How to Clean an Irish Linen Shirt
Representing a long tradition of Irish textiles predating modern agricultural methods, Irish linen has become symbolic of the unique craft traditions stemming from the Emerald Isle. Consisting of cloth and yarn woven and spun from flax fiber, shirts and other apparel items woven on the Irish mainland come embroidered with the official Irish Linen Guild logo. Though long considered a chore to clean in the past, maintaining the beauty of an Irish linen garment has become ever easier with developments in machine washing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Irish linen shirt
- Organic laundry detergent (without bleach or Optical Brightening Agents, or O.B.A.)
- Washing machine
- Clothing line
- Two clothes pins
- Steam iron
- Ironing board
- Wooden hanger
Instructions
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1
Clear the washing machine of any other garments or lint. Insert the Irish linen shirt into the empty washing machine.
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Position the washing cycle timer to the energy efficiency, "star" or regular wash setting. Adjust the heat of the washing machine to the warm or hot setting (though Irish linen is very sturdy and can generally be washed at very high temperatures, a warmer wash is generally effective as the smooth surface allows stains to be released).
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Leaving the lid open, press start. Pour the indicated amount of laundry detergent for the load size and pour it in as the water fills the machine. Close the lid and let wash.
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Remove the wet shirt from the washing machine and hang on a clothes line with two clothes pins holding up the shoulders. Let dry in the sun.
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Plug in iron. Retrieve the shirt when damp and place it on the ironing board inside out. Apply the hot iron to the entire shirt, alternating sides as the fibers dry and the creases are smoothed out. Once complete, turn the shirt right side out and iron the outside of the shirt in its entirety.
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Hang the shirt on a wooden hanger to protect the natural seams and store in a dry place.
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Tips & Warnings
While it is always best to practice care with any fine material, linen is among the strongest natural fibers known to man. The more linen is washed, the softer and more luminous (if less-seamed) it becomes. Avoid harsh chemicals in your detergent and never bleach your Irish linen shirt. Though tumble-dry options should generally be avoided, some shirts may come with a finish to allow it to be dried in a machine dryer. When in doubt, always consult the manufacturer's label.
Always practice caution when operating an iron. Never leave it unattended, and place it at a safe distance from children and animals.
