We are pleased to announce we are going back to curbside pickup!

If you live local to us in North Vancouver or just want to pick up your order from our office/warehouse, you can select ‘curbside pickup’ in the checkout.

Once we have pulled your order, you will receive an email from us saying your order is ready for pick up. It will look something like this:

We ask that you reply to our email with a preferred pick up day as we need to ensure there are staff onsite to hand your order to you!

We wish you could come pick up your orders everyday of the week but we would be unable to pack online orders, work on the website or demo our latex mattresses. As much as we like you…  please come Friday or Saturday between 12-5pm.

When you arrive at our new digs, ring the bell/buzzer on the door for North Shore Linens. Give us a moment to run down a hallway and some stairs. You can also call our office/warehouse number 604-980-2970 if you do not want to leave your car – we will serve you. Fries not included.

The front of the building says Nomad Vanz. There is a doorbell on the front door next to the orange mail box for North Shore Linens.

If you have selected Local Delivery: If you live in North Vancouver and have selected delivery. We will do free deliveries on orders over $100, otherwise there will be a delivery fee of $15-20. We do deliveries on the weekends and sometimes evenings during the week.

If you want your order sooner, you can pay for it to be shipped, or schedule a Curbside Pickup at our office warehouse in North Vancouver.

Thanks so much for continuing to shop with us and support our online store!

Dust Mite

Because most of us “average” humans spend a third of our lives in bed, we use pillows to rest our heads on when sleeping (as well as for a variety of other peculiar practices!). Pillows are the place for heads, our dreams and for our “Dust Mites”.

These minute Mites are as fond of your bed as you are, but, unlike a few of us, they prefer to stay in bed for a lifetime, and, unless vigorously attacked, always will.

We, our Dust Mites and us, get on fairly well together in the same bed, but for people with allergies the result is often Asthma, wheezing, night coughs and stuffiness (Most of us have experienced “stuffiness” of some sort or other – in one bed or another).

It is estimated by a well known estimator, who wishes to remain anonymous, that a third of coughs in bed are due to Dust Mites. A further third are due to embarrassment, and a final third of coughs are to avoid laughing out loud!

The pillow can be that area of the bed of highest parasitical involvement, or scientifically speaking , where we and our Mites are too close for comfort. So what can we do to keep Mites hopping out of, and not in to our pillows?

Regularly put pillows out to air “on a dry day”. Always use pillow protectors and wash them regularly in very hot water as cold water kills nothing. One of the reasons Dust Mite allergies are on the rise is due to cold water washing, So wash all your bedding Hot! Hot! Hot!. Pillows get very old and grumpy after three to four years of use. (That’s 1118894 1/2 generations of Mites. The gestation period for pregnant Mites is around 4 1/2 minutes). Did you know, you can stand 126 Dust Mites on the head of a pin, providing the last one stands on one leg. So if you see a Dust Might, step on it.

So buy a good pillow and wash it (Hot!) or dry clean it at least once a year. Also “plump up” your pillows vigorously, it gives the female Mites a headache and any fool knows that interferes with their sex life.

So what pillow to buy? How many of you have bought nearly every pillow on the market and are still not happy? Hands up!

Well did you know the Dust Might does not like wool, makes them scratch causing skin disorders. How to Treat A Dust Mite with Skin Disorders.So if you are having reactions to these little pests you might want to try wool products. The Dust Mite struggles to penetrate Down and Feather shelled pillows as the weave is so tight, especially those Mites with larger “mite baring hips”. Synthetic pillows are so inexpensive replacing them twice a year will help.

If none of this helps then you will need to encase your pillows with a Dust Mite Proof Cover and we just happen to have them. We also cary Dust Mite Mattress Covers and Dust Mite Covers for your duvet/quilt.

And Next the infamouse BED BUG

Wool Pillows, Duvets/Quilts and mattress Pads

Feather Pillow

Down and Feather Pillows

Synthetic Non Allergenic Pillows

Latex Pillows

Dust Mite Covers for Pillows and Mattresses

Bed Bug Prorectors for Pillows and Mattresses

Welcome to our tips and tricks page. We hope to help you out with any questions or issues you may have while completing your order with us at North Shore Linens.

 

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Checkout

Click on “Checkout” on the left side menu of your screen. If you are using a mobile device or a tablet, the website may show this menu at the very bottom, so you have to scroll down to access the checkout and cart options from there.

 

Here you will be able to fill out the shipping and billing address – please fill out both shipping and billing addresses if different or we won’t be able to ship your order. The website calculates your cart total and your location to determine if you pay for shipping. Once this information is inputted, our website will let you know what your shipping options and prices are.

 

Checkout as a ‘Guest’

If you haven’t signed in or created an account on our website and want to check out as a guest, please be aware that you may not see the calculated shipping cost until the very end. If you checkout as a Guest, we can always pull up your purchase history for you, however you will not be able to. Should you wish to repeat an order or have a query about a past order, an account with North Shore Linens holds all of this information for you to view. Accounts are highly recommended for rentals, Airbnb’s, hotels, restaurants, long term care homes, etc. – those that purchase bulk and want a quick transaction using past purchases.

 

Troubleshooting Curbside Pickup

If you live outside of Vancouver, North Vancouver, or West Vancouver, you may have difficulty selecting Curbside Pickup as a checkout option (it may not show up as an option at all because your address is outside the radius of our warehouse). Just reach out to us at nslinensorders@gmail.com if you plan on swinging by on your way through town and we can ensure your order is a pick up and not shipped.

 

What is the difference between ‘Cart’ and ‘Checkout’ on the left side menu?

The ‘Cart’ option on the left side menu, allows you to view the products you have already added to your cart. You can edit the quantities and remove products here. *You can not edit or remove products from ‘Checkout’. You have to go back to ‘Cart’ to make changes.

You can also change your address and get a shipping quote in your cart before your proceed to the checkout.

You can checkout in ‘Cart’ once you are happy with your order. The following steps apply for checking out through ‘Cart’ as well as ‘Checkout’.

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Shipping

Under your subtotal in the ‘Checkout’, scroll down to “Your Order” section for shipping options. For those checking out via ‘Cart’ the section will be called ‘Cart Totals‘.

The prices for shipping will vary depending on your address in Canada/US. It will look something like this:

Curbside Pickup. (Please wait for us to contact you to arrange a pick up.) Local Delivery (if less, difference refunded): $15.00 Shipping to (the address you have inputted for delivery. ex the above quote is for 351 Lynn Ave.).

What does “if less, difference refunded” mean?

When we create a shipping label to put on your order, we use a software that has couriers bid for our shipment. We select the courier based on a few factors, such as price and location.

For example; if you live in Vancouver, we tend to use Purolator, UPS, and Canada Post more than other couriers because their depots are local to you and do not require you to go long distance to pick up, should you not be home at time of delivery. If you live in Ontario, we tend to use Canpar more often as their shipping times are shorter.

If, when we select the courier for your order, the price to ship is less than what you paid, we will refund you any of the freight savings we get.

For example: You paid $30 to ship your order to Quebec. The couriers only charged us $23.54. We will refund you $6.46 in freight savings. The refund will go back on the card you paid your order with. Please allow up to 48 hours for it to show in your account.

If you live close to our warehouse with a postal code starting with V5, V6, V7, we offer free delivery on orders over $100. We will drive your order to your door…

Please please please!!!

If you are not home to receive your Local Delivery in North Vancouver or West Vancouver, please let us know if we can leave it somewhere.

This will save us time from having to come back. You can leave any tips or delivery instructions in the notes section in the checkout. See image below:

 

On the right side of the checkout page there is an option to add “Order Notes“. (Highlighted in above image). This is great if you want to add delivery instructions, like a buzzer number, or leave it at the door rather than at the post office.

If you live slightly outside the radius of our warehouse or your order is under $100, you will have to select ‘Local Delivery‘ and we may charge you a standard shipping fee of $15-$20.

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Shipping Zones

The shipping zones across Canada can vary in price from $15 to $35. It may cost $45-$60 to ship to some states in the US.

We work on low margins so we can price our products competitively. Most online stores will say ‘free shipping’ but have increased the product price to account for the shipping cost that they have to pay.

When we pack your order up and process the shipping, if the cost to ship is less than what we charged you, we will refund you and the freight savings we get!

If you live local to us, but your order is under $100, you will have to pay for shipping.

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Payment

If you scroll down to the bottom of the checkout there are payment options for you to chose: Paypal, Credit and/or Debit Cards

You do not require a Paypal account to shop with us.

Simple select the option that says you have read and agree to our website terms and conditions:

You can view the website terms and conditions at any point before checkout on left side menu under Shipping/Returns:

Once you agree to the terms and conditions, you can now proceed to payment.  If you select the Debit or Credit Card option. A section will pop up underneath for you to fill out your card details.

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At any point while shopping on our website, if you need assistance, (and this page is not helping) please email us at nslinensorders@gmail.com or call us at 604-980-2970. We will continue to update this page and appreciate feedback on your experience so we can improve and make your online shopping with us fun and smooth.

We are all a little reluctant to talk about aging, especially when it affects certain activities in the bedroom. Get your mind out of the gutter, I’m talking about sleeping…

Nobody likes to wake up in a pool of sweat, needing to make that midnight dash to the toilet or experience the dreaded restlessness that leads to the counting of sheep…

Menopause is a topic many try to avoid. It’s uncomfortable and embarrassing, and if you are not in our family, bodily functions probably do not come up in conversation frequently at the dinner table. But Menopause is a natural evolution for ALL women, and if someone says it’s a walk in the park, they are either extremely genetically gifted or lying through their teeth.

There are a few simple changes you can make to adjust your bedding to a comfortable, breathable haven that will help alleviate hot flashes, night sweats, and other side effects of decreasing hormones. Comfortably put your ovaries to rest once and for all, with a few  bedding suggestions:

Mattress Protector:

What you sleep “on” is probably the most important element of your bed.

If you own 100% linen sheets for example, which are considered the most breathable bedding available, it’s not going to make a darn difference to your night sweats, if you are sleeping on top of a polyester or waterproof mattress pad/protector.

*The more air and circulation you have underneath you, the more breathability and restful sleep you will achieve.

Many new mattresses today are sold with vinyl or waterproof membranes that must remain on the bed, or else your warranty is void. Sure, that makes sense from a retailer’s perspective, but those covers and protectors are only going to exacerbate your menopausal symptoms. If you are keen to keep the warranty cover on, consider getting another protector or pad to put over top – get that air flowing!

Waterproof/Incontinence Pads: If your nocturnal bladder gets the better of you, and you require additional protection, consider a waterproof protector or a pad to cover a specific area of the bed. An additional breathable protector on top of that, will help with the heat.

The incontinence pads are a great option if you are also experiencing erratic periods (for those in premenopause, menopause, and even for those just starting out with the whole menstrual thing). If you don’t want to cover the whole mattress, place the incontinence pad underneath your fitted sheet – if, for example, your significant other is a hot or cold sleeper, you won’t compromise their sleep while you wizz the night away. The pads also work great for pets who sleep with you. You can pee together in bed and seal your bond for life.

Cotton: Durable, affordable, and breathable. There are many options for a basic cotton protector. If you are keen on doing more laundry or have to do more laundry due to incontinence, then a cotton protector might be just the ticket. Just be mindful that cotton can shrink if dried at too high a temperature. Low temp or air drying is best. Our best-sellers are the triple-layer 100% cotton protector and the organic cotton protector.

Silk: Cooling and hypoallergenic. Silk naturally draws moisture away to help control your body temperature. If you are experiencing more intense hot flashes during menopause, silk will help to cool you down by controlling humidity and wicking it away from you. Unlike some silk products that require taking to the dry cleaner, you can wash these protectors. They usually recommend hang-drying or low to no heat cycle in the dryer to prevent shrinkage. Our silk protector has a 220-thread count cotton shell, with natural long-strand silk inside.

Wool: Non-allergenic, moisture-wicking, temperature regulating. I know, it goes against everything you believe. Those itchy wool socks you were forced to wear in your youth, the pea coat you dawned in the winter; wool sounds hot!

Keep in mind, that sheep live in the snow-covered mountains of Nepal and the hot desolate outback of Australia. Wool will wick sweat and regulate your temperature in the summer, winter, and in the depths of a hot flash.

The more wool that’s underneath you, the more air will be moving – allowing your body to regulate its temperature better and cool you during night sweats.

If ewe (female sheep pronounced as “you”) can sleep in wool during their menopause, it’s safe to say you can too. We have four styles of wool mattress pads, all offering various benefits: anchor vs contour fitting, washability, reversibility, more wool on top or less wool on top, exposed wool, or cotton-covered wool, and all of them are extremely breathable!

The mattress protector or pad you sleep on will be the most important weapon in your arsenal to help battle night sweats and hot flashes. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, and your sleeping partner, you have the options mentioned above.

Bed Sheets: 

It can be overwhelming to decide on what sheets to purchase. There are just so many options on the market. Ultimately for all menopausal women, you need to look for the most breathable sheets that will allow airflow. For those who develop skin sensitivity due to a lack of estrogen, you may also want softer bedding that will be gentle on your skin.

I would recommend reading our other post about thread count because the higher the thread count, doesn’t mean better. Menopausal women should look at 200 – 400 TC (thread count) sheets. In this range, you will find it durable and breathable. Any higher than 500 TC you will see tighter woven threads that may worsen symptoms.

From the most breathable to least breathable bed sheets you have:

• 100% Linen
• Linen/Cotton
• 100% Cotton
• Bamboo
• Jersey
• Polyester/Cotton
• Microfiber.

There are plenty of variants and blends of these options, like Bamboo/Linen and Flannel/Polyester, but the key is to have a low thread count and breathable fabric.

Duvets and Quilts:

We’re not going to pull the wool over your eyes on this section, however, you can pretty much copy and paste everything said about mattress pads and protectors in here in regards to fabrics and materials and what they can do for you.

Down: is your lightest weight and warmest option for duvets. Its main job is to insulate and warm.  Insulating a person going through menopause is what we call ‘the heat dome’.  By preventing convection you increase all the symptoms you are trying to prevent.

Ever wonder why it was called La Nina in the feminine form to denote warmer atmospheric and oceanic phenomena and El Nino in the masculine as the colder counterpart? Just thinking aloud here…

Some of you may be determined to live with the menopausal symptoms and continue using Down, because of its lofty “puffy” look. Yes, the aesthetic paradox of a down duvet on a bed is hard to match. If you are willing to sacrifice your comfort for the look, beauty is pain, and all of that… aim for a summer weight, lower thread count shell.

There are extremely nice down duvets out there that will cook you alive, so stick to low thread count down shells in the 200-300 thread count range, and a low ounce down fill. Depending on the size of your duvet that could be anywhere as low as 18oz. Sadly the tight threaded cambric cotton ticking on the shell will prevent down from leaking, but also air from circulating fully. So, you will sweat the night away but your bed looks fantastic… in the dark, with the lights off, and your eyes closed.

Down Alternative: for those picky-tricky-sleepers who have decreased hormones, but want a down duvet, but can’t have a down duvet because of allergies or a partner’s allergies. So, the down alternative is the closest we can get to appeasing the checklist. A cluster of polyester and microfiber fillings which are easier to wash than many products but will not breathe as well as other options. There are some excellent quality ones available that look and feel just like a down! Be warned hot sleepers, this will do little to help with hot flashes.

Silk: as mentioned in the mattress protector section, silk is a top choice for hot sleepers all around. It will draw moisture away and cool you down by controlling humidity and wicking it away from you.

Compared to down, silk has little to no loft, but will weigh more. You will appreciate the added benefits it provides though. Silk and down couldn’t be more different so it’s worth the consideration and research into both options available.

Cotton: natural, low-maintenance, breathable. Cotton is probably the coolest duvet option available – I’m not talking Cool Hand Luke coolest, but temperature coolest. If you desire something slightly heavier than a flat sheet, but light enough for you to survive a drought, or the perks of being a lady entering the grand life change, then cotton will serve you well on your quest. Not enough for some in the winter months, so consider another duvet option for the colder seasons, or another lightweight option to layer. Don’t forget your partner next to you, who may want more substance on top of them as well, as selfish as that sounds in your current situation.

Wool: some wool duvets are loftier than others. They weigh more than down and silk, but give you more regulating benefits than down, silk, and cotton. The reason wool is one of the most ideal options for hot and cold sleepers is just that… it works for both hot and cold sleepers. You and your partner can enjoy the benefits of wool while sleeping under the same roof… I mean duvet.

Some things to learn about wool are that the packaging will show “gsm” or grams per meter. Like down with ounces, the gsm of wool will tell you if it is a summer weight, an all-season weight, or even a winter weight. Some wool brands can vary in the GSM itself. An all-season for example can vary between 320-350gsm. A summer could be 250-280gsm. A winter could be 400-500gsm depending on the brand.

Remember a while back, in the mattress pad section, I said the more wool that’s underneath you, the more air will be moving – allowing your body to regulate its temperature better and cool you during night sweats? Though that is true for mattress pads, you don’t necessarily need more to achieve the same for a duvet on top of you, because of the weight factor. Still, if you find you are getting intermittent hot flashes and are cold the rest of the time, an all-season wool will benefit you most.

Now don’t be offended climacteric friends and hot sleepers. I’m going to make a suggestion, that often upsets your partners and turns them into over-dramatic children. But consider this… two duvets on one bed. Is it hot in here or is it just me?

Sleeping the Scandinavian way has become extremely popular, especially for younger generations who are thermally incompatible with their partner. Why suffer? Here are the pros of splitting the top, and having your very own duvet.

The first pro is what we are talking about in this post. You can choose a duvet that will work for you. If you are a hot sleeper that needs a cooler duvet or one that will wick and regulate your temperature. Or perhaps your toes are like icicles in the night and you need the winter hutterite goose down duvet suited to -40 temperatures… hey, we all have our needs.

It’s also a lot easier to adjust your duvet at night without waking up your partner. Should you need to readjust or flip the duvet off of you, your partner won’t start tugging the blanket to their side, or drag it down to both of your feet. It’s your duvet to do with as you please!

Just think, you can be intimate and have sleepovers under each other’s duvets!! Party at my place! Bring your own beer. Joking aside, it’s worth having the conversation with your partner, as it will benefit both of you with this individualized approach. Having a better quality sleep will benefit in the longer term physically, as well as mentally.

I found a brilliant quote from the Modern Dane, which is worth a read: “Even though I love my wife very much, I don’t share my toothbrush or underpants with her. Why would I share my duvet?”

Stay tuned for Pillow protectors

Stay tuned for Pillows

Stay tuned for Toppers

 

 

 

Period, the end.