How to wash linen
Miscellaneous / / August 10, 2023
Simple tips to help keep things in perfect condition for a long time.
How to wash linen by hand
Clothes made of thin fabrics, as well as products with embroidery, are best washed by hand. This is the most gentle way. Choose it if it is important for you that the fabric does not shrink or stretch, and colored threads do not stain the blouse or dress. Here's what you should pay special attention to.
Wash temperature
Some products made from high-quality linen, which has been processed in a special way, can even be boiled. But it’s better not to risk it, because you can’t know for sure whether your things will withstand such a procedure. Therefore, it is better to use warm water that is comfortable for the hands. If you are washing an embroidered thing, it is better to use liquid at room temperature.
Means for washing and bleaching
You can use any powder, special gel or laundry soap. If you only have powder for a machine gun, this will do. But be sure to make sure that the selected product does not contain chlorine. This additive can destroy the fibers of the fabric, and the item will quickly lose its appearance.
For delicate or colored items, it is better to use baby laundry detergent, liquid soap or regular soap with which you wash your hands.
To remove stains and bleach undyed linen items, you should use products specifically designed for cotton and linen. For example, oxygen bleaches or stain removers. If you need to remove dirt, you should first try the product on a small area that is not conspicuous, for example, on the tucks from the inside. If the color of the fabric has not changed, you can apply the product to the stain.
Features of washing thin and colored things
If you need to wash several items, soak only items of similar shades at a time. Washing a multi-colored dress or tablecloth - immediately check if the water takes on one of these colors when you add powder or soap. If she suddenly stained, it is better not to leave the thing soaked, but to wash it immediately. In this case, the product should not shed.
If you are washing a heavily soiled delicate item with embroidery, such as a linen blouse, soak it separately. Add 2-3 tablespoons of salt to soapy water just above room temperature. Wait about 20 minutes, and then gently wash the item.
And one more thing: you do not need to twist the thing strongly after rinsing. This way you can stretch the fabric. It is better to gently wring out the thing, straighten it and hang it vertically - for example, on a coat hanger. You can place it above the bathtub to drain excess water.
How to wash linen in the machine
Things made of thick and durable linen fabric can be washed using any convenient mode - but only if the fabric was specially shrunk before sewing. But not all manufacturers report whether they processed the fabric or not. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and wash the linen in a gentle mode. Especially if it's a dress, skirt or thin tippet. Here are the main rules that will help you to wash a linen item with high quality:
- Do not put items of different colors in the machine - only items of similar shades. Wash light and white clothing items separately.
- Turn embroidered blouses or dresses inside out first.
- Put no more than 3-4 items in the drum to rinse them better.
- Use only delicate wash cycles.
- Wash undyed items at 40-60°C.
- For dyed linen, select temperatures up to 30°C.
- Press the item at 400-600 rpm.
- Avoid automatic spinning when washing items with embroidery.
- Do not tumble dry.
- After the end of washing, additionally start the rinse cycle. This will finally remove the powder particles that may have remained between the fibers of the fabric.
When the wash is over, immediately remove the clothes from the machine, straighten them and hang them on a coat hanger. Otherwise, it will be difficult to iron them.
How to dry and iron linen
As mentioned above, linen is best dried vertically. So the product is slightly stretched under the influence of its own weight, and the likelihood of shrinkage is reduced. Make sure that the thing does not warp, its individual parts do not stretch out and wrinkle. Otherwise, when the shirt or skirt dries, it will be difficult to restore the shape.
Do not dry linen in direct sunlight: the fabric will fade quickly. It is better to hang dresses, blouses or curtains in the shade outdoors - for example, on a veranda or balcony.
Linen should be ironed slightly damp. But first, you should turn the product inside out, especially if it has embroidery on it. If the fabric is dry, it needs to be moistened a little - for example, sprinkled with water from a spray bottle.
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