Linen Care

care of the laundry

Proper care is one of the most important prerequisites for a long and successful life of laundry. Here are some suggestions that will help ensure that your fine laundry feels soft and supple, even after countless washes.

Machine wash

New laundry should be washed in cooler water temperatures for the first few washes to kickstart the mercerization process. We recommend separating your laundry from other items for the first wash. Future washing temperatures should be around 40°C, for stubborn stains the temperature can be increased to 60°C. At this temperature, the smooth flax fibers that make up the linen material will loosen the stains.

If your washing machine gives you the option to choose the amount of water, choose the highest setting as linen is very absorbent. Avoid putting too many items in the washing machine at once, as this can cause the linen fabric to twist or pull out of shape. Make sure all other garments washed together with linen are similar in colour, weight and washing instructions.

hand wash

Hand wash linen clothing by gently tossing but never wringing, twisting or scrubbing. Hand washing is best for clothes that are not heavily soiled or for linen fabrics with a loose weave that could be damaged in the washing machine.
laundry detergent

Use a neutral or mild detergent that does not contain bleach such as chlorine or peroxide. Do not pour the detergent directly onto the fabrics, add it to the water when the tub fills up, or dilute the detergent with water and then add to the laundry. Make sure all detergent is completely rinsed from the garment before drying.

bleaching

Detergents that contain bleach are great for white laundry, but should not be used to wash colored laundry or the laundry will become discolored or stained. Chlorine bleach can weaken the fibers and cause them to yellow. If white fabrics need bleaching, use an oxygen-based bleach.

dry

Do not wring the laundry before drying. Regardless of whether you dry the laundry on the line, in a tumble dryer or on a terry towel, you should ensure that the linen items are still slightly damp before ironing. Drying white linen in the sun helps preserve the original white color. Excessive drying is the most damaging process for textiles as it weakens the fibers and leads to shrinkage and pilling. Overdried textiles regain their natural moisture content after absorbing moisture from the air again.

Iron

Remove your laundry from the dryer immediately while it is still damp to avoid wrinkles. Flatten and fold the laundry or iron with an iron if desired. Iron the laundry on the wrong side of the fabric while it is still slightly damp. Use a steam iron on a warm/hot setting for linen and a water spray if needed.

shrinkage

Our washed linen production is very shrink resistant compared to unwashed linen. Pre-shrunk items typically shrink 3 percent or less. Do not wash and most importantly do not dry linen on a hot setting as this will most likely cause shrinkage.