How to Wash Linen Fabric
Linen is a much-utilized fabric and one of the oldest in the world. Linen comes from the flax plant. It is used to make curtains and other household accessories. Linen is also used for shirts, dresses and other items of clothing. It is valued for its strength, being two to three times stronger than cotton. Linen is relatively resistant to staining. One of its most attractive qualities is its coolness. Linen is quite easy to take care for and launder successfully. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Separate colored and white linens Separate the linen into a colored and a white section. Check the labels. Soak any new linen in lukewarm water before the first wash. Use an appropriate bleach-free stain-remover on any noticeable stains, following the instructions carefully. Hand-wash any particularly delicate items, using soap flakes. Dry these delicate items flat, on a protective surface.
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Wash white linen first. Set the washing machine cycle at cold. Only half fill the washing machine. Add the perborate, optical-brightener free detergent to the appropriate compartment of the machine.
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Straighten the fabrics before hanging to dry, outside if possible, Avoid direct sunlight which may bleach the fabric. Do not tumble dry your linen fabrics.Iron the fabrics while still damp. Some linen fabrics shouldn't be ironed. Always check the label before ironing. Use a hot iron on tablecloths and napkins. It should not be necessary to starch them, but you can do this, if you wish.
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Tips & Warnings
Use plenty of water if you are hand-washing particularly delicate items as this will help protect them. Treat any red-wine stains, by sprinkling with salt, and then rinsing thoroughly with cold water.
References
- Photo Credit linen image by Silver Bromide from Fotolia.com panier à linges 0920 image by Elio ZOPPI from Fotolia.com
