Should you care for fibers obtained by plants and animal-derived fibers differently?
How do you care for linen fabrics?
How do you iron linen?
How do you remove common stains from linen?
How do you remove protein stains?
How do you remove tannin stains?
How do you remove oil based stains?
How do you remove dye stains?
How do you remove combination stains?
How do you store household linens?
Should you care for fibers obtained by plants and animal-derived fibers differently?
Yes. Fibers obtained from plants withstand water very well, although linen generally shrinks more than cotton. Animal-derived fibers, on the other hand, need to be washed in cold water and require extra care when drying and ironing--we strongly suggest you have your animal-derived fiber fabrics cleaned professionally.
How do you care for linen fabrics?
Many people prefer to machine or hand-wash their linens with water and mild soap. In fact the more linen is washed the softer and brighter it becomes.
Gentleness is the key word when washing linen. Pure soap and lukewarm water are the main secrets for good washing. Soap works best in soft water without too much lime. You should act on stains while they are still fresh.
Do not bleach with chlorine-based products since these can cause yellowing. Use oxygen-type bleaches instead.
Always rinse well to prevent stains caused by oxidation.
Linen can be dried in various ways: line-dried, in the delicate cycle in the dryer, or wrapped in towels. Drying linen in direct sunlight will keep it white—although this is not advised for colored linen.
How do you iron linen?
Linen should be ironed while still damp to prevent folds or creases that may become difficult to remove.
The iron temperature should be adjusted according to the fabric’s weight. Pure linen must be ironed at the maximum temperature.
Starch is not necessary; the body and crunch of linen is restored with ironing.
How do you remove common stains from linen?
If you purchased one of our stain repellent tablecloths, it is usually sufficient to blot the cloth with a clean cotton napkin. However, here are some general simplyfied suggestions for specific types of stain. For a more detailed dicussion on the nature of stain and how to deal with them, please visit our stain removal methods pages:
Soft Drinks : Eliminate the sugary part with warm water and use alcohol for the rest.
Coffee/Tea : Moisten the stain with water than wash with warm water that contains a bit of ammonia.
Grass : Rub softly with a piece of cloth dipped in alcohol and ammonia and then wash.
Cosmetics : Pat lipstick or blusher stains with alcohol then wash with a good detergent. For creams use the same procedure as for fats (see below).
Fats : Treat with dry cleaning fluid, petrol or other solvent, cover with talcum powder to avoid halos, brush well and wash.
Ink : Pat on the reverse side with alcohol placing an absorbent layer under the fabric. Rinse with water and neutral detergent.
Blood : Rinse immediately with cold water, then wash. On dry stains use 3% hydrogen peroxide and a little ammonia.
Wine or Fruit : Rub fresh stains with salt mixed with lemon juice.
How do you remove protein stains?
Please read our stain removal methods pages
How do you remove tannin stains?
Please read our stain removal methods pages
How do you remove oil based stains?
Please read our stain removal methods pages
How do you remove dye stains
Please read our stain removal methods pages
How do you remove combination stains
Please read our stain removal methods pages
How do you store household linens?
Fold the articles flat and store them in a dry place. Make sure they are not exposed to direct light for extended periods since this can cause them to yellow. Take care to cover wooden shelves with paper and place some fabric bags filled with lavender or cedar wood chips in your storage area; not only will these bags give your linens a fresh smell, but they will also help to keep away insects.
