The weather’s warming up, and linen season’s coming (we promise)! Linen is a beautiful, sustainable textile made from the the flax plant. Many think that linen is a delicate fabric that requires special care. On the contrary, linen is a durable and long-lasting fabric. While cotton can become threadbare as the fibres are weakened, linen can last many washes and wears and often gets softer and more luxurious feeling over time. Having said that, like all fabrics, there are some best practices when it comes to taking care of your linen lovelies.
Linen has built-in insect-repellent properties. Moths have no interest in your linen pieces, so no need to keep them in plastic bags and cedar chests when storing them. Linen is also antibacterial. Like wool, it’s a breathable fabric, that (depending on the weight) can keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Plus, linen dries faster than cotton, making it the perfect travel fabric for those washing-on-the-move moments. Just hand wash it and let it hang overnight, and it’s good to wear again in the morning.
When it comes to laundering your linen, simply do a cool-water wash in your machine and hang to dry. To protect your garments from being overworked in the machine, you can choose a gentler cycle. Reading the individual manufacturer’s care instructions is always the safest choice when it comes to loving your linens long time.
But what about the wrinkles? Linen has a natural quality that makes it quite wrinkle prone (it happens to the best of us!). To freshen up your linen pieces and remove some wrinkles, steam with a clothing steamer or iron when they are still a bit damp on a medium heat steam setting. Darker linen is best pressed on its reversed side. But really, there is no need to iron linen at all. The flowy, relaxed crumples are beautiful and part of linen’s natural charm. Slide through the images above to discover three local Vancouver linen brands we love. —Jen Pistor
share:
Be the first to comment