Linen is not as easy as cotton or other materials when it comes to cleaning and care. It also requires ironing more often than other fabrics. However, this shouldn’t discourage shoppers and home decorators from using linen around their home. With a few tips and useful products, you’ll be well-equipped to manage the care of linen material around your home so you can enjoy the soft, cool material of luxury bed sheets, a breezy sundress or a summer suit.
Spot cleaning
Whether it’s a tablecloth, bed sheet or linen dress, spot cleaning is the easiest way to keep these items clean and lasting a long time. If the tag (especially for clothing) suggests dry cleaning only, take the garment to a professional no matter what kind or how old the stain. If you’re able to machine or hand wash the item, try to take care of the stain as soon as you notice it.
If you’re tackling the stain yourself, lay out the material and rub baking soda into the affected area to dissolve the stain. Then add a little lemon juice, which safely bleaches out the unsightly color of the stain without changing the original color of the item. You can also use an OxyClean or other safe stain remover if you’d like, but natural products that you already have around your home generally work just as well.
Once you’ve let the baking soda soak into the material for a bit, wash as normal and then line dry. Do not put the item into the dryer until you’re sure the stain is completely removed. The heat of the dryer will cause any remaining stain to set permanently.
If the stain does not come out after these steps, it’s probably best to take it to a professional dry cleaner instead of trying again.
Regular washing
Unless specifically stated by the manufacturer, it’s not necessary to dry clean your linen clothing each time or at all. As mentioned above, a pesky stain is best handled by a professional, but everyday cleaning is easily done at home.
If using a machine, wash on the gentlest cycle and use cool or warm water. Drying, too, should be done on a low setting. Remove clothes before they’re 100% dry to keep them from getting stiff.
If you choose to hand wash your sheets or clothes, do so in cool or warm water, never hot or cold. Don’t scrunch or wring out the clothing because that could cause permanent wrinkling or stretching. Lay flat to dry for the same reason. Use mild detergent and very little of it whether in a machine or when washing by hand.
Ironing tips
One thing that often discourages people from buying or using linen is how easily it wrinkles. Especially when it comes to linen sheets, many people simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of ironing.
That is completely understandable and if you’re a person that will simply never iron anything, linen sheets may not be the best for your home. However, there are ways to make ironing linen easier, and the pros of a beautiful and comfortable bed may start to outweigh the con of having to iron.
If you’re drying your clothes in a dryer, you should always pull them out a bit before they’re completely dry. Then, iron right away. For one, they’ll be less wrinkled and two, it’s best to iron when they’re a bit damp. Iron before storing the sheets to make it easier later on. You can also use steam if you need to iron again after the linen is dry.
For napkins, pillow cases or a tablecloth, you can fold the item and iron in half the time! If you’re truly short on time (and don’t care for perfectly pressed sheets) try ironing just the pillowcases and you’ll still experience the incredible softness of freshly ironed linen.
If you’re looking for a local cleaner that will pick-up and deliver your Birmingham dry cleaning, visit DriveCleaning.com today.
