How to care for 100% pure French flax bed linen

How to care for your French flax bed linen

Proper care is one of the main elements to ensure a long and successful life of your luxury bed linens. Here I have come up with a few suggestions that will help your fine European linens to wear softly and smoothly through endless laundering. 

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Machine Washing 

New linen should be washed in cooler water temperatures for the first few washes; this will set the mercerization process. We recommend to separate your linens from other items in the first wash. Future wash temperatures should be at 40°C, but for stubborn stains, temperatures can be raised to 60°C. At that temperature, the smooth flax fibers that make up the linen material will release any staining. 

If your washing machine allows you to select the water level, choose the highest one offered because linen is highly absorbent. Avoid crowding the washing machine with too many items at once as it can result in twisting or pulling the linen fabric out of shape. Be sure that any other items washed with linen clothing are similar in color, weight and washing instructions. 

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Detergent 

Use a neutral or mild detergent that does not contain any bleaching agents such as chlorine or peroxide. Do not pour detergent directly on textiles; rather, add it to the water as the wash tub fills or dilute detergent with water, then add linens. Be sure that all detergent is completely rinsed from the garment before drying. 

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Bleaching 

The detergents that contain bleaching agents are perfect for white linen, but should not be used for washing colored linen or else your linen would get discolored or spotted. Chlorine bleach can weak fibers and cause them to yellow. If white fabrics need bleaching, use an oxygen-based bleach. 

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Drying 

Do not wring out linen before drying. Whatever drying method you choose – line drying, tumbler drying or lying out on a terry towel – make sure your linen articles are slightly damp before ironing. Drying white linen in the sun helps retain the original white color. Over drying is the most harmful process for fabrics as it weakens the fibers causing shrinkage and pilling. Over-dried items restore their natural moisture content after re-absorbing moisture from the air. 

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Ironing 

Remove your linens from the Line or the dryer while still slightly damp to reduce wrinkles. Smooth and fold, or iron if desired. Use a steam iron on a warm/hot setting for linen and a water spritzer if needed. 

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Shrinkage 

Our washed linen production is highly resistant for shrinkage compared with non-washed linen. Pre-shrunk items normally shrink 3 percent or less. Do not wash or, especially, dry linens on a hot setting, which is most likely to cause shrinkage