New Student with a question

[sweet_heart]

Hello everyone! I was in this section of the board reading those GREAT tips for new and not-so-new MTs and I had a question about one of the tips.

Someone said that to save money, go to JoAnn's (with the 40% off coupon) and buy fabric and cut it in half width wise. This may be a very ignorant question, but don't the sheets have to be fitted for the table? Or can they be draped over the table? If you can, how do you keep it from sliding and bunching when the client rolls or switches from belly to back?

I'm looking for every possible way to save money, and this idea sounds GREAT. Also, what length/width do the sheets have to be (for the table and for draping)? I don't sew (can't even sew on a button - ha ha), so what fabric do you recommend for simply cutting and no sewing?

Thank you in advance for answering the questions...and any other money saving tips (other than the awesome ones on the other thread) would be really appreciated!

Thanks again, Heather in Texas

 

[oldmanwithcoyote]

I prefer to use a flat sheet on the bottom. I slide the bolster underneath the sheet and since it's not fitted, I can move the bolster around easier (and I don't have to put a pillow case on the bolster.)

My table has memory foam on it and a table warmer on top of that so the sheet is not directly on the slippery table. I have no trouble at all with the sheet moving around when the client turns over since the memory foam seems to keep everything in it's place.

Angie

 

[LizzakaMel]

I also prefer top sheets. Like moogie, I have a foam pad, a heat element, and a twin mattress pad on my table so the sheet doesn't slide around.

I'm not sure there is fabric that would do well to be cut, used and washed without sewing a hem. Jersey fabric?

Surely you know someone who can sew a hem? If so then I recommend flannel fabric.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I use flat sheets as well, but I use clothespins to hold it firm on the table. I simply pull the corners under the table until they overlap, and put a clothespin to hold these corners tight. (One clothespin for the corners under the head of the table, and one clothespin for the corners under the foot of the table.) The client never sees the clothespins, since they're hidden by the table itself.

Another option is to simply tie the corners in knots to hold them tight, like Sandyolmt does. Here's a picture:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10570

It looks lovely.

 

[Woody]

If you don't want to use a fitted sheet for the bottom, you can purchase (cheaply) an item called 'sheet straps'. These are clasps that pull the sheet ends together. They can be found at Bed Bath & Beyond and probably even Target or Wal-Mart.

 

[Caryn]

Wow! This are great ideas! Thank you all so much!! I appreciate you taking the time to answer me.

Wishing you well,
Heather

 

[mars]

like alot of other smart folks here :} I have a tempur pedic topper, a table warmer, & fleece pad. helps prevent slippage. You can get some decent sheest @ walmart for about $2.96 a pop. Theyre not threadbear & they dont "bead up", which is a pet peeve of mine

 

[raised by chimpz!!!]

I use top sheets too. another way to hold the sheet on the table that's really cheap, is to buy some elastic. Tie the ends in a knot to make a circle. put your bottom sheet on the table, put this over the top so that it snugs up right under the bottom of the table, kinda like a rubber band. works great.

 

[SPARTAN-345566]

I use top sheets too. another way to hold the sheet on the table that's really cheap, is to buy some elastic. Tie the ends in a knot to make a circle. put your bottom sheet on the table, put this over the top so that it snugs up right under the bottom of the table, kinda like a rubber band. works great.

On a similar note I've seen someone use plastic milk jug lids that have an "x" cut into them. You push the sheet corner through the "x" just like a hand wipe dispenser and voila! your sheet is held in place. She had them around a large key ring (the kind that opens easily) and clipped it to the table for transport and easy access.

 

[IcameIsawIconquered]

The business I work for has custom-fitted sheets for the unique table setups we use there.

At home, I use Twin bed sheets on my table. Even with an eggshell pad and table warmer, there is plenty of room to put the bolster/pillow under the sheet and adjust as needed. No problems with slipping, and they are available in any color/fabric you might desire, and I ALWAYS wash/store them separately from my personal bedsheets.

 

[Magz]

Ok....now I'm curious.

t017

What is the purpose of using a flat sheet on the bottom and then going through all of the trouble of either tying them down or clipping them or using other things to hold them in place?

Let me explain.

My purpose of using a flat sheet on the bottom is two fold. One reason is so I can move the bolster around with ease. The 2nd reason and perhaps the biggest reason for me is that I can put them on and take them off quicker. I do 2-3 clients back to back without taking a break so every minute is important to me. The quicker I can clean up the room and reset it, the more on schedule I stay.

Angie

 

[Mari C]

Ok....now I'm curious.

t017

What is the purpose of using a flat sheet on the bottom and then going through all of the trouble of either tying them down or clipping them or using other things to hold them in place?

Let me explain.

My purpose of using a flat sheet on the bottom is two fold. One reason is so I can move the bolster around with ease. The 2nd reason and perhaps the biggest reason for me is that I can put them on and take them off quicker. I do 2-3 clients back to back without taking a break so every minute is important to me. The quicker I can clean up the room and reset it, the more on schedule I stay.

Angie

I wondered that too, Angie! If I was going to all the trouble to clip them and make them fitted....I'd buy fitted sheets!

Which I do, actually - I buy twin sets. I have no trouble putting the bolster under it and moving it around as needed, and I don't have to chase rubber bands or milk carton lids around. I've worked with flat sheets and have no problem with that, I just like getting pretty sets of sheets, and like the ease of working with the sets. I fold the sheets lengthwise and inside-out so that I just unfold them onto the table. Solves my coordination-challengedness.

 

[Sonia]

New Student with a question

I'm looking for every possible way to save money, and this idea sounds GREAT. Also, what length/width do the sheets have to be (for the table and for draping)? I don't sew (can't even sew on a button - ha ha), so what fabric do you recommend for simply cutting and no sewing?

Hey Heather, I am all for saving money, but be careful not to sell yourself short here or end up making more work for yourself in an effort to save time. If you buy fabric, it will have to be hemmed - muslins and calicos will ravel horribly in the wash if not hemmed. Even fabric that doesn't ravel, will get badly rolled edges in the wash and be hard to work with.

Also, it is worth it to buy the highest-quality sheets you can afford, even as a student. Very cheap sheets tend to wear out faster, pill up, hold stains, and even shrink on a weird diagonal when washed (cheap jersey sheets are particularly bad for this). So look for bargains, sure, but look at your sheets as an investment in client comfort and long-lasting tools.

 

[Jessica]

New Student with a question

Also, it is worth it to buy the highest-quality sheets you can afford, even as a student.

I totally agree here. Your clients spend all of their time on those sheets and if they're nice ones it can make a great impression on your commitment to quality and comfort. Plus they're a business write off so in the end Uncle Sam pays for them.

I can always tell when I've been on sheets that were a "bargain" for the MT. Leaves me feeling not so pampered.

 

[luv2help]

You could buy fleece for your sheets, it washes well, dries fast, is warm and snuggly. You could buy 45" wide and not cut it, or buy the 54" wide and then cut off 12" to use as face cradle covers.

It does not unravel, need hemming, does not roll, etc. Available in many colors and patterns, weights, prices.

The salon where I did my internship ONLY used these as sheets.

I use twin sheets, mostly the flat sheets. Recently got some fitted, and they're ok. The only time when they willbunch up is if the client didn't take off her pants and turns over.

 

[PE2008]

I buy Flats from Walmart $3.00 and I use a bungee that are made to fit the table, bodyworkmall.com $6.00. It is easy and fast to make up the table and you can still get to the bolster.

 

[CupCake =)]

Interseting...I had not thought about that...the length of time the fleece would live as sheets. My teacher had indicated that they lived much longer than flannel, plus dried so much faster. I know I've used the same flat fleece face cradle covers for several years, I'll make sure to try one of the older ones when I next get my treatment.

Thanks for that heads up! I keep thinking about getting a few sets for use in the winter, on those cold days when I only have one or 2 clients and the room does not warm up...

 

[Chorus (City 4-2 Chelsea)]

New Student with a question

Plus they're a business write off so in the end Uncle Sam pays for them.

Heather,

Please promise me you will go beyond your massage schools business course and take a course on Business Basics at your local community college.

Uncle Sam pays for nothing. He only has OUR money to spend - its called taxes - and giving you back your money does not fit any definition of generosity I know of. You and everyone else here pay for everything Uncle Sam does or ever will do.

Elsewhere is referring a business expense - not a write off.

If you net $20k from massage, the government will want about $4, leaving you with $16.

But if you spend $5k of that $20k on more expensive products, supplies and lots of nice sheets, Uncle Sam will only relieve you of $3K, leaving you with $12.

You will notice that nowhere in this equation is Uncle Sam writing you a check for any amount, or paying for anything when you are at the cash register with your $5K of goodies.

In the first case, you have $16k in your pocket. In the second you have $12 and a bunch of used stuff that cost you - but is no longer worth - 5k. Which is better? Depends on your situation.

And if you think getting a check from the IRS sometime in the Spring after you file your taxes is Uncle Sam's way of paying for this stuff, guess again. That is a tax REFUND. He is REFUNDING your money because you were too lazy to figure out EXACTLY how much you should have given to him out of each pay check. So all Uncle Sam is doing is GIVING YOU BACK YOUR MONEY, WITHOUT INTEREST! Such a deal!!

 

[BestEyeCream]

New Student with a question

deleted

 

[bcakEs85]

It is still just a credit against the amount of tax you would owe. If it turns out that you owe zero, you pay zero. If it turns out that you owe -200 bucks (and you never paid any in), that still just counts as owing zero. You won't get a check for 200 bucks.