How to Wash Linen?

It is not by chance that linen fabric is popular. It is hygroscopic, natural, comfortable in summer, and not cold in winter. But, unfortunately, linen quickly gets dirty and can shrink when washing, and therefore needs special care. There are several ways to wash linen by hand and in the machine, how to remove stains from this fabric, and what means are preferable when washing linen of different colors. Linen is the best fabric for summer. This is a hypothesis that does not require proof. It breathes and drains moisture well. It is not hot, but it looks very noble - so your image does not risk getting too beachy. Quality linen is not a cheap purchase, so you should take care of it responsibly. We tell you what rules to follow to prolong the life of linen clothes.

Linen fabric has many advantages: it has good breathability, quickly absorbs moisture from the body's surface, and does not cause allergic reactions. As a rule, the price for clothes made of natural linen is quite high, and the products themselves require proper care. We tell you how to properly wash linen to preserve its beauty and quality for a long time. Today, more and more fashionistas prefer natural fabrics. Linen, among them, takes a leading position. But how do you wash it properly, manually or in a machine? Let's consider the question more substantially so as not to spoil your favorite pants or dress suit.

Before sending the item into the machine drum, it is necessary to inspect the product. If necessary, carry out minor repairs and remove stains. A washing agent should be selected, considering the material's color. For white fabrics, you need a special preparation designed specifically for things of this color. For blacks, there is also a separate means. All other linen products are washed with universal powders and gels focused on colored things.

Things made of thick and durable linen fabric can be washed using any convenient mode - but only if the fabric was specially subjected to shrinkage before sewing. However, not all manufacturers report whether they treated the fabric or not. Therefore, it is better to reinsure yourself and wash linen gently. Especially if it is a dress, a skirt, or thin stoles. Here are the main rules that will help to qualitatively launder a linen thing:

- It is best to use liquid laundry detergent or specialized products for washing colored linen. Avoid chlorine bleaches, which can damage the fibers of linen.
- Turn linen blouses or dresses inside out first.
- Do not put more than 3-4 items in the drum to rinse them better.
- Use only delicate washing modes.
- Wash undyed garments at 40-60 °C.
- For dyed linen garment, choose a temperature of up to 30 °C.
- Spin the linen garment at 400-600 rpm.
- Do not use the automatic spin cycle when washing linen garments.
- Do not use machine drying.
- After the end of washing, additionally, start the rinse mode. This will finally remove any powder particles that may have been left between the fabric fibers.
- When the washing is over, immediately remove things from the machine, straighten them, and hang them on hangers. Otherwise, they will be difficult to iron.
- After washing, it is better to use the "extra rinse" mode because the powder residue on the product reduces its service life, and the fabric oxidizes and becomes unusable.
- It is better to use a stain remover, apply it to the contamination place, wash your hands, and rinse. After that, the item is placed in an automatic machine.

Several steps will help you hand wash linen without causing any damage. First, it is important to choose the right detergent for hand-washing linen. Its composition should include components on the package that increase the alkalinity of water, called soda or silicates - they will catalyze the process of removing stains and not damage the fabric. Ensuring the detergent does NOT contain chlorine or other bleaches is important, so any harsh stain removers should not be used. And for non-colored items, you can use simple laundry soap.

If the linen clothes are expensive, for example, a dress, suit, or jacket , handmade, it is better to spend more effort and time rather than spoil in the washing machine. Dial in a basin with more water, pour laundry detergent, wash and hand wash. If things are from colored fabrics, you can add a little citric acid or a teaspoon of vinegar during rinsing.

Before hand washing, linen should be soaked in hot water for half an hour. The product is allowed to rub and twist. Exception - fabric with embroidery and beads. After washing with a soap solution, linen should be thoroughly rinsed. It is necessary to make three changes to water, especially for white things. If particles of detergent remain on the fabric, it will be yellow.

It is hand washing linen things - the gentlest and most acceptable, and therefore, some manufacturers prescribe such a mode on the tag in advance. The main rules of hand washing are as follows.

- If the thing is sewn from white linen - it is not afraid of high temperatures. It can even be boiled; from this, it will become softer and will not "bite."
- If you choose the place of gel powder - choose compositions used in automatic machines. They do not give abundant foam and will not leave divorces on the fabric. It is also necessary to thoroughly rinse the linen product in several waters - change it 3-4 times.
- If you wash colored linen - to preserve the colors and prevent color washing, rinsing in the water should be added to 1 liter 1 tbsp. Vinegar.
- After washing, garment is not twisted but gently squeezed by hand.
- If the linen product has embroidery - the water should be no more than 20 degrees so the pattern does not lose color or fade.
- If linen embroidery is heavily soiled - it is worth soaking for about 20 minutes in a soap solution with a liter of water 1 tbsp. Salt. If you are dealing with a complex contamination, you can use a stain remover with a mandatory note for linen and cotton.

- Oxygen bleach may be suitable if the linen material is not dyed, but the care label should be consulted before use. Chlorine and acid-based bleach should not be used, as these active ingredients can damage linen textiles.

- You can also use laundry soap to remove stains from linen fabric. Treat the contamination with a soap bar, leave it for 10 minutes, and wash the clothes in a washing machine.

- Nasha alcohol will help to remove the contamination. To do this, dissolve one teaspoon of the substance in 300 ml of cool water. Hold the contaminated part of the linen clothes in this solution for a few minutes; then, washing the linen in the machine is recommended.

The previously mentioned tubular structure of linen fibers is prone to absorbing odors. This circumstance should be taken into account when choosing a place for hanging. The best place is outdoors. In this case, paying attention to other atmospheric factors will be necessary. So, ultraviolet acts as a natural bleach for fabrics of natural shades and colors. Therefore, the latter two types are better dried in the shade to avoid fading. Heat can lead to the formation of additional unsightly folds.

As mentioned above, linen is better to dry vertically. Therefore, things are better hung out wet, having previously carefully smoothed them out. So, the product is slightly stretched underweight, and the probability of shrinkage is reduced. Running down, the water will collect at the bottom and pull the fabric. So, it is better to use shoulder pads and other similar devices to keep shirts, pants, and dresses in shape. This is the care of linen fabrics with the help of natural phenomena. Ensure the thing is not skewed; its parts are not stretched and wrinkled. Otherwise, when the shirt or skirt dries, it will be difficult to restore the form. Do not dry linen under direct sunlight: the fabric burns out quickly. It is better to hang dresses , blouses, or curtains in the shade in the open air - for example, on the veranda or balcony.

If we're talking about seasonal storage, I wash things first and then put them away: heavy linen dresses are thrown over the bar on hangers (they won't deform this way), and lighter shirts and pants are folded or hung up. It is important to remember that any clothes need air, so do not hang things tightly to each other and compress them on the shelves. After proper storage, dresses, and shirts are easy to tidy up: all places, especially creases, just spray with water and iron.