From storing in plastic to using fabric softener, here's a list of linen no-no's.

07.11.22 | By Juna Xu | Linen

11 Common Linen Care Mistakes You're Probably Making

From storing in plastic to using fabric softener, here's a list of linen no-no's.

So, you’ve taken a big step and invested in high-quality linen bed sheets? Welcome to a new and improved you.

Not only will it give your entire bedroom a Pinterest-worthy uplift, but you’ll also see an improvement in your sleep patterns. In order to take advantage of these luxurious benefits, you need to take proper care of your new best friends so they last a lifetime.

Here’s everything you should avoid when it comes to caring for your 100% Pure Flax Linen sheets.

1. Storing your Threads in plastic

Unless you want your sheets to take on a light brown hue, avoid storing them in plastic. Because linen is a natural fibre, it needs to breathe – and trapping it in plastic will only create a delightful environment for mildew to grow. Ew. Unfortunately, this also means you’ll need to ditch your Marie Kondo-inspired airtight containers.

But don’t stress, because you can still feel organised and adult-like without containers. Simply line your linen cupboard or storage space with acid-free tissue paper that can further assist in preventing your bedding from getting that yellow tinge. Or you can just store your sheets in the 100% flax linen bag your Bed Threads sheets originally came in. Genius.

2. Too much sun exposure

Like wine, linen is best kept in a cool, dry space. Keep your linen bedding somewhere with minimal light exposure to ensure the longevity of the fabric.

3. Washing them with roadblocks

Try to keep your machine loaded at a comfortable level with just linen. That means no other towels or clothes with rough fibres that might aggravate your linen.

The perfect way to wash them is in cold or lukewarm water with a gentle detergent. Avoid hot water, bleach or harsh cleaning products that might damage the delicate linen fibres and ruin the soft feeling of your sheets.

4. Using ‘fabric softeners’

Along with hot water and bleach, you can also add fabric softeners to that list of no-nos. These guys can coat your natural fibres of your linen and disintegrate them over time.

Plus, linen naturally gets softer with each wash, so hang in there. Here, we’ve rounded up the six best eco-friendly washing detergents that’ll aid your linen’s longevity.

5. Letting that stain sit

From fake tan to tea spots and maybe even melted chocolate, you’ll want to address any stains on your sheets immediately.

However, this doesn’t mean you need to wash your entire bedding every time you drop some late-night cake onto your sheets. To remove a stain, firstly sprinkle a little baking soda onto the mark, add a few drops of vinegar and blot gently with a paper towel to soak up any excess moisture. Voila!

6. Storing linen before it's completely dry

Guilty of pulling your sheets off the washing line before they're completely dry? That's fine if they're 90% dry and you're putting them straight onto your bed, but if you're going to store them, it’s best to wait until your bedding is dry as a bone.

The reason is because dressing your bed or storing your sheets whilst they’re damp can invite mould or mildew to grow on your sheets, which is quite unpleasant if you ask us.

7. Dry cleaning your sheets

You’ve probably got the gist that when it comes to cleaning your linens that simple truly is the best if you want buttery-soft sheets that’ll last years – and that includes skipping the dry cleaners. You can never really be certain of the chemicals they use.

8. Drying your sheets naturally

While it's safe to tumble dry your linen, we recommend drying it as naturally as possible – it's not only good for your bedding but the environment, too. Hang your linen up to dry away from direct sunlight to avoid potential fading. If tumble-drying is your only option, keep to low settings and avoid overloading the machine. You can also remove your bedding from the line or dryer while it is ever so slightly damp as over-drying linen (especially in the sun) can cause the fabric to feel brittle.

9. Using the iron

One of the best ways you can prolong the life of your linen bedding is by not ironing it. We repeat: do NOT iron it. Great news for those who despise ironing, right?

Linen will naturally become softer and cosier with every wash so patience is key. There’s also no need to tightly make the bed, either; just scatter your pillows, loosely throw your doona on and you have yourself a bed that looks like it’s straight out of an interiors magazine.

10. Irregular washing

In an interview with Tech Insider, microbiologist and pathologist at New York University School of Medicine Philip Tierno, said humans produce around 26 gallons of sweat in bed every year, creating a nice, humid environment that allows bacteria to thrive. Tierno recommended washing your sheets at least once a week on a cold temperature setting to ensure you’re saying a final adios to all your little bacteria friends.

If you need more incentive to wash your linens, (as mentioned above) 100% flax linen actually becomes softer and cosier with every wash - no fraying, either. It also has moisture-wicking properties, which means those gallons of sweat you produce every year aren’t going to linger in your sheets for long.

11. Not Rotating Your Sheets

While linen is one of the most durable natural fibres there is, some items like fitted sheets can wear slightly faster than others. Having a second set of sheets to split the time that you use them is a great way to extend the life of your Threads. We recommend keeping one set on your bed and one in your linen cupboard to switch over once a week.

From storing in plastic to using fabric softener, here's a list of linen no-no's.

11 Common Linen Care Mistakes You're Probably Making

From storing in plastic to using fabric softener, here's a list of linen no-no's.

1. Storing your Threads in plastic

2. Too much sun exposure

3. Washing them with roadblocks

4. Using ‘fabric softeners’

5. Letting that stain sit

6. Storing linen before it's completely dry

7. Dry cleaning your sheets

8. Drying your sheets naturally

9. Using the iron

10. Irregular washing

11. Not Rotating Your Sheets

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