Don’t you love the fresh scent and smooth feel of new linens?
Would you like to keep them looking and feeling fresh year after year? Here are our favorite common sense tips to help keep your linens beautiful:
Laundering Your Fine Linens
1. Wash with like colors in cool water using a non-bleach detergent.
2. Delicate lace and embellished linens should be placed in a mesh laundry bag before washing.
3. Wash towels only with other towels to prevent pilling.
4. Never use fabric softener when washing towels, as this could make them less absorbent.
Removing Stains
5. Treat stains as soon as possible with a stain remover.
6. Avoid bleaching agents, as they can damage natural fibers.
7. If white fabrics need bleaching, use an oxygen-based bleach.
Is Dry Cleaning Necessary?
8. Dry cleaning is recommended for wool fibers such as cashmere, merino wool and alpaca.
9. Unless the label specifically says “Dry Clean Only”, cotton, linen, and easy care fabrics like polyester could all be machine washed.
How to Dry your Linens
10. Avoid twisting or wringing out linens before drying.
11. Tumble dry at medium heat until slightly damp.
Pressing and Ironing Linens
12. Smooth linens flat and press them with a hot iron while damp.
13. Spray with a scented ironing water to give it an extra fresh scent each time.
14. If you cannot iron immediately, roll linens in a plastic bag and place in the refrigerator to keep them moist.
15. Embroidered linens should be ironed face down on a towel until smooth.
16. Starch lightly if you feel you need them extra crisp. Do not put too much starch, or they’ll build up over time and make your linens hard and heavy.
Storing your Fine Linens
17. Clean and dry linens completely before storage.
18. Store linens by hanging, or roll linens around a tube to minimize creasing.
19. Cover with natural fabric or acid-free tissue paper.
20. Avoid storing in plastic bags or cedar chests for long periods of time.
21. Store your linens in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area.
Bonus Tips
Here are a few more tips, based on some of best-selling products for caring for your linens:
22. Put a thick piece of fabric or a table liner between your tablecloth and your table. It helps absorb spills, reduce the sound of all those plates and glasses going on the table, and makes your tablecloth feel even plusher.
23. While commercial detergents usually work fine, here are some cleaners specially formulated for laundering your linens. They have a neutral pH balance and contain no bleach, making them safe for not just your tablecloths and bedding but also lace, silk, christening gowns, and so on.
24. Spritz a bit of scented linen water and store your linens with a scented sachet to give them that extra linen fresh scent.
And here’s the cheat sheet:
