When it comes to natural linens, linen is hard to beat. Made from flax fibers, the extremely strong yet undeniably soft fabric is breathable, cozy and all-season, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. And that's not all: With every wash, it becomes smoother, more comfortable and all-round better.
It's easy to see why people love this stuff. But since it's a little more expensive than other materials, many wonder, "Does linen bedding last longer than others?" The short answer is yes, linen is incredibly durable, often lasting a decade or more. The long answer is that proper care is crucial to preserving the integrity and relaxed elegance of the fabric you love.
Marso Living linen bed linen is relatively easy to care for, but there are a few things to keep in mind when caring for the fabric. If you're considering investing in the effortlessly cool and widely appreciated material, or you're looking to protect the linen bedding you already own, you've come to the right place. Here you will learn how to wash linen bed linen properly and how to dry, unwrinkle, treat stains and store them.
Washing Linen Bedding: Steps and Best Practices
The wonderfully soft and airy linen is ideal for both warm and cold sleepers and offers the perfect balance between casual and luxurious. In order for this all-star textile to retain its incredible texture and year-round appeal, it's important to know exactly how to keep linen bedding fresh.
How often should you wash your linen bedding?
Usually, washing the duvet cover and pillowcases once a week is enough to maintain a healthy sleeping environment. And if you're worried about the fabric breaking prematurely, you're in luck because linen gets better with every wash.
Does linen shrink when washed?
Like cotton, linen sheets can shrink in the wash. That's why it's important to know what temperature to wash linen bed linen at and how to dry it so that it fits correctly on the duvet and pillow .
Should you wash linen bedding in cold or hot water?
The right temperature for cleaning linens is neither hot nor cold. Lukewarm water is best (between 40 and 60 °C). This temperature is warm enough to kill bacteria and loosen body fat and other debris, but not so hot that it destroys fibers or shrinks tissues.
Washing linen bedding in the washing machine
Linen may be a high quality material, but that doesn't mean it requires a lot of maintenance. You can easily clean it at home in a regular washing machine. These are the basic steps:
- Place your linen bedding in the washing machine alone or with other items of a similar color.
- Add about a quarter cup of mild laundry soap
- Set your washing machine to a gentle cycle and select a warm water setting.
- Start the wash cycle.
Best practices for washing linen bedding in the washing machine
Part of the appeal of linen is its simplicity - and the natural material is easy to clean, too. The following tips will help you get the most out of your linen bedding.
Read the instructions (on the label, packaging, or the product description on the website) carefully before you begin.
- Use a gentle cycle to protect the natural fibers.
- Choose a hot water setting. Cold water is good if you are concerned about shrinkage, but hot water should always be avoided.
- Opt for a mild liquid detergent that has been specially developed for delicate fabrics.
- Avoid soaps that contain optical brighteners and other harsh chemical detergents as these can weaken fabrics and potentially discolor them.
- Fill your washing machine with water and add the detergent before putting the laundry in the drum. This gives it time to fully dissolve and can prevent staining.
- Wash your linen bedding in its own load or with similar colors. In addition, you should only mix your linen bedding with items of a similar weight, e.g. B. with light clothing.
- A small or medium load of laundry is best, as overloading can cause the material to tangle and deform, affecting the cleanliness of the linens.
Linen bed linen drying
Now that you know how to wash the linens, it's time to learn how to dry them properly. Can you put linen in the dryer? Easy care linen bedding can be tumble dried on low heat. However, many people choose to partially or even fully air dry linen bedding .
Air drying protects the linen and supports the long-term durability of the textile . If you're not pressed for time, you can hang your sheets as soon as you remove them from the washing machine and let them air dry completely. However, since linen bedding can feel slightly stiff when air dried, consider a hybrid.
- Once the wash cycle has finished, take out the sheets and put them in the dryer with balls of yarn or tennis balls.
- Run your dryer on low for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Take your sheets out of the dryer while they are still a little damp.
- Hang them on a clothesline indoors or outside, weather permitting, and let them dry the rest of the way.
Keep in mind that linen bedding dries slightly faster than their cotton counterparts. You might want to spend just eight minutes in the dryer at first to see how dry your sheets get, and then add a few more minutes as needed. Also, be mindful of where you hang the laundry and when you use clothespins so the fabric doesn't wrinkle or pucker. Because the sun can fade linen, it's best to hang your sheets in a shady spot when drying outdoors.
When drying linen bedding, use wool dryer balls
When you tumble dry linen sheets, you can increase the softness and use dryer balls to make the material extra fluffy. When tossed in the dryer with your laundry, they increase airflow, helping to fluff up fabrics and minimize wrinkles.
Care and maintenance of bedding
Now that you know the basics of cleaning linen bedding, you can continue to deepen your knowledge of how to care for your linens. Below you will find out how to prevent discoloration, remove stains and iron correctly.
What causes linen bedding to discolour?
There are a few things that can stain linen. For one thing, bleach and harsh detergents can leave stains on fabric, even on dyed and undyed linen, which is naturally whitish. That's why it's best to use a mild detergent.
How to remove stains from linen sheets
It is best to clean stained linens when the stains are still fresh. So as soon as you notice discoloration, throw the sheets in the wash.
Instead of scrubbing, use a clean cloth to gently blot the stain with the solution until it appears clean, then wash the linens as usual. For larger stains, you can also try adding about a cup of white vinegar and a few tablespoons of baking soda to the wash along with a regular amount of laundry soap.
How do you iron linen sheets?
Marso Living linen bed linen should not be ironed . Naturally relaxed, the fabric is known for its relaxed, vibrant look and smooths out again when allowed to air dry. Also, slightly damp linen sheets are unlikely to wrinkle, so make your bed before it's completely dry.
Where to buy the best bedding
If you know how to wash linen bedding, you can confidently buy a new set. If you treat your linen bedding with the care it deserves, you will be rewarded with great value for money.
Light and airy, Marso Living linen bedding is made from 100% European flax and woven with love for you in Portugal. 