Linen is a natural material made of flax and is considered to be one of the best materials for bedding. The reason it is considered the best is because it is colourfast, durable, non-allergenic, anti-static and breathes. Linen wicks moisture away from the body, allowing your body to breathe and contributing to a comfortable night’s sleep. Also, linen doesn’t stretch and has a shiny and attractive sheen. Also, the more you use bed linen, the softer the material becomes. But in order to keep it looking and feeling great and lasting longer, you have to know how to take proper care of it.
How to wash and dry bed linens
The first thing to remember is to never wash your bed linens in hot water. Only use cold water when washing your bed linens. You can use regular detergent, but a gentler product is recommended. Harsh chemicals will damage your bed linens and cause it to discolour. Too much detergent, on the other hand, will make your linens feel rough. When washing your bed linen, use only a third of the amount of detergent you normally use, and set your washing machine to the ‘Gentle’ cycle.
Never wash your bed linens with chlorine beach – this will cause the colour to fade and weaken the fibers. To remove stubborn stains, use a cold water detergent. Also, stay away from fabric softeners. This weakens the natural flax fibers and interferes with the fabrics ability to absorb moisture. When tumble drying, set the heat to ‘Low’ for linens. Do not overdry and remove your bed linens from the dryer as soon as it is done to avoid wrinkles.
How to store bed linens
Completely dry your linens before storing them. Fold them and store them without jam packing your bed linen drawer or linen closet. If your bed linen is not regularly used, store them in a clean and dry place, with plastic protection if possible. Also, separate your everyday linens from your special occasion linens, and try not to store them in the same place. Instead, store hardly used linens in non traditional places like under the beds, in a spare room closet, in a laundry room closet, or in the basement. Finally, use herbal moth repellents to keep these pests at bay.
Author bio
This article was written for The White Company and offers tips on washing and storing your bed linen.