The finest cotton asks for very little.

Treat it simply and it will outlast everything else in your linen closet.

Wash cold. Cold water keeps the white bright and protects the long-staple fiber that makes this cotton what it is. A little mild liquid detergent is all it needs — and less than you’d think.

Never bleach, and skip any detergent with optical brighteners. Both shorten the life of fine cotton and turn white to yellow over time.

Leave the fabric softener in the cupboard. Egyptian cotton softens with every wash on its own — softener only coats the fiber and dulls the sheen. Paying for the real thing means you never have to fake the softness.

Give the sheets room. Wash with like colors, and don’t crowd the machine — friction is what wears cotton down before its time.

Tumble dry low and take them out while still slightly damp; over-drying is what causes wrinkles and strain on the fiber. Better still, dry them in open air if you have the time.

For the crisp, hotel-pressed look, iron while damp — it brings out the quiet sheen of the sateen. Or leave them relaxed; they’re beautiful either way.

And wash them once before the first night. The softening begins immediately.