If you know how to care for your linen sheets and how to wash a linen tablecloth so that they will look and feel fantastic for a lifetime.
A little about how linen fabric is made – so you know what you are dealing with!
How is linen fabric made?
Linen is a totally natural fabric. The flax plant grows across Northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The naturally wet climate and flax’s inherent resilience mean that it needs no irrigation or chemicals to cultivate it. It is utterly sustainable and environmentally friendly.
The plant is then dried, spun into thread and woven into fabric.
What results is a fabric that is inherently strong, absorbent, will not stretch out of shape or pill.
How to wash linen sheets and tablecloths?
Wash your linens in the washing machine. Washing in cold water is kinder to any fabric – and uses less energy. However if your linens are looking dingy, a hot wash will absolutely brighten them up. Use the extra rinse setting to endure all detergent is washed out. Do not bleach. Wash you linens separately. Zippers can be guilty of snagging or abrading your linens. Use a ‘free & clear’ detergent without artificial brighteners, which can affect the colors.
How often should you wash your bed sheets?
Wash your bed linens weekly. Hair products, perfumes, facial creams, make up, sweat and other dirt needs removing regularly to avoid permanent weakening and discoloration of your sheets.
Do not use just one sheet set (especially fitted sheets). Rotating different sheets allows the fibers to rest between washes and will significantly prolong their life.
Can you tumble dry linen sheets?
Line drying is gentler on the fabric and more energy efficient. But tumble drying on a low heat is absolutely fine and will soften up the fabric (especially when it is new). Use the ant-wrinkle setting if you have one. Linen dries very quickly so don’t dry them for too long and never dry on high heat.
Do you have to iron linen?
The eternal debate about ironing! Linen’s soft texture is alluring and cozy – and after a couple of washes, our linens become exquisitely soft. However, if you like a pressed look – especially for your table linens – blast them with the iron on the hottest setting and plenty of steam. And for an extra-crisp finish, add starch.
How do I get stains out of a linen tablecloth?
If your linens pick up marks – including oil, red wine, soy sauce – soak overnight in a tub of water and a scoop of Oxi-Clean. Then wash in the machine. The sun is a great stain remover, especially on light colors, so drying your linens in the sun can be a great idea.
Does linen shrink?
Linen will shrink when it is first washed (and then stay the same size – even in a hot wash). We know that our linen shrinks by 5%, so for some of our products we use pre-washed fabric and others we will make 5% larger than the stated sized to compensate for shrinkage.
Do you have to dry clean linen?
Dry cleaning linen is not recommended for linen sheets and tablecloths because you will usually get a better result washing in water. If you send your linens out, your professional cleaner should know how to care for 100% linen fabrics, but if in doubt, ask for them to be washed in water rather than dry cleaning solution.
Always clean your linens before storing them. Keep linens for different beds or different tables separately so you can easily identify them without having to empty the whole cupboard!
Linen is uniquely durable and resilient. Following these simple guidelines on how to care for your linen sheets and linen tablecloths will help you get the most out of your Huddleson linens for years to come
If you would like personalized recommendations, let us know your questions on live chat, email info@huddleson.com or call 626 399 0320
And of course browse the Huddleson online luxury linens boutique for all you bed and table linens needs!
