Before laundering your linen, please, read carefully the instructions on our
product information sheet or on the care label attached.
Here you will find a few suggestions that will help you retain the beauty and
long life of your linen.
Washing Tips
Linen just loves to be washed and ironed. The more linen is washed the softer,
nicer and shinier it becomes.
First, use the right washing agents. The detergents that contain bleaching
agents are perfect for white linen but should not be used for washing colored
linen or else your linen would get discolored or
spotted. Only bleach-free detergents must be used for washing colored articles.
Use pure soap or gentle detergents. Soap works best in soft water. Never use
chlorine bleaches to avoid damage to the fiber. Only oxygen-type bleaches should
be used for white linen laundering. However, no bleach should be used when
washing spun, colored or embroidered linen.
If the water you use is hard due to a high lime content add a softening agent,
especially for darker-colored articles. Use plenty of water because linen is
very water-absorbent. Water temperature should be selected according to the care
instructions attached to your linen article. If the temperature exceeds the
recommended maximum temperature it may lead to fabric shrinkage.
Never wash darker-colored pieces together with lighter-colored articles - if you
do, you risk spoiling both.
Do not overload your washing machine, so linen can move freely - if you do, the
fabric color may get streaked. When machine washing, put delicate or fringed
items in a pillowcase or a net bag to reduce wear and tear.
Whether washing by hand or by machine, linen items have to be thoroughly rinsed
in plenty of water to remove all soap, detergent and residual soil and prevent
the formation of the so-called age spots due to the oxidation effect.
Do not soak, boil off, rub or wring out embroidered articles.
When washing colored embroidered articles, add a touch of salt. Also add a touch
of vinegar when rinsing colored linen - that will help prevent color fading.
Remove stains when still fresh. If allowed to set, stains may be hard, if
impossible, to remove at a later date (for more information see our Stain
Removal Tips below).
If you take your linens to an outside laundry, don't forget to tell them that
your articles are linen-made.
Drying Tips
Do not wring out linen before drying. Whatever drying method you choose - line
drying, tumbler drying or lying out on a terry towel - make sure your linen
articles are slightly damp before ironing. That will make your subsequent
ironing job easier. Drying white linen in the sun helps retain the original
white color. It is a good idea to lay out your laundered item, pull it into
shape and pat it flat to minimize wrinkles and thereby save your ironing time.
Over-drying leads to the loss of the natural moisture content and makes linen
brittle. Over-dried items restore their natural moisture content after
re-absorbing moisture from the air.
Ironing Tips
As it has just been pointed ou,t ironing is easier when the laundered items are
still slightly damp. Be sure that the soleplate of your iron is clean and
smooth. If you have a steam iron check out the soleplate for mineral deposits -
they can cause brown spotting. Use well-padded boards with smooth
heat-reflective covers - it will reduce your ironing time. Iron linen articles
until they are smooth but not dry, then hang or spread them out to become
bone-dry.
If you postpone ironing until some later time put laundered items in a plastic
bag and place it in the refrigerator or a freezer from 6 to 24 hours. It will
help them remain damp and prevent mildew formation.
For extra crispness spray the laundered items, especially napkins, with starch
and iron at a medium to hot setting - it will allow you to fold napkins into a
variety of fancy shapes. If you prefer a softer look, use spray-on fabric
sizing.
In case of light-colored linens, iron on the wrong side first, then on the right
side to bring out the sheen. As regards dark-colored articles, iron on the wrong
side only.
When ironing embroidered linen, keep the embroidery stitches rounded and
dimensional and iron on the wrong side on a soft terry towel to avoid the risk
of flattening it out. Special care should be taken while ironing delicate lace
and cutwork to avoid tearing it with the iron - use a press cloth to safeguard
against it. Press cloth also helps to avoid press marks over seams, hems and
pockets.
Do not iron on a patterned cloth because there is a risk that it may get
imprinted on the embroidery. Do not fold up the items just ironed - they should
be kept spread out for some time to dry.
Place a table next to the ironing board when ironing large items such as
tablecloths. Roll finished sections of the cloth over the table rather than
letting it pile up under the ironing board. You can prevent
tablecloth creasing by rolling the tablecloth around a tube as you continue
ironing.
Dry Cleaning Tips
If care instructions provide for both dry cleaning and washing the choice is
entirely yours. If you prefer dry cleaning to laundering, turn to dry cleaners
who work on the premises. It would be also a good idea to find out whether
solvents are regularly changed. If they are not, there is a risk that your white
linens may turn gray or yellow.
Storage Tips
Linen is best stored in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area. Always launder or
dry-clean linen before storing to prevent mildew growth. If mildew does strike,
brush the mold off outdoors to avoid spore scattering in your house, soak the
item in an oxygen-bleach water solution, launder it and dry in the sun. Use pure
linen, cotton or muslin and acid-free paper to protect against dust or as bags.
Do not use synthetics or regular tissue paper, plastic bags, cedar chests or
cardboard boxes for storing your linens. If linen articles are stored for a long
time, refold them from time to time.