What does the sun (UV light) do to cotton textiles?
It is not only our skin that is damaged by too much exposure to UV rays, which can result in sunburn, wrinkles or increased skin ageing and, in the worst case, skin cancer. Cotton textiles are also stressed by direct, intensive UV exposure. Unless they are equipped with special chemical UV protection.
Above all, sunlight can affect the colouring and fade the textiles in the long term. This affects all colours; the effect is particularly noticeable with darker colours, but ultimately every fabric ‘ages’ through exposure to sunlight. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can even damage ingredients such as the elastane thread.
To avoid damage caused by direct sunlight, textiles - in our case bed linen and fitted sheets - should be protected from direct sunlight. The degree of fading depends on various factors, such as the duration of exposure to sunlight (UV exposure), the incidence of the sun's rays (direct or indirect UV exposure) and the lightfastness of the material. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester withstand the sun's rays better than natural fibre fabrics such as wool or cotton. The thickness of the fabric can also play a role.
In the case of our products, fading due to UV radiation is not an indication of a fault in our dyeing and finishing process. We only use high-quality dyeing and finishing processes, and our products have very good light resistance for cotton textiles. But there is nothing we can do about the power of the sun.
What can be done to prevent fading in the case of bed linen and fitted sheets?
Bed textiles are best stored in a closed cupboard. This way they are 100% protected from sunlight. Of course, it's a different matter when they're on the bed and, depending on the space available, it's not always easy to protect the bed textiles from the sun.
If possible, the bed should not be placed directly next to a window with direct and constant sunlight. If this is unavoidable, roller shutters, interior blinds or curtains can provide shade. These are usually more UV-resistant due to a different type of material or chemical treatment. There are also special UV protection films for windows, which are now available in transparent and colour-neutral versions.
A bedspread also protects the bed linen and fitted sheet underneath. It is important to decide whether to expose the bedspread or bed linen to the sun.