Pillowcases
Size and closure matter more than looks with pillowcases, because the case has to fit the pillow exactly. The most common sizes are 50×75 cm housewife and 50×90 cm oxford, while cushion covers run 40×40 or 45×45 cm. They are sewn from cotton, crepe, sateen, flannel, microfibre or linen and differ mainly in feel and in how much ironing they need. They close with a zip, with buttons or with a hotel flap and no fastening at all.
Pillowcases
The case protects the pillow from sweat, skin oil and dust, and washes far more easily than the pillow itself. Pillowcases are therefore washed roughly every two weeks, more often than the rest of the bedding. Two sets are worth having, so one is always ready while the other is in the machine.
The most important thing is the size, which has to follow the pillow and not the bed. In Ireland and the UK the housewife size 50×75 cm dominates, while the larger oxford size measures 50×90 cm. Cushion covers usually measure 40×40 or 45×45 cm. The case should be one to two centimetres larger than the pillow so it does not wrinkle. With a noticeably smaller case the filling distorts and the corners stay empty.
Feel and care depend above all on the fabric. A cotton case is versatile, absorbs moisture well and takes 60 °C. Crepe has a finely puckered surface, so it needs no ironing and works all year. Sateen is smooth, cooler to the touch and suits summer, though it creases more easily. Flannel and microplush keep you warm in winter, while linen is airy and softens with every wash.
The type of closure decides how quickly the case can be changed. A zip holds the filling best and suits daily use, though it has to be closed before washing. A hotel flap with no fastening changes fastest, while buttons and ties belong more to decorative pieces.
Before first use a wash is advisable, so production residues come out and the colours set. Dark and strongly coloured pieces are washed separately for the first two washes, because they can bleed. Details on temperature and tumble drying are always on the sewn-in label.