The key to enjoying the luxurious comfort and beauty of fine linens is maintaining the life of the fabric. With proper care you will extend the life of your linens.
Dry Cleaning Laundering Drying Ironing Ironing Delicate Embroideries, Laces, and Cutwork Storing your Fine Linens
Dry Cleaning:
Although all natural fiber fabrics have been hand washed for generations, dry cleaning may be recommended due to the dyes, finishes, linings, trims or even threads that may be used in the construction of the item. When in doubt, consult with a professional dry cleaner who specializes in fine fabrics.
Laundering:
Due to the physical nature of pure cottons and linens laundering is preferable to dry cleaning. Freshly washed cottons and pure linen have a naturally clean fragrance and become softer and more luminous with continued washing. Professional consideration should be given to fine linens that have special fabric trims, appliques and embroideries and large oversized items. Throughout the country there are specialists in hand laundering. However, most bed and table items will respond beautifully following these simple guidelines:
1. Separate your fine washables. Machine wash or hand launder in soft rather than hard water. (Detergents and soaps used in hard water may cause your linens to be dingy or stiff.)2. Colors should be washed gently in cold water. Whites should be gently machine washed in warm water using a pure soap or a non-chlorine bleach detergent. (Chlorine bleach may cause yellowing.)3. Rinse thoroughly.
A. Linens with special trimmings and embroideries may require extra attention. If you are in doubt we recommend you consult a professional hand laundry.
Drying:
Upon completion of the spinning cycle, remove your linens immediately and line dry. (White linens get whiter with sunshine.) Or, tumble dry on a gentle cycle until slightly damp. Over drying your linens is the single biggest risk in reducing the life of your fine linens.
Ironing:
Remove your fine linens from the dryer while still slightly damp, smooth and fold immediately to minimize the need for ironing.
Generally, mercerized woven fabrics of higher thread counts constructed with quality fibers and highly twisted yarns will resist wrinkles.
Due to the nature of particular weaves such as Cotton Sateens may appear flat or lose their sheen.
To regain the luster and shine of a Cotton Sateen of Silk Charmeuse fabric, set the temperature gauge of the iron to a cotton or silk setting.
Use a well padded ironing board or flat surface with heat reflective covers.
Be sure that face of the iron is clean and smooth. If the fabric is slightly damp, steam and starching is not necessary.
Steam may be used with caution. Be sure to check for mineral deposits which cause brown spots.
Smooth and fold. To ensure the life of the fabric do not press creases into folds.
For large table cloths, roll finished sections over a table or around a tube. Hanging your tablecloths will minimize creases.
Ironing Delicate Embroideries, Laces and Cutwork:
Iron on the reverse side of the fabric using a soft towel or press cloth.
Storing your Fine Linens:
Always launder or dry clean your linens before storing in a cool, dry and will ventilated space. Use only linen, cotton or muslin covers - never synthetics or plastic bags.
For storing heirloom or other fine linens for a long period of time, use acid free tissue paper. Regular tissue paper can yellow fabrics. Refold periodically.