If you already have your dream linen dress or another linen garment, you're probably wondering how to take care of it and wash it without causing damage.
Don't worry, this guide will provide you with some helpful tips on how to wash your linen clothes.
Three tips on now to care for linen products to keep them beautiful for a long time are Washing, Drying and Ironing.
1. How To Lounder Linen Clothes?
You can easily wash linen by hand or in a washing machine.
Machine Linen Washing
Separate garments by similar colour. Prepare the garments by turning them inside out, fastening all buttons and zips. Make sure there is enough room in the machine for your clothes to rinse properly. Choose low temperatures and lukewarm water (<40°C/104°F) and use the gentle machine cycle.
Use a gentle detergent for delicate fibres and do not bleach.
Linen becomes softer with each wash, so there is no need to use fabric softener, which only weakens the fibres and reduces their absorbency and moisture-wicking properties.
Hand Linen Washing
Hand washing is recommended for lightly soiled garments or for linen fabrics with a loose weave.
Fill a small container with lukewarm water and add about a teaspoon of mild detergent. Soak the linen garment in the lukewarm water for about 10 minutes.
Gently rub the linen back and forth. Never twist or scrub as this can damage the fabric. Drain the soapy water and rinse repeatedly until all the soap has been removed.
Do not wring linen items to remove excess water or twist or scrub the fabric at all as this can ruin your garment. Gently roll each item in a towel to remove moisture.
Hang your linen dress on a padded hanger to dry to avoid wrinkles and iron evenly!
2. How to Dry Linen Clothes?
Because linen needs to be washed gently and carefully, many people think that drying it is a complicated process, but we can assure you that there is no need to worry!
You just need to remember that drying your linen correctly is part of caring for and preserving it.
We're going to tell you everything you need to know about drying your linen, because there are some do's and don'ts and some useful tips!
There are many different ways to dry a linen garment, but the best way is to let it air dry naturally!
For example, you can leave your linen outdoors in the fresh air to dry, but if you don't have an outdoor space, you can put it in a well-ventilated area instead and it will do the job just fine!
You may also be surprised at how quickly linen dries: it is an organic fabric made from natural fibres and is one of the fastest natural fabrics to dry due to its moisture-absorbing properties.
Even if you wash some larger pieces of linen such as sheets or blankets outside, they can dry in less than an hour, especially in hot weather.
However, remember to avoid hanging your linen directly in the sun as this can seriously damage them or cause them to fade if they are coloured.
Simply lay your linen on a flat surface or hang carefully on a drying line to prevent shrinkage and creasing.
Never store linen before it is completely dry. The fabric may retain moisture and be damaged.
Always wait until it is completely dry before folding it or hanging it in your wardrobe. Also, hanging a linen dress on a hanger before it is completely dry can damage it: the weight of the wet dress could deform it - especially where the shoulders are - unless you use a padded hanger.
You can dry linen in the tumble dryer, but it should really be your last option if nothing else is available and you have no choice.
Our advice would be to set your tumble dryer to the lowest temperature available and start the drying process, then take your linen out of the machine when it is still slightly damp, just to make sure that you do not over-dry it - over-drying can cause shrinkage.
However, you will probably notice that the care labels on your linen garments usually say "do not tumble dry" as this is considered a harsh process on the fabric and can easily damage fragile garments if not done correctly or carefully.
Avoid it as much as possible and do not make it a habit.
3. How to Iron Linen Clothes?
The recommended temperature for ironing linen is 230 degrees Celsius (445 degrees Fahrenheit).
If you want to use an iron on your linen, check the label first to make sure it can withstand the heat.
Gentle swishing is just the right amount of heat and won't damage your linen.
Before ironing, sprinkle your linen garments with water to help the moisture penetrate the linen fibres and make the ironing process more effective.
If you follow these simple rules of care, your favorite linen garments will last you a long time!