Pegged as the best fabric for summer outfits, linen clothes have gained a lot of fame since its creation in Egypt. Designed for use in the heat of the deserts, linen is made from woven flax fibers and is extremely breathable combined with its rugged and tough nature, works well for the extreme environments of Egyptian deserts.
In modern times, linen clothing has developed a cool and elegant look and feel that allows wearers to make a subtle but eye-catching statement wherever they go, may it be during the daytime or in the evenings. Its rustic feel also allows it to be matched to denim very well, with the great ability to be used as linen over linen combinations.
However, it is not the perfect fabric. Linen has its drawbacks such as stiffness, and its need to be broken in to achieve comfort. It also wrinkles very easily, making it an intimidating fabric to use as a garment piece. Don’t let these drawbacks stop you from adding linen garments into your wardrobe. Here are some tips on how to care for linen clothes that will allow you to use linen garments without hesitation.
Img source: bewakoof.comContents
Washing
Dry cleaning is the ideal way of cleaning your linen clothes, but don’t be afraid to use your washing machine. It is best to use lukewarm water and set your machine to delicates if it has the option. Turn your linen clothes inside out before placing them in a mesh laundry bag for washing.
Drying
You can use your dryer but set it on low, however hanging and air drying your linen clothes is the best.
Ironing
Turn your garment inside out before ironing. It is best to iron linen garments while they are still damp. Use a press cloth between your iron and the fabric. A press cloth is a flat and clean piece of cloth placed between garment and iron to prevent your linen fabric from taking direct heat that may cause damage.
Img source: alicdn.comRemoving stains
Use dishwashing liquid when removing stains. Apply dishwashing liquid on the stains and let it soak for a few minutes. Scrape the stain off with your fingernail, then wash as you would normally. Keep repeating the process until stubborn stains are removed. Dishwashing liquid prevents color fading as opposed to using harsh products like OxiClean.
Avoid over bleaching
You can use bleach only on your white linen garments. But avoid over bleaching as this can cause yellowing of your clothes.
Emergency ironing
When you are away from home and find yourself in a situation where you have wrinkled linen clothes on you, don’t panic. Wrinkles can be easily removed by wetting your hands a bit and using them as makeshift irons. Rub wrinkles off with your damp hands and stretch them out by pulling the fabric in opposite ways.
Quick maintenance tips after use
Utilizing a spray bottle, spray water over wrinkled parts of your garment and use your hands to rub out the wrinkles, similar to how we remove wrinkles as stated in previous tip. Pull out and stretch the garment while it is on a hanger to remove stubborn wrinkles.
