing north-west will enjoy evening sun, but will not have sun shining on it all day.

Few of us, though, can turn our home around to favour the best light, although if you have plenty of room around your home, then you will have the opportunity to choose where to extend it and what direction it will face. Here, sunlight may be the most important factor.

For most of us the choice of where to place a conservatory is confined to the rear of the home, (which does have the benefit of simplifying planning permission). Yet even here there can be a choice of extending one end of the rear side or the other – the dining room or the living-room end perhaps. The small change from south-west to south-east, or north-east to north-west can make the difference in the length of time the sunlight reaches a room.

Wraparound Conservatories
A very interesting option for capturing light from different directions is the wraparound conservatory, where the new building wraps around one corner of your home – like an ‘L’ shape. Here, even if the conservatory only extends one metre around a corner you will have light from an opposing direction, which for example can brighten a north facing room in the morning.

Moving the Function of a Space
It is also worth considering changing the use of an existing space to fit with the best position for the conservatory. For example, changing the dining room to a living room, because the new space will, by definition, extend that end of the home and make it a larger space now suitable for a living room.

Moving the function of a space is possible if you are prepared to make the necessary changes. A reputable conservatory builder will be able to include additional work in your design and quote, and it is best to keep an open mind in this case. Even moving the fireplace is possible. Whilst a chimney may have to stay where it is, the fireplace can be removed and a new one added to the conservatory or orangery design. Contemporary electric fireplaces are increasingly fashionable, affordable and offer great flexibility – the same is true for modern wood burners. If the fireplace is at the side of the house where you want to extend then there is the possibility to create a dual-sided fireplace, where the chimney remains, but now reaches up from a fire in between the old and new rooms.
This is not just a consideration of light, but also heat. Glass loses heat far more than brick and stone, having heating inside your conservatory is vital if you want to enjoy it in the winter.

Right to Light
Finally, it is also important to consider your neighbours’ ‘Right to light’. Legal disputes can arise where extensions are built with no planning permission, because for many extensions permission is not required now. But if the resulting build blocks a neighbour’s access to natural light they can take you to court. This right to light is protected under the law and a reputable conservatory builder will be able to advise you on this and all other matters relating to planning permission as well as the Party Wall Act.

Breckenridge offers the most comprehensive choice of conservatory, contemporary extensions and contemporary conservatories in a choice of materials as well as a range of pool enclosures, summer houses and windows & doors.

Tobacco-leading preventable cause of premature death
Tobacco abuse causes health problems such as bronchitis, pneumonia, brain and heart strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. It is also responsible for mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, pancreas and stomach cancers that may lead to death and hence is considered as a leading preventable cause of premature death. Tobacco smoking results in more than 400,000 deaths in the United States every year. It is hence important to prevent Nicotine abuse among people. Conducting Nicotine test at home regularly can help reduce tobacco abuse.

Millions of smokers in US
Nicotine abuse in US has become common. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health states stated that there were about 58.7 million cigarette smokers aged 12 or above in 2009. This contributed to about 23.3 percent of the population. Cigarette smoking was found to be more common among unemployed adults aged 18 or older and constituted about 41.9%.

Effects of Tobacco abuse
Nicotine, the active component of tobacco, activates adrenaline that in turn stimulates the central nervous system. This increases blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate. Nicotine also affects brain pathways that control pleasure and reward.

Tobacco smoking causes lung diseases such as pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It also increases the risk of heart diseases. Different hazardous chemicals including carcinogens in the smoke cause mouth, liver, and stomach cancers. Increased risk of diseases at earlier stages of life due to the abuse leads to premature deaths. Nicotine abuse also affects the personal and social life of the individuals. It is hence important to identify the abusers at primitive stages.

How to identify the abusers?
Tobacco abuse among your family members can be identified by certain signs and symptoms. Some of them include:

Once you identify these signs, conduct a Nicotine test at home to confirm the abuse.

How to conduct the test?
It is very easy to conduct a Nicotine test at home. Different types of kits are available for conducting urine, saliva and hair tests that detect the presence of Cotinine, a metabolite of Nicotine.

Urine test
Urine test is the most common method for testing Nicotine. It can detect Cotinine for two to four days after tobacco use. The concentration of Cotinine is higher in urine when compared to saliva or blood. So, many home test kits are designed to detect Cotinine in urine. The testing materials of the kit react with cotinine of the sample and give a positive or negative result.

Saliva test
It is a cheap and non-invasive method. A saliva sample is taken from the individual through a mouth swab. The saliva test kit checks for the presence of Nicotine and Cotinine. They can be detected for up to 2 to 4 days after use. As it is difficult to cheat the test by adulteration, it is considered to be ideal test that can be conducted at home.

Hair test
In this method, hair taken from any part of the body is checked for the presence of Cotinine. The detection time for Cotinine using hair test is more when compared to the fluid tests. The test is capable of detecting nicotine use for up to 90 days.

How reliable are drug test kits?
Home Nicotine test kits provide quick and accurate results. Some of them are sold in the market only after the approval of Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Hence, they are found to be more reliable and can be used safely at home.

It is most important for parents to detect tobacco abuse in their children. Nicotine test kits serve this purpose well by enabling them to conduct the test in privacy and comfort.

Drug Test Strips is an online store offering reliable, easy to use and FDA approved Drug test kit at affordable prices. Our Marijuana drug testing strip is a rapid urine screening test that can be performed without the use of an instrument. Our drug test nicotine kit is a device used for the detection of cotinine in human urine.

There are a number of family board games on the market today, the 5 most popular classic board games include Monopoly, Payday, Sorry, Life and finally the Cranium board game.

All of the above board games involve more than 2 people playing a game, so they require interaction and socializing. The best of the 5 is considered to be the Cranium board game, this game allows players to use multiple skills and qualities including singing, sculpture, drawing, arithmetic and spelling. So when people play Cranium no one feels bored or left out, there is always something in this game for everyone.

Barcode scanners are important tools which ease business processes in manufacturing, education, healthcare, warehousing and many other fields. Here is a description of barcode scanners that use different technologies.

What is a barcode?
A barcode is an optical machine-readable data containing a series of black bars and white spaces of varied widths. The main aim of using a barcode is to quickly and accurately access information through the code by an automated system. The devices that read data present on barcodes are called barcode scanners.

How does a barcode scanner work?
A barcode scanner consists of an illumination source, sensor, and decoder. An illumination source is used to illuminate the bars and spaces on the barcode. The black bars absorb light from the source and white spaces reflect it. The sensor detects the reflected light from the barcode and generates a signal of varied voltage that represents the intensity of reflection. A decoder with specific software decodes the signal into a readable text that is displayed on the monitor. Data collected in this way is stored and managed by specific databases. Let us look at barcode scanners and their different scanning technologies.

Different types of scanning technologies
Barcode scanners use different scanning technologies such as laser and imaging technologies. The following are various types of barcode scanners.

Pen-type scanners
They are also called as wand scanners and are suitable for low-volume and desktop applications. They contain a photodiode that is placed next to a light source. When the scanner is swiped across the barcode in a steady motion, the photodiode measures the intensity of the reflected light. Since they are manually swiped, wand scanners are not limited by the width of the barcode. One needs to ensure that they are swiped at constant rate of speed at a particular angle. Pen-type scanners are inexpensive, small, and highly durable.

Laser barcode scanners
A laser beam is used as a light source for capturing barcode information. They contain an oscillating mirror or a rotating prism which moves the laser beam back and forth across the barcode. Laser barcode scanners are very precise and accurate. They can read barcodes from greater distances also. They are used mostly in places where barcodes need bright light for reading. They are suitable for applications requiring long range or high density scanning.

Omni-directional barcode scanners
The name itself suggests that these scanners can read barcodes in any direction. They mostly use laser beams as a light source. A set of fixed mirrors and a rotating mirror present in omni-directional barcode scanners generate patterns of laser beams. Like laser scanners, they can also read data from greater distances. They have high efficiency and hence can even read poorly printed, torn, or wrinkled barcodes.

As they read barcodes on items irrespective of their orientation, they enhance the speed of scanning process. They are ideal for reading barcodes a few inches away for retail purposes and also for reading distant barcodes like those on industrial conveyors.

CCD scanners
CCD (Charged Coupled Device) scanners, also called as linear image scanners, measure the intensity of light by a series of tiny light sensors. Hundreds of sensors arranged in a row develop a voltage pattern that is identical to the pattern in the barcode. CCD scanners measure the emitted ambient light and hence are different from laser scanners. They are suitable for applications in retail, distribution, inventory and shipping. As they do not have any moving parts like rotating mirrors, they are more durable than laser scanners.

2D scanners
2D scanners use a small camera for capturing an image of the barcode. Advanced digital image processing techniques are used to decode the barcode from the image. The advantage of using 2D scanners is that they can read barcodes moving at faster rates and can be used for industrial conveyor scanning. They can read 1D or 2D barcodes omni-directionally and some can also capture images of damaged packages or signatures.

Choose the barcode scanner based on the type of application, type of barcode, and the environment in which you use it. Remember, selection of a right scanner helps you in improving the efficiency of your business.

Barcodescannersstore.com has been in the barcode scanners business since 1994 and proudly serves a nationwide customer base of more than 13,000 customers. Our dedication and focus on only barcode scanners makes us the experts in various types of barcode readers, applications and scanning technologies. We stock a wide range of symbol scanners and symbol barcode products.

This article briefly looks at what is to be considered when buying bed linen for hotel use: what fabric lasts the longest and which washes most effectively.

Longevity
All bed linen has a life span.  This is best described as to how many washes the linen can withstand whilst still retaining its quality.  The easiest way to ensure that linen lasts longer is to choose Egyptian cotton.  The purchasing will cost more, but this is offset by two factors: the longevity and the initial quality that the customer experiences.  So why is Egyptian cotton better?

In cotton size does matter and it all has to do with the length of the cotton fibres.  The conditions in Egypt produce the longest fibres (more than 1.5 inches) and this means they are stronger and finer, giving the feeling of softness.

Thread count is an important part of that feeling of comfort and luxury.  Most popular cottons have a count of approximately 150, with good quality sheets starting at around 180.  200 is the point at which a thread count reaches into the luxury range.

Yet it is not just about the number of threads per square inch.  Egyptian cotton fibres being longer allows for finer, thinner threads which means there are more to the inch.  But it also has to do with the ‘ply’ of the threads – like the number of layers in toilet paper – twisted together and how these are woven tightly to form the fabric.  Quality Egyptian cotton has two ply which means smoother, finer thread.

Longer threads mean there are less of them and so there are less ends to fray.  They are also thinner and so they are more tightly packed which makes the sheets stronger.  Finally this combination of thin, long threads makes for a more stable, tight weave which is unlikely to bobble and it can absorb more dye to give longer lasting colours.

Percale
‘Percale’ is also a term worth looking out for, because this refers to the type of weave used.  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.

Mercerization
This chemical treatment process for cotton was invented by a Lancashire man, John Mercer – hence ‘mercer’-ization.  The modern development of this process has resulted in a treatment which allows for a softer and stronger fabric.  Egyptian cotton that has been treated in this way is the most durable and it will be less likely to fade or lose its high-quality feel in repetitive washes.

Effective Washing
Egyptian cotton can absorb more water in the wash.  In fact, Egyptian cotton often gets better as it is washed again and again, bringing greater softness to the tightly woven fine threads.  Economising on bed linen can mean that with repeated laundering the savings are lost in a one-use-one-wash setting like a hotel.

The Laundering Process
If you have spent extra to reap the benefits of Egyptian cotton then it is important that the choice of laundering respects this quality.  If the wrong detergent is used or in incorrect amounts, then even the best cotton linen will grey, particularly in certain hard water environments.

When considering the choice of laundering services it is important that the provider be able to answer which system they are using and why – ask for references from other hotel clients and check these references to ensure that they are genuine.

Mitre Hall and Letts is a leading ready-made bespoke soft furnishings and wholesale linen supplier to a wide range of customers in the UK and overseas. Our textile products include bed linen, blankets, duvets and more. We manufacture curtains and many other items such as hotel towels, hotel slippers, hotel bedding etc. We can even supply furniture and carpets. Our service ranges from new builds to simply refreshing rooms with new curtains.