Natural fabrics are back in fashion, because they are not only beautiful, but also environmentally friendly. Linen dresses, skirts, shorts are trending, and linen curtains are often used in interiors. Linen items require delicate handling - aggressive substances and rough mechanical impact can easily ruin them. Let's figure out how to wash linen in a washing machine and what to watch out for when washing.
How to wash linen correctly?
Fabric woven from natural linen fibers is extremely vulnerable. It is useful to know what risks linen items face during water procedures.
Shedding
Violation of the care rules can lead to a change in the color uniformity of the fabric - it may fade. That is why it is recommended to use powders to which special granules are added to preserve color. Also suitable for delicate fabrics. Recommended:
- Use large volumes of water. The more it is, the less likely it is to change color. There should be enough water for things to float freely in it.
- If you are using an automatic washing machine (CMA) or an activator machine, you need to load the tank to 2/3 of the maximum load.
- It's better to use it as a safety net special bags- they need to be filled to 50% of the volume.
- Rinsing should be repeated and thorough. To make the color of the painted material brighter and more saturated, vinegar is added to the water.
At what temperature?
The ideal washing temperature is 30-40°C. This is especially important if the material is painted. Too hot water will ruin the color, and boiling water can completely leave the fabric without it. To find out the exact temperature limits, look at the icons on the label.
Removing stains
There are stains that cannot be washed off with conventional means. It will be easier to remove them if you start removing them immediately after they appear. Before using the stain remover, you need to do a test - soak an inconspicuous area of the fabric in it. After waiting 5 minutes, rinse the wetted area. If there are no color changes, the stain remover is good; if there is, you need to look for another product. It is not recommended to pour stain remover into the washing machine - it should be used locally, and then thoroughly rinse the treated items.
Does linen shrink when washed?
Material without synthetic additives is prone to shrinkage after exposure to water. This problem is not critical - the clothes quickly return to their original sizes when worn. To speed up the process, iron through thick fabric. How to wash linen items without shrinking? Yes, just don't use hot water. Wash only in water at the recommended temperature - 30-40°C.
How to dry?
- The room must be ventilated;
- Avoid direct sunlight - flax fades in the sun;
- Don't close the windows. The lack of oxygen will negatively affect the appearance of the products - shrinkage will occur;
- Do not allow it to dry out - a little moisture is necessary for ironing. Ironing slightly damp items is much easier;
- Iron with a well-heated iron. Finish ironing at the moment when the material becomes perfectly even and smooth, but there is still a minimal amount of moisture in it. Afterwards, the clothes are hung up to dry or laid out horizontally.
Adding synthetics will make it easier to care for things - they are easier to smooth out and do not shrink. But such fabrics still lose their main advantage - they can no longer be called natural and hypoallergenic.
Detergents
Caring for linen clothing excludes the use of chlorine-containing products. When in contact with chlorine, the fibers become thinner. When using stain removers, be sure to check the composition. Chlorine is especially often used in these products.
It is preferable to use mild detergents:
- Wash whites with oxygen powder with bleaching functions;
- Colored - detergents with the “Color” icon.
How to wash linen items?
The structure of woven fabric is easy to damage, so the best option for linen products is hand washing. Linen has a great advantage - with each subsequent wash it becomes softer and more pleasant to the touch. The main thing is to observe the temperature regime and use good detergents.
Hand wash
This is the best option for natural fabrics. Procedure:
- Stains must first be removed with a stain remover;
- Check your pockets and remove any unnecessary items. Fasten the zippers;
- Fill the basin with warm water, dissolve the powder in it;
- Soak white items for 30 minutes. Wash colored ones without soaking;
- Wash with care;
- Rinse several times until the powder is completely removed;
- Don't push. Hang or lay out to dry.
How to wash linen in a machine?
It is not for nothing that housewives worry about the question - is it possible to wash linen in a machine? Without knowing the washing rules, you can easily ruin your favorite clothes, curtains, etc. Follow these guidelines:
- Loading the machine - 2/3 of the volume. Everything is sorted into white and colored. Place items in laundry bags.
- Use the extra rinse function.
- If there is no special powder for color, pour two tablespoons of citric acid or the same amount of vinegar into the rinse aid container;
- Set the recommended water temperature and select the delicate wash cycle.
The main dangers for linen dresses and curtains are high temperatures, aggressive powders, long drying times and hard water.
Colored linen items are washed at a temperature of no higher than 40°C. For white, undyed clothing, higher temperatures and boiling are used. Linen is washed with standard powders on normal cycles. For high-quality rinsing, the volume of laundry in the drum is reduced below the recommended level. When drying, linen should not be hung in the sun - this will cause it to become deformed and fade. When ironing, it is important to keep the fabric slightly damp.
Linen is a wear-resistant material that can regulate temperature depending on weather conditions. Before washing linen items, take into account all the nuances - the quality of the washing powder, temperature conditions, shrinkage, etc.
How to wash linen in a washing machine
When using a washing machine, take into account all the features of linen, its length and width. It is hygroscopic, which means that the fabric absorbs a lot of water. Therefore, the number of things in the drum compartment should be small, otherwise the incoming volume of high-quality rinse liquid will not be enough to wash household chemicals.
Important! If laundry detergent is left on the laundry and it is allowed to dry in this position, yellow stains may appear on the fabric that are difficult to get rid of.
Before washing linen, make sure that household chemicals are suitable for this type of fabric and do not tend to stretch it.
First of all, you should read the information written on the label
Set the minimum spin speed, within 400–500. If this value is exceeded, creases and folds will appear on the linen. If the washing machine settings allow you to disable the spin process, then do so.
How to choose washing powder
Wash undyed linen linen with your usual brand of powder, unless the list of ingredients of the product includes aggressive substances - chlorine, sulfate, etc. If you don’t have a universal powder at hand, then use laundry or stain-removing soap or a special washing gel in a delicate mode instead.
For reference. You can wash linen items using household chemicals for washing children's clothes. There are no substances in it that will cause fabric damage and shrinkage.
Products that do not contain chlorine will help bleach undyed linen. These include oxygen bleaches. If you like your laundry to smell, then you can use chemicals aimed at softening water and aromatizing it - conditioners, balms, etc. For example, "Lenore" or OXY.
Temperature selection
For colored and undyed linen, the safe washing temperature is different. Natural fabrics can easily be washed in hot water above 60°C. You can even boil them. In this case, the fabric fibers will remain undamaged.
To wash colored linen safely, use a low temperature setting.
Be careful with painted items - if exposed to high temperatures, at which the paint pigment can be washed out, other items in the drum compartment of the washing machine may be stained. It is better not to exceed the temperature of 30–40°C.
Washing linen by hand
Washing with your own hands is the safest option for getting rid of dirt on linen items. It is forbidden to wash products in automatic mode; machine washing is prohibited. It is important that there is not too much foam, because it is very difficult to rinse out by hand.
Rules for drying linen items
You can't twist or squeeze it afterwards. Because of this, creases appear on it, which are difficult to smooth out without steam treatment. Immediately after washing by machine, allow excess moisture to drain from the clothing, then straighten it and hang it in a well-ventilated room or outside in the shade.
Dry air and excess sunlight damage the fibers, so linen can become brittle. It is best to remove dry laundry, especially overalls, pants and shirts, from the line when it is slightly damp.
Ironing
If items made of viscose, linen and other delicate fabrics require ironing, do it on a slightly damp cloth. Run a hot iron over the product, smoothing out any irregularities, but not allowing it to dry completely. If this happens, wet the item with water or turn on the intense steam mode.
There are several features of ironing items made from natural linen:
- Iron light-colored fabrics first from the back side, and then move to the front side.
- Iron dark colored items only from the reverse side.
- Embroidered items can be ironed only from the reverse side, which allows you to maintain the volume of the embroidered picture.
Dyeing linen items
If the temperature is incorrectly selected and a low-quality detergent is used, linen items may become stained. If you wash linen by hand without the help of equipment, then fill a basin with a large amount of water. The laundry should float in it and fit in width, and a lack of liquid will lead to shedding.
What to do if the item shrinks
One of the unique properties of linen is the ability to shrink when washed. For a material of natural origin, hand or machine sewing, it is normal if after rinsing and drying the item returns to its original size and shape.
If there is slight shrinkage, try heating the fabric with an iron and putting the shrunken clothes on yourself. Under the influence of temperature, the item may stretch. If this does not happen, then re-wet the product made of satin and linen, and iron it while wet, using an iron to pull the fabric from the center to the edges.
Linen shrinkage is possible if it has been washed at temperatures above 60°C. Whether linen products that contain synthetic fibers shrink is unknown until the first wash. As a rule, they will not shrink or the shrinkage will be almost imperceptible.
Removing heavy soiling
Enzymatic stain removers will help remove heavily soiled areas from colored and undyed linen, the instructions of which the manufacturer allows for the use of natural fabrics for washing.
Before distributing the product on the product, you must make sure that the linen does not fade. To do this, perform the following manipulations:
- Apply a few drops of stain remover to the back of the item.
- Wait about 5 minutes.
- Rinse the item under running water.
- Make sure that the fabric has not faded and that the pigment remains intact.
If the paint remains on the surface, the product will not harm the item and will remove the necessary contaminants.
Washing embroidered linen items
Clothes with embroidered elements must be washed by hand or in an automatic washing machine for delicate fabrics. Items made from this type of fabric cannot be soaked, boiled or wrung out for a long time. The optimal temperature range varies between 30–40°C, since it is unknown whether the item will shrink during washing or not.
When washing, pay special attention to the places where ribbon and other embroidery is applied. They should not be rubbed too hard so that the shape and quality of the cotton threads do not deteriorate. If the stain is too strong, soak the item for 10-15 minutes in slightly warm water, adding a little soap and a tablespoon of non-iodized salt.
Learn more about how to properly wash linen from this video:
Larisa, September 21, 2018.
Linen is a natural material made from a herbaceous plant. The fibers are used to create a pleasant, breathable fabric from which shirts, dresses, and bed linen are sewn. Linen must be washed carefully; the product cannot withstand the active effects of chemicals and the speed of the washing machine.
Linen fabrics are a material of natural origin; the threads are turned into fabric from which clothes are sewn. The material is popular in the summer, absorbs sweat and allows the skin to breathe. Needs frequent washing.
It is better to wash linen items by hand, so the product will not fade or shrink. If you have to use an automatic machine, you need to take into account the selection of products, temperature conditions and other important nuances.
Features of washing linen items
Linen items are finicky; incorrectly selected conditioners, washing powders or stain removers can ruin clothes. When choosing special powders for an automatic machine, they initially look at chlorine-containing components. The material reacts poorly to chlorine.
The choice of temperature when washing linen depends on the synthetic additives present or absent in the composition. If they are present, the temperature can be selected at 40 o C, when there are no synthetic additives - 30 o C or lower. “Delicate” type with a high water level; to ensure it, you should fill the washing machine drum 2/3 full. Before spinning, the item can be soaked for an hour or two to remove remaining powder particles.
To wash linen by hand, you should choose a large capacity container that will not restrict the fabric. Linen is an absorbent, and water will be required in unlimited quantities. Before washing, the fabric is soaked, having previously dissolved the powder and gel in water.
Shedding
If you select a mode that does not meet the requirements described on the product label, the fabric may fade (change color). It will be unpleasant if the faded item is your favorite dress or T-shirt. For safety reasons, when choosing powders, you should pay attention to the composition.
Choose powders that contain granules that help preserve color; they will prevent shedding. When rinsing, add a small amount of vinegar - this method will preserve the color and give greater saturation to the colors.
Shrinkage
Shrinkage of linen items is a natural phenomenon. When the product is completely linen and does not contain synthetic additives, it is impossible to avoid its shrinkage. When worn, the item will return to its original size. Natural shrinkage – 2-6%. During ironing, it is possible to avoid fabric shrinkage by first spraying it with water. In pursuit of reducing the size range of clothes, you should not get carried away with washing linen by boiling and cleaning at high temperatures. If linen is constantly subjected to aggressive washing, the natural fibers will become thinner.
For spinning, choose 400-500 revolutions - this helps maintain a neat appearance of clothes and prevents wrinkles from appearing.
Removing stains
Removing stains from linen fabrics requires care. Before first use, perform a test on an invisible area of the fabric: apply stain remover, wait five minutes and rinse thoroughly. If the stain remover does not cause a change in color, it can be used. It is preferable to use oxygen-based products.
Drying
Drying linen products requires compliance with the following rules:
- Dry the product in the open air in a horizontal position.
- When drying indoors, hang clothes away from heating systems and avoid direct sunlight. Curtains can be used to block out the sun's rays.
During ironing, linen items are placed under gauze or other dense fabric. If your iron has a steam function, you can use it as an addition. After ironing, the fabric is placed on a horizontal surface to dry.
Rules for preserving color
In order to preserve color for linen material, the temperature is selected according to the composition. Due to an incorrectly selected mode, the fabric may shrink. It is better to wash colored clothes with products containing granules. They retain color and quality better. When rinsing, it is better to prepare a vinegar solution, which is suitable for colored clothes, white. White things can also lose their appearance over time, turn yellow or gray, but washing them does not require the use of special powders. To avoid yellowing, wrap clothing in paper. The product is washed and bleached using oxygen bleaches; it is prohibited to use bleaches for dyed linen.
Linen items are easy to care for, but to keep clothes in perfect condition, it is important to follow a simple set of rules on how to wash linen.
Washing linen items: temperature and shrinkage
Durable linen fabric is very resistant to washing at high temperatures, and is not even afraid of the boiling process. But don’t rush to rejoice and throw your linen clothes into boiling water with a light heart. All natural fabrics, without exception, shrink slightly when exposed to hot water.
Does linen shrink when washed and how much? A natural linen shirt will shrink by at least 5% after boiling, which means that the item will become one size smaller. Flax with synthetic admixtures shrinks less, but also tolerates temperatures of 90–100 degrees much worse. After the fifth boil, the semi-synthetic material will become thinner until the fabric breaks.
Good to know
Before choosing a temperature for washing linen, you need to determine the quality of the material. Natural linen has natural shades, it is cool and smooth to the touch, and does not tend to wrinkle. If visual inspection of the fabric is not enough, set fire to the linen thread. Only ash will remain from the natural thread, the mixed material will melt.
If the newly purchased clothes are too big for you, you can artificially make them smaller by washing:
- At what temperature should linen be washed so that the shrinkage reaches the coveted five percent, equal to a reduction of one size? Maximum shrinkage of the material can only be achieved by boiling and subsequent drying near heating devices.
- Linen shrinks by 2 - 3%, which corresponds to a decrease of half a size when washed in automatic mode at 800 rpm. The water temperature should be at least 80 - 90 degrees. A similar effect can be obtained if boiled flax is carefully straightened and dried in cool air.
- The minimum shrinkage of 1% is almost unnoticeable and can occur when washed at temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees.
Warning!
In pursuit of reducing the size range of clothes, you should not get carried away with washing linen by boiling and cleaning at a very high temperature. No matter how durable linen is, if it is constantly subjected to aggressive washing, the natural fibers will become thinner.
Video about washing, ironing and caring for linen items
Washing linen in automatic mode
Modern household appliances have a special option for washing dense, coarse materials with a high degree of resistance to temperatures of 90 o. To prevent linen from shrinking, you should not wash things on this newly introduced mode, since in addition to shrinkage, slight deformation and the appearance of micro-tears in the material are possible. If you need to remove a stubborn stain, it is better to soak linen items in a concentrated solution before washing them in the machine.
Reading time: 5 minutes
If you already own products made from natural linen or are planning to buy them, then you probably know that they are very durable and can withstand washing well. Moreover, the more you wash them, the softer and more pleasant they become.
But you may also encounter some difficulties during washing. To avoid them and maintain the original appearance of the product and properties, you need to follow some simple rules.
But there are also disadvantages - 100% natural fabric can wrinkle, stretch, and also fade and shrink when washed.
Nowadays linen fabrics undergo special processing, which adds elasticity to the fibers and allows the product not to wrinkle. For the same purpose, synthetic fibers are added to the fabric during production. The likelihood of finished products shrinking is very low, since before production the material is usually specially washed and dried, after which it does not shrink again. Therefore, it is important to choose quality items.
And yet, even such durable fabric can deteriorate, lose its attractiveness and some positive qualities. Aggressive detergents, chlorine bleaches, rubbing and twisting should all be avoided.
How to wash better
Gentle hand washing is preferred. Even if there is a symbol on the manufacturer's label that allows you to machine wash it, you are confident in the high quality of the fabric or you do not have time to wash it, wash the item by hand for the first time. If you do not notice any shrinkage and the product retains its brightness and no streaks or stains appear on it, then you can then use the washing machine.
However, you need to take into account that the threads vary in thickness, density, and structure (they can be knitted from short or long fibers).
Selecting a detergent
- Unpainted items can be washed with regular chlorine-free powder or laundry soap. Chlorine can damage the fiber structure and turn a durable and wear-resistant item into a brittle one.
- On undyed fabrics, non-chlorine bleaches, such as oxygen bleaches, can be used. They have a gentle effect on the fibers without destroying their structure.
- You can also add water softeners, balms, and fabric softeners.
It is better to wash colored items made of linen fabric with special liquid detergents, powder for washing colored and children's underwear.
Thin and loose fabrics can only be washed by hand in warm water.
Machine washable
The first thing you should pay attention to is the number of things to download. There shouldn't be many of them. Linen is very hygroscopic, that is, it can absorb large amounts of water. If there are too many items, then the amount of water supplied to the drum will not be enough to fully wash and rinse. If detergent particles remain in the fibers, the product may turn yellow.
1. The mode should be selected “for delicate fabrics”, “hand wash”.
2. The water temperature for colored and non-colored flax is different:
- undyed natural linen (the color can be from beige to gray-brown, with inclusions) can be washed in hot water (40-60 ° C) and even boiled;
- colored items are washed at a water temperature of 30-40 °C.
3. The number of revolutions should be within 400-500. At higher levels, folds and creases will appear on the fabric, which will be very difficult to smooth out.
4. If the settings allow, disable automatic spinning.
Drying
- After washing, do not twist or wring out the products.
- You need to let the excess water drain, straighten and hang them in a well-ventilated area or outside.
- It cannot be dried in the sun.
How to iron
- As long as the items are not completely dry but remain slightly damp, they can be ironed. If you overdry them, it will be very difficult to smooth out all the irregularities.
- Each iron has a special “linen” mode. This is quite a high temperature.
- You need to iron from the wrong side. Colored and light-colored items can be ironed on both sides, but dark ones only on the inside out, as a hot iron may leave marks on them.
- You can additionally moisten the fabric from a spray bottle or using the special function of the iron.
If, however, strong creases and folds have formed during the washing process, and additional moistening with a spray does not help, then you should iron the product through a damp cloth. To do this, you need to wet a piece of clean thin cloth (gauze) with water, wring it out and apply it to the item. Iron until completely dry. The folds should be completely smoothed out.
