To take care of your clothes on a daily basis so that they last a long time, this involves several points. First of all, it is important to avoid weakening them, especially when storing them: it is recommended to fold knitted sweaters for example, or to hang them on a hanger in a very specific way. Moreover, the star materials of winter such as wool, cashmere, mohair or angora are not the only fragile fibers in our wardrobe. Indeed, as soon as the sun comes out, it’s the return of summery and light pieces to our wardrobe. And what’s better than linen clothing to be at the forefront of style and trends this spring? You still need to know the precautions to take when cleaning this delicate material. In an interview given to Current wifeGuillaume Lebert, research and development director at Ariel (P&G) and linen care expert, revealed his advice to us for maintaining linen textiles.
What is linen?
A natural and vegetable fiber, linen is popular for its quality and resistance to all tests. Used for several tens of thousands of years, this material nevertheless requires special attention to its maintenance. “Because it is a natural fiber, it will have different properties [N.D.L.R par rapport aux fibres synthétiques] that we will have to take into account when washing“, indicates Guillaume Lebert. The most important thing is to trust the clothing label, the washing instructions must appear there. The objective is therefore to take care of linen textiles from the moment they are purchased and this starts with washing for “prevent stains and dirt from becoming embedded“, specifies the director of research and development.
How to maintain linen clothing?
Washing linen in the washing machine: which program to use? At what temperature should linen be washed?
You’ve just worn your little linen dress and it’s time to clean it in the washing machine, don’t worry, here’s how to do it. Start by selecting a program for delicate laundry “on the spin side, we limit it to 600 revolutions maximum to reduce the friction of clothing against the drum“, we can read on the site from La Belle Address.
For temperature, choose a cold program or a program without “heating on the machine, if there are machines that are 20 degrees, some just have cold water written, that’s very good“, reveals Guillaume Lebert. Obviously, you have to choose an effective detergent”which can thoroughly remove all stains and body dirt“, continues the laundry care expert.
Washing linen by hand: how to do it?
For those who are more reluctant to machine wash due to several mishaps, you can clean your linen pieces by hand. To do this, fill a basin with lukewarm or even cold water and add the necessary amount of detergent, then place the linen garment inside. “You have to be careful when rubbing it so as not to damage or break the fibers too much.“, explains Guillaume Lebert. Instead, the laundry specialist advises using “washcloth instead of rubbing the fibers against each other“. This allows you to gently brush the fiber of the garment without damaging it.
How to dry linen clothes?
Like all natural materials, linen fiber cannot withstand heat. On contact with the latter, linen laundry risks shrinking. “Linen is a material that dries quickly. We therefore prefer the open air: our clothes will be even more beautiful and less wrinkled.“, we can read on the La Belle Address website.
With the return of sunny days, we are tempted to let our linen fiber clothes bask in the sun. However, linen expert Guillaume Lebert warns of the risks of this practice.when we dry [N.D.L.R le vêtement en lin] in direct sunlight, once it is dry you must remove it quickly because the UV rays will continue to act even if the clothing is dry“Indeed, if the sun’s rays have a harmful effect on our skin when it is not protected by sunscreen, they also have consequences on our clothing.”From the moment there is no more water to remove, there is still energy from the sun arriving, so what can happen is that it will start to slightly oxidize the fibers, turn yellow, and there on the other hand it is irreversible“, says the linen care specialist.
Pants, shirt, top: can you clean linen clothes with white vinegar?
Grandma’s tips can, in many situations, save your clothes from a disaster that occurs during washing. Among the tips for linen textiles is the famous white vinegar tip. “There is no risk with white vinegar, it is not a risky element. On the other hand, it will not be a deep wash.“, explains Guillaume Lebert. It is therefore better to use a suitable and specific detergent to clean your linen fabrics. White vinegar is “a troubleshooting solutionhe explains. If it is a slightly white-beige linen, it will gray over time“, concludes the linen specialist.
Sources: Interview Guillaume Lebert (April 2024) and “How to wash linen”, La Belle Address