7 Common Linen Care Mistakes you're probably Making

Linen. She's a jolly good thread for a number of reasons (Sustainability factor being RIGHT at the top!) but like all good things, Linen fabric needs a little tender love & care to make sure she looks great for years to come. 

Ever wondered why Gran's pants are still in such good condition 50 years after she purchased them for her dinner party at Neville's place in the 70's? That's because she has taken care in washing them, spot cleaning over washing machine and of course, the old hand-wash. 

The second most important factor in (in our eyes) after choosing to shop sustainable fibres and materials, is to look after them well to make sure they're still lookin spick & span 20 years from now. Here are 8 Common Linen Care mistakes you are probably currently making and some tips to work past them!

Uh ah.... Making sure you are washing only Linen pieces together is really important. That means no other towels or clothes with rough fibres that might aggravate your linen during a wash cycle.

The best way to wash Linen in a washing machine is in cold or warm water with a gentle detergent (be sure to always check for nasties including those harmful to our planet). Avoid hot water, bleach or harsh cleaning products that might damage the delicate linen fibres and ruin the luxe feel of your Linen pieces.

You heard us, Fabric softener is a no-no with Linen! Add this to the list of no-no's along with hot water and bleach. Fabric softeners can can coat the natural fibres of your linen and disintegrate them over time.

Plus, Linen naturally gets softer over time, so hang in there mate and quit with the fabric softeners!

Sorry babe, these pieces are all on you, no outsourcing this washing! You can never really be certain of the chemicals Dry-Cleaners use so we highly suggest skipping them when it comes to cleaning your Linens.

4. STORING YOUR LINEN THREADS THAT ARN'T BONE DRY

Guilty of pulling your washing in before it's completely dry? Quit it! It's super important to make sure your Linen is as dry as a bone before folding or hanging it back in your wardrobe. Why you ask? 

Because whilst your Linen is damp it can invite mould or mildew to grow on the fibres. Being a natural fibre, mould loves a little healthy nature fibre to grow on.... Ewww, gross! Keep 'em dry!

5. TUMBLE DRYING YOUR LINEN

Three words my friend: Air Dry Only! This goes for all your clothes.... Tumble drying is abrasive on delicate linen fibres, causing them to shed, break and well, be abrasive! How would you like to tumble around in one of those things for half an hour!? 

If you really want to tumble dry, you can drying your Linen on a low heat setting for a short period of time, and then once they're half-dry, complete the drying process by hanging up your linen on the line or flat on a towel in the sunshine. 

But TBH, the best thing to do is line dry your Linen pieces from start to finish, preferably in the shade. This will prolong the lifetime of your linen pieces ten-fold and protect their delicious plant-dyed hues.

6. LETTING A STAIN FESTER

From melted Chocolate to accidental tea spots, you’ll want to address any stains and marks on your Linen pieces as soon as possible.  

This doesn’t mean you need to wash the entire item however. Try spot drying the mark with some warm water. Part 2 for a more harsh mark, try sprinkling a little baking soda onto the spot, add a few drops of vinegar and blot gently with a paper towel to soak up any excess moisture. Voila!  

7. STORING YOUR LINEN IN PLASTIC

Pffft, as if you own any plastic anyway. But we thought we would holla this at you JUST in case..... Because linen is a natural fibre, and our pieces have been dyed with organic plant dyes, they need room to breathe – and trapping them in plastic will only create a delightful environment for mildew to grow. Ew. 

We suggest hanging all your Linen wear on hangers so that the creases can relax over time, the air can circulate around them and they're looking HOT DAMN and ready to wear as soon as you're ready.... Boom!

We hope these 7 hot tips for caring for your Linen have inspired and educated you a little on how these beautiful natural fibres work. We would love to hear any other hot tips you have for Linen (Or other natural fabrics for that matter!) Leave us a comment below or DM us over on @luna.androse x