Caring For Your Linen Products

Linen is one of the easier natural fabrics to care for, especially in articles of regular use. Needless to say, this is what has made it a ubiquitous presence in households all over the world - in bedclothes, for clothing, for tablecloths and toiletries, there is absolutely no substitute for linen fabrics.

While washing, drying and ironing linen fabrics, here are some tips you should follow:

1. Wash your linens often. Unlike many fabrics that lose their shine after a wash, linen fabrics grow soft and shiny after you wash and iron them. When not washed for months, linen can grow brittle and even break due to dryness.


2. Your detergent should be either pure soap or a very gentle detergent. The detergents found for use on woollen garments work beautifully here.


3. Do not wash light and dark linens together, as linen dyes tend to run a lot. Add some salt and vinegar to the water in which you wash dark linens, as this will prevent fading.


4. Avoid chlorine bleach on your linens - oxygen bleaches work just fine to keep your whites sparkling. On darker linens, avoid bleach of any sort as it may lead to patchy discoloring. Oxy-bleaches also work to remove mildew, which linens are prone to if stored in closed and damp areas for a long time


5. Use soft water on your linens, as the salts from hard water can form a deposit on the surface and make it brittle.


6. Linens absorb a lot of water, so soak them with water to spare and avoid loading the washing machine to the maximum.


7. Do not wring your linens. Squeeze them gently to drain excess water, and then you can line-dry, tumble-dry or lay flat on a towel to complete the drying process. Hanging linen in bright sunlight will bleach it naturally and retain its brightness


8. Iron your linens - always on the wrong side, and lightly on the right side only for pale colors - while they are still damp, or dampen them before ironing. Do not let the linen become bone-dry under the iron, it runs the risk of becoming brittle.


9. Clean any mineral deposits off your iron as they may leave stains


10. Spray on starch at medium to hot temperatures for a crispy texture, and use spray-on fabric sizing for a softer but glazed look

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Like all natural fabrics, linen requires a specific type of care. Follow the instructions on the label, but also keep some basic tips in mind to make your linen last longer, and keep looking fresh and colorful for many long years.

Bed linen and table linen are necessities in every household. To keep your linen in good shape over time and change, use it often and follow the instructions on linen care.

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