Did you know that an excellent way to score good bed linen is to go undercover? Now that we’ve hit our bad-pun quota for the day, it’s time to get serious.
Linen, a fabric made from the flax plant, is among the best materials available. That shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s owned it before. Soft, durable, and breathable, a new linen sheet set feels like being hugged by clouds. ☁️
Aside from its fine texture, linen is also breathable, meaning comfortable nights are guaranteed regardless of the season. Even if you sweat, linen’s here to cover you, thanks to its moisture-wicking properties.
Since linen feels good to touch, it won’t blow your mind that people want their duvet covers, bed sheets or pillowcases made of the stuff. However, some think linen fabrics aren’t worth the hassle.
Linen isn’t exactly cheap, so making the most out of your purchase should be a top priority. Luckily for you, linen won’t fray easily, unlike other fabrics. Still, you should know the dos and don’ts when washing brand spanking new sheets. ✨
The first time you sleep with linen sheets is an unforgettable moment. It’s when you need to start washing the linen that you might have second thoughts.
Don’t.
Naysayers believe that linen can be a chore to care for, but you can easily give your linen the appropriate TLC it needs with the proper care instructions.
We’ve got you covered, don’t worry.
Wash Linen Sheets the Right Way
Experts believe that you should wash your sheets once a week for various reasons, such as prolonging the fabric’s lifespan, preventing allergen buildup, and good hygiene.
Since flax linen can be an investment, it’s best to know how to look after these fabrics from the first wash.
Linen care isn’t limited to making sure your sheets are clean enough for the pope. It also means choosing the correct laundry detergent, whether to go the hand wash or washing machine route, and the need for bleach.
For starters, linen isn’t exactly delicate. While it isn’t indestructible, you don’t have to worry about shrinkage or breakage as long as you know what you’re doing.
The thing we love about linen is that repeated washing makes it softer instead of fraying it. So, you shouldn’t skimp on changing your sheets, but you can’t just chuck them into the washer either.
You can machine wash linen, choosing a gentle cycle with warm water and mild detergent.
Sounds easy enough, right?
The temperature you subject your linen to matters. Generally, it would be best to stick with lukewarm or cold water to help the fabric retain its strength and softness.
Now that you’ve got your water right, it’s time to pick the perfect detergent. Since linen gets softer with every wash, there’s no use for fabric softeners, dryer sheets or strong cleaners. If you have to, you can use baking soda to keep your sheets fresh and crisp.
The market is full of brands offering harsh laundry liquid, while those that are gentle on your fabrics are few and far between.
You’ve already chosen a linen product with natural fibres. Finding products like this that are both eco-friendly and kind to your fabric is a must!
While you can hand wash linen, it’s quicker to go with a washing machine. There are only so many hours in the day!
To summarise, when cleaning linen, stay away from bleaching and hot water, don’t go wild with detergents and worship at the altar of gentler cycles.
The best thing about Ecosa’s linen sheets is they’re garment washed, meaning that they are pre-washed and hold their shape and colour better than ordinary textiles.
Linen Drying 101
The age-old question remains. To air dry or not?
Before we go to the nitty-gritty of this argument, is it even a big deal?
The short answer is yes. Improper drying shortens your linen’s lifespan and affects both quality and texture.
If you’ve seen the effects of UV rays on the rest of your laundry, you’ll side with the air-drying method. Allowing linen to bask in direct sunlight is an excellent way to disinfect the fabric and keep it free from pungent smells.
Don’t take our word for it, though. According to science, you’ll do more good than harm by exposing your linen to sunlight.☀️
For one, it’s cheaper since sunlight is always free. Air-drying is also beneficial to the environment as it leaves less of a carbon footprint. There’s also no need for chemicals to keep your clothes shrink and wrinkle-free.
Prolonged exposure to sunlight actually lessens the chance of wrinkles in clothes and sheets — with the help of water and gravity.
On the other hand, machine or tumble drying should be used sparingly and best left for rainy days or when the sun won’t cooperate.
Repeated machine drying can lead to more creases in your linen and add unnecessary tension to the fabric, contributing to its wear and tear.
That means shopping for new sheets sooner than planned.
If you must tumble dry, be sure to use the lowest heat setting available to lessen the adverse effects on your sheets.
Since we’ve tackled drying, we should move on to ironing.
Cotton, silk, and other fabrics may require ironing. But this isn’t the case with linen.
This suggestion is not just a way to escape chores, trust us.
Unlike other fabrics, linen’s aesthetic and charm necessitates some wrinkling. It gives your bed a lived-in feel that makes it the perfect backdrop for photos.
Store Linen Bedding Correctly
Now that you’ve got the washing and drying parts down pat, it’s time to think inside the box … or closet/cabinet in this case.
Onto the part linen owners often forget: we’re talking about adequately storing linen, of course.
Before relegating your linen to the closet for the next season, it must be dry and moisture-free. 💦
When your linen isn’t on the active roster, you should keep it in a cool, dry place. It’s a good idea to store it in breathable fabric bags or other containers that repel dust and mites.
Since linen can absorb moisture, you should also ensure that your sheets aren’t wet while in storage to prevent mould.
After unveiling your sheets after a long hibernation, first, air them out to let the fabric breathe, and if necessary, wash them before use.
