Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few of our most commonly asked questions. If you have questions that are not included here, please let us know!

About Our Bed Linen...

We are always here to help, and would love to hear from you if you have any questions at all. However, we have listed a few of your most frequently asked questions below, just in case we can save you some time.

All of our duvet covers fasten with strong plastic buttons at the foot of the bed, they can be hidden inside the cover itself so you can't see them at all. The corners are hemmed to 20cms in, so your duvet is neatly contained and won't pop out at the corners.

Apart from a couple of exceptions, most of our fitted sheets are 36cms deep and will fit mattresses up to that depth. Please don't worry if your mattress isn't that deep: they will still be a nice and snug fit as they're elasticated all the way round and the extra fabric will be kept neatly under the mattress. We do have Extra Deep sheets available in our White 100% Linen (46cm) and our Luxury Cotton 600 Thread Count (40cm).

Our pillowcases are all sold separately so you can choose to mix and match patterns and sizes as you wish and pop as many as you need into your basket.

Oxford pillowcases have a small border of fabric around the edge of the pillowcase. A housewife pillowcase has no border at all and just a simple flap to keep the pillow in place. Read here for more information about Oxford and housewife pillowcases.

This is up to you, but if time allows we would recommend you wash your bed linen before use, firstly, to remove any industrial smells, and secondly, to allow the material's natural fibres to shrink. We make all of our cotton bed linen a teeny tiny bit too big to accommodate for shrinkage, but after the first wash, it should fit perfectly on your bed.

If you're not a fan of ironing, we would recommend you choose a sateen finish. This takes the least amount of ironing (if any, when you dry flat). We find it easier to shake out any creases when the sheets are still a little damp so if tumble drying, remove from the dryer before the cycle ends. We would advise you to stay away from pure cotton percale if you don't want to iron every time and you like a crease free bed. Percale needs the most work, but is certainly worth it and one of our very best sellers. Read our Bed Linen Buying Guide for more detailed information.

Although not ideal, you can tumble dry cotton bedding if you use a low heat setting to prevent it shrinking and remove the items before the cycle ends (we find it's easier to shake out the creases when the sheets are still a little damp!). However, line-drying is the way to go if you want to keep your bedding as fresh as possible, especially as tumble drying will slowly break down the fabric, shortening the life of your bed linen. Sadly though, the great British weather can be temperamental and daily sunshine isn't always a guarantee, in which case drying flat over a radiator is your next best option.

We recommend you reading the care guide for your chosen fabric so you can take perfect care of your lovely new bed linen.

About our Duvets & Pillows...

We're here to answer all your bedding related questions. We've picked the most common we've come across here, although if there's something specific you need help with, please call us on 01243 822 599 or email us at sales@secretlinenstore.com.

A tog is a British measurement of warmth. The lower the tog, the cooler the duvet, the higher, the warmer. The tog you choose will only relate to the warmth, and has nothing to do with the quality of the duvet. The filling is the most important factor when it comes to the feel and longevity of your duvet. Our togs start at 2.5 (perfect for the warmest summer months) and go as high as 15 for cold winters. We offer an All Seasons option in all fillings, which has a 4.5 tog and a 9 tog duvet, that can be used separately or poppered together, to make a 13.5 tog. As a guide, we recommend the following...

2.5 tog - light summer use

4.5 tog - summer use

9 tog - spring/autumn use

10.5 tog – cooler spring/autumn months

13.5 tog – winter months

15 tog – colder winter months

All Seasons (4.5 and 9 tog) - all year round comfort

Read more about how to choose your new duvet here in our Bedding Buying Guide.

You will hear us referring to fill power on our down duvets. It is the measurement of the amount of space that one ounce of down will occupy, when it's allowed to reach its maximum loft (or fluffiness as we like to call it). The higher the fill power, the larger the clusters of down, and the better the quality. Mature birds will produce the biggest down clusters, and as they are harder to come by, this adds to the price. Any fill power over 600 is known to be a premium quality, and ours range from 650 to 800.

Some believe that they're allergic to the feathers inside the duvet. It is actually the dust mites that are attracted to the feathers that cause the allergic reactions. All our bedding is hypoallergenic. We use Nomite certified covers on all of our natural duvets and pillows. This means the fabric cover has been tested to the European Down and Feather Associations standards, and that the cover is so tightly woven, it won't allow any dust mites to get through into the filling.

Feathers come from the outer covering of the bird, and make up 90% of their feathery coat. They are larger, have quills, and are heavier. Goose feathers are naturally softer than duck feathers, but still have quills. They have a more defined curl, for a loftier result, and therefore feel more luxurious. If you like your duvet to have some weight to it, then go for feather & down. The down content (usually 15%) keeps the duvet soft, whilst the feathers give you the typical feathery feel.

The down feathers are the super soft clusters, found underneath the feathers. Without any quills, they are made up of lots of tiny soft filaments that help to trap air, keeping warm air in, and cold air out. They are loftier than feathers, providing higher insulating properties. The ultimate in comfort, pure down produces a lighter softer duvet, whilst helping to regulate your temperature. The higher the down content, the lighter and softer the duvet. If you want the very best, one of our 100% Hungarian Goose Down Duvet would be perfect for you.

We go into a little more detail about all things feathery here in our Bedding Buying Guide.

There's nothing worse than waking up hot and sweaty in the night. If you're a sufferer, we would recommend you opt for a down or synthetic duvet and pillow. Down is an excellent insulator, and can retain heat for longer, to give you an even climate control for sleep. In the summer, lighter down duvets will also provide a cooling environment. Alternatively, hollowfibre options are really good for pulling away excess moisture in the night, with excellent temperature management qualities. Another benefit to synthetic bedding in this case is that you can wash and tumble dry them at home, so if you do get hot and bothered, keeping them fresh is super easy.

If you tend to sleep on your front, we would suggest a medium fill pillow. You want something slightly softer if you are resting your face on the pillow.

If you prefer to sleep on your back, choose a firm pillow to support your neck and head. A floppy pillow could give you a neck ache.

Side sleepers it's really up to you. A medium or firm option will work just fine, it's just down to preference really.

Please have a quick read through our Bedding Buying Guide for more information about pillows.

Ducks are consumed at a younger age than geese, so the feather and down isn't as mature. Duck feather and down will always be smaller than goose, as the birds are smaller themselves. geese tend to live longer, so the feather and down is more mature, and the oldest birds will produce the highest quality fillings. You can get a really good quality of down from ducks, however goose down is known to be the superior of the two, for its bigger loftier clusters. So the answer is, it comes down to your budget. Goose will always be softer, and feel more luxurious than duck.

About International Shipping

International shipping costs are calculated by the weight and volume of the parcel and the destination address.  Shipping rates will therefore vary depending on which country you are ordering from and how big your order is.

All international customers are encouraged to pay any applicable taxes and duties at checkout. Customers from certain countries will have the option to remove these charges at checkout and instead pay them when the parcel is delivered.  If this is available for you, you will be able to select this option when you place your order.

Although we welcome returns from overseas, the return shipping costs will need to be covered by the customer.  The exact charge for your returning parcel will be calculated at checkout when you process your return. 

Unfortunately, we cannot refund your original shipping, duties, taxes, and fees. Refunds will be issued for the product price only. However, if you were charged for duties and taxes at checkout, you may be eligible for a refund of all or a portion of the duties and taxes. Please contact your local customs office for information.

Exact delivery time will vary depending on your address, although we are confident that most international parcels will be delivered within 7-10 days after leaving our UK warehouse.  A more exact timeframe will be given at checkout.  Depending on location, some international customers will be given an expedited shipping option at checkout which will reduce the delivery time to 3-5 days.  You will be given tracking details for your parcel when your order is dispatched so you can follow its progress and know when to expect delivery.