How to wash linen fabric "How to prevent wrinkles and fading"

Linen is a standard material for kitchen cloth and summer clothes. The fabric has a reputation for being durable and long-lasting, but improper care such as washing can cause problems such as wrinkles and fading. You want to do the right laundry so that you can get along well with the nice linen. In this article, I will explain the points when washing linen fabric. Please remember it so that you can keep up with beautiful linen products for a long time.

Features of linen fabric

Before learning to wash linen fabrics, let's first review the characteristics of linen. Why did linen, which is famous as a staple of summer clothes and kitchen utensils, establish its position? The key lies in the characteristics of linen.

Linen fabric is highly hygroscopic and durable

The reason why linen is useful in the summer is because of its high hygroscopicity. Compared to other familiar fabrics such as silk and cotton, it absorbs water much more easily, and it is said that there is a four-fold difference compared to cotton.

Since it is easy to sweat in midsummer, linen fabric that has excellent hygroscopicity and always maintains a smooth feel is perfect for summer clothes. For the same reason, linen is often chosen as a kitchen towel to wipe off moisture. Linen products are also very popular in handkerchiefs and kitchen cloths.

Another advantage of linen fabric is its high durability. Linen made from the fibers of a plant called flax is very tough and has the property of increasing its strength when it gets wet. Linen, which is twice as strong as cotton and four times as strong as cotton, does not get tired no matter how many times you wash it, and it can be said that it is a very long-lasting fabric. Some even say that "linen is the most beautiful in the 10th year since I started using it."

Be careful as linen fabrics tend to wrinkle when washed.

I explained earlier that "linen is strong against washing". However, if you make a mistake in the washing method, it will cause various troubles.

The most troublesome linen washing problems are the ease of wrinkles and the difficulty of removing them. If you handle it carelessly, you may not be able to remove wrinkles.

Moreover, the toughness of the fabric backfires, and once it becomes wrinkled, it does not easily return even if it is desperately stretched with an iron. The strengths and weaknesses are two sides of the same coin. Fading troubles often occur. Flax fiber, which is the raw material for linen, has the property of not being able to take in the dye to the inside. Therefore, it fades quickly with a little bit.

Reference: Features and characteristics of linen fabric

How to wash linen fabric

Now, I will explain how to wash linen fabric well. I've said that linen is prone to wrinkles, but linen is a durable fabric that is strong against washing and doesn't weaken with a little bit. If you understand and handle the correct washing tips, it will last a long time.

What should I keep in mind when washing linen fabrics?

First of all, linen products are generally machine-friendly. Some people say that hand washing is the best, but basically it is not necessary. However, just in case, it is safe to check the attached tag to see what kind of washing method is recommended before washing. Even if you can wash it in the washing machine, it is NG to sneak into the washing machine immediately. Before doing so, check for visible stains and, if any, rub in oxygen bleach. Dirt will be removed cleanly with this effort.

Basically, it is recommended to wash it alone, but if you choose it with other items, turn it over after the pretreatment, fold it up and put it in the laundry net. Turn it inside out to expose sweat and dirt on the skin, and fold it up and put it in the laundry net to prevent the fabric from shrinking. Linen is a material that shrinks relatively easily, so it can be said that it is a point that you should take measures even if it is a little troublesome.

Washing time should be as short as possible. Linen is easy to clean and does not need to be washed for a long time. Let's wash it gently for a short time. If the linen product cannot be machine-washed, it must be carefully cleaned by hand. In that case, put water and detergent on the basin or bucket, and after soaking in the wash, push and release with both hands repeatedly 20 to 30 times to wash.

Regarding water and detergent when washing linen fabric

When washing linen fabrics, you can expect a cleaner finish if you stick to water and detergent.

The important point in water is temperature. It is best to wash at a temperature below lukewarm water. Linen shrinks when soaked in hot water, so wash it at a temperature that makes you feel comfortable or a little cold. The standard is below 30 ° C. Neutral detergent is recommended as the detergent. It puts less strain on the fabric than other detergents and minimizes the fading that is a problem with linen.

Precautions when drying linen fabric

The finish of linen varies greatly depending on how it is dried after washing. Be careful to dry the linen so that you don't get wrinkled because you washed it well, but it was dried properly!

How to dry linen dough

After washing the linen products, dry them without dehydrating them. (Or choose a course with the shortest dehydration time as much as possible.) You may want to drain the water thoroughly with the dehydration function of the washing machine before drying, but dehydration for a long time causes wrinkles. This is because the dough is crushed during the dehydration process and the wrinkles are fixed as it is.

One of the most effective ways to prevent wrinkles is "wet drying", in which the water drip so wet that it dries. It is said that the weight of water stretches the fabric, making it less likely to wrinkle. Even if you are worried about getting wet, it is safe to avoid squeezing.

If you are worried that wrinkles will disappear just by wetting and drying, place it on a flat surface and push it out by hand to remove excess water before drying. By the way, the place to dry is in the shade. While it dries easily in the sun, linen can promote fading.

How to remove wrinkles on linen fabric

Linen is a material that is very prone to wrinkles. Despite the utmost care, wrinkles can inevitably occur.

If you have noticeable wrinkles, iron them before they dry out to eliminate the wrinkles. Wrinkles will settle when the linen dries, so iron it before that to prevent wrinkles.

If you notice wrinkles after they have dried, spray them thoroughly and then iron them. At this time, don't forget to set the iron temperature high. The point when ironing is to move it straight in the image of smoothing out wrinkles. If you move it in a circular motion to crush the wrinkles, the wrinkles tend to remain. The reciprocation of the iron is also a cause of wrinkles, so if you move it straight, lift the iron once, return it to your hand, and move it in a straight line again.

Reference: How to iron the linen fabric correctly

Summary

Linen is a long-lasting fabric if properly cared for. There are opinions to avoid linen products because they are prone to wrinkles and because it is difficult to fade them, but all of them are troubles that can be prevented if handled carefully. If you have linen products, please take the washing tips introduced in this article and use them for a long time. The linen clothes and towels that I have been working on will have the charm of "attachment" in a few years and will make my life even more wonderful.