linen sheeting care guide
qualities of linen
linen can regulate body temperature by regulating skin-air heat exchange.
linen absorbs moisture well and releases it quickly, so it does not stick to the body and it also dries so much faster than many other textiles.it is known to absorb up to twenty percent of moisture before feeling damp however it will not remain damp due to its naturally quick drying nature.
air passes through the fibres easily so the fabric breathes well.
due to the thermo insulation qualities of linen it maintains a feeling of freshness in summer and warmth in winter. it is a conductor of heat sending the heat to the body; it is reported to be five times that of wool.
linen is known to possess rare bacteriological properties and is a natural antiseptic; it therefore suppresses bacteria. linen is a very eco -friendly product and has inherent sustainability qualities; it does not require the exhaustive processing that negatively impacts our environment like many other textiles require.
linen needs little water when growing so low environmental impact.
it is not a plant requiring pesticides to flourish and is recyclable so kind to our earth.
washing
it is recommended to wash bedlinen (bed sheeting only not throws, bed covers) items separately before first use inside out. do not use bleach or bleaching agents, this includes chlorine-based detergents or else your linen may discolour. some washing powders contain optical brighteners so avoid detergents with optical brighteners for colours. there are natural gentle detergents on the market that do not contain these harsh chemicals. if your colours encounter bleach or bleaching agents the fabric can develop a green or yellow hue and becomes permanent.
do not use fabric softeners, these coat the fibres and prevent the textile from breathing and creates a waxy feel. it can discolour and deteriorate items over time. this particularly applies to bed and bath linen textiles.
selected cosmeceutical products that may contain benzoyl peroxide (both prescriptive and off the shelf chemist products such as skin treatment creams) can bleach or cause colour changes to manchester items such as linen or towels. typically, the benzoyl peroxide develops yellowish, pink, orange, or whitish marks. colour leaching may appear 24 hours or 7 days later or after a few washes. if products have been used on the body or face, discolouration marks may appear on pillowcases and in the body area of sheets /duvet covers. selected body creams and suntanning products can also damage your linens.
undiluted washing powders or liquids may cause staining or discolouration on fabric so ensure powders or liquids are fully diluted before washing. do not pour liquids directly onto items.
wash colours separately and wash light colours separately from dark. use gentle wash cycle and do not overload your machine or add too much detergent because residual soap and or not rinsing correctly may result in discoloration over time.
do not over launder your bed linen, too much washing and drying can damage fibres, tumbling around in a hot dryer or washer constantly can wear fibres as is the case with any textile. do not expose to direct sunlight as this may discolour the linen over time as is the case with most textiles.
we do not recommend dry cleaning because some solvents or cleaning agents used when dry cleaning could lead to shade or colour change.
removing stains
stains should be cleaned as quickly as possible. do not rub harshly or ring, soak gently and wash. natural enzyme-based stain removers can be used as per directions on products and test on fabric first (if not bleached based). sometimes the process needs to be repeated to remove stains.
drying/pressing
linen does become softer with tumble drying as opposed to line drying, line drying has a crisper handle. in residential circumstances a mix of line dry and finishing off in dryer for 10 minutes is ideal but ensure the linen is dried on “iron dry” so a little under dried, it finishes it with a softer handle and does not dehydrate the fibres. (become overdried and brittle)
tumble drying in general reduces the lifespan of any textile item due to damage to the fibres and premature wearing. you can tumble dry on a medium setting, not hot. you should never over dry textile items so do not leave in the dryer once finished to overheat! over-drying leads to loss of natural moisture content and makes linen brittle and again may lead to premature product deterioration. do not overload dryer. linen dries much faster than cotton, so it does not require the length of cycle as cotton does.
our washed linens are all about the relaxed look so no need to iron just fold after drying. for a classic look press. if pressing use medium to hot setting with steam. pressing whilst the linen is a little under dried is ideal.
if you feel the need to press your sheets do not place excess pressure on the crease lines or folds, it can also damage the fibres and lead to premature wear and tear. it is no different to wear and tear on the edges of shirt collars/cuffs or jean pockets where constant use/rubbing/ironing wears the fabric away and yet the body of the item is still good condition. linen softens with washing and use so after a few sleeps you will love it even more.
longevity of linen sheeting
longevity of your linen sheeting will depend on a few factors, the yarn count, quality of the yarn, the density of weave and of course the correct care. yarn count is the thickness of yarn, the quality relates to grade of yarn used. there are two main types of linen yarn, a long staple yarn and short staple yarn. the long staple is the higher quality and is what we use in all our linen products and the short staple yarn is what is often used in lesser quality and less cost linens. in respect to the weave, the denser the weave the longer it can last. most bed linens are made from a weight and weave that is comfortable to sleep in, not too heavy and not too light weight. this weight ranges from 165gsm to 180gsm. in yesteryears, pure linen sheeting was made from a thicker yarn with a tight weave which made it a heavier grade linen and it lasted for many years however in today’s world many people prefer a lighter weight in their bed linen which is why you see similar weights of linen in the market. the lighter weight or more open weave does not always translate to lesser quality it just has different life spans to a heavier thicker weight weave. thicker yarns and denser weaves use more linen so can cost considerably more.
fitted sheets are subject to more wear and tear than other bed linen items and as such their longevity can be less than other items. we liken this to a shirt collar and cuffs; they often wear through faster than the body of the shirt due to the constant friction against the body in those areas of the shirt. we recommend alternating your sheets and only laundering when really needed. if you wore your linen pants or shirt every day for a few years you would certainly notice the wear and tear on certain areas of the item more than other areas. being a natural fibre pure linen behaves very differently to man made fibres and even pure cotton. pure linen sheeting is often woven in a looser weave to other fibres, so the impact of constant friction adds to the wear and tear on it.