Care For Your Linens

GENERAL TIPS FOR PRESERVING THE LONGEVITY OF YOUR LINENS

  • Always refer to the care instructions symbols on the product label.
  • In case of stains, the key is to act quickly. The longer you wait, the harder it will get to remove the stain.
  • Do not overload the washer/dryer machine and unfold linens before placing them in the washer/dryer.
  • Do not wash dark colors with light colors. Do not use laundry detergents containing bleach as this might alter the color of your linens.
  • Avoid mixing natural fibers and synthetic fibers in the same laundry load.
  • Never iron a stain.
  • To avoid creases, pull linens out of the tumble dryer before they dry completely and press (iron). Filling your dryer only halfway also helps prevent wrinkles. Never over-dry your linens.
  • Keep your linens in a dark, cool, and dry area.

 

WASHING, DRYING AND IRONING YOUR LINENS

How to Wash Table & Kitchen Linens

-  Wash separately before the first use (95ºF – warm temperature). This will help “establish” fabric stability, while also being a best hygiene practice.

-  Machine wash (Up to 140ºF – warm/hot temperature) with a color safe detergent.

How to Dry Table & Kitchen Linens

As you remove your linens from the washer, give it a good shake to help release wrinkles. Always check to see that all stains have been removed. If they remain, treat them again, and rewash the cloth before drying. The high heat of the dryer will make stain removal more difficult. Most fabrics should be dried on medium-high heat.

  • Remove the table linens from the dryer while very slightly damp to make ironing easier.
  • Tumble dry your kitchen towels on medium setting. The dryer will bring volume and softness to your towels.

How To Iron your Table Linens: Simple Tips for Success

Most 100% cotton & cotton/linen table linens require ironing. Following these suggestions -- along with manufacturer directions -- will help keep your linens smooth, stylish, and elegant for the long term.

  • Always check to make sure your steam iron is clean. Mineral deposits may build up and cause brown spotting (ironing your table linens with this will cause discoloration).
  • Use a well-padded ironing board with a smooth heat-reflective surface.
  • Iron your table linens while still slightly damp.
  • Use a steam iron on a warm/hot setting for cotton, or the hot setting for cotton/linen blends.
  • Spray the linen with water from a spray bottle for stubborn wrinkles, if needed.

Do You Need Special Water?

Do you need distilled water for ironing? Ideally, you need 50% distilled water and 50% regular tap water for your iron to perform at its best. Short of referring directly to your iron’s user manual, this is the safest solution to ensure your iron lasts and functions as it should.

What is Distilled Water?

Distilled water (also referred to as demineralized water) is a type of purified water. It is made by boiling normal water in one container and catching only the condensed or evaporated vapor into a separate container.

This process removes the minerals and impurities in the water as they do not boil and rise with the water vapor so remain in the original container.

It can be bought at your local hardware or grocery store. A mixture of tap and distilled water can be used in your iron for years without causing mineral buildup or blockages in steam holes.

Can You Use Tap Water Instead of Distilled Water?

Most modern steam irons and steam generator irons are designed to use tap water.

However, most manufacturers add a caution for individuals living in areas with particularly hard water. In this case, the water should be diluted. Hard water causes mineral buildup in the machine, causing clogging. This not only reduces the efficiency of the iron but can drastically reduce its longevity.

 

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR LINENS

When used daily, table linens, such as placemats and runners, can be spot-cleaned as stains appear and deep-cleaned at least once a month. Fabric napkins need to be washed after each use.

 

 

HELPFUL HINTS FOR REMOVING STAINS FROM LINENS

Need to remove some stains or spills from your table linen? Use these special strategies for stain removal, and launder as usual. Do not dry or iron if the stain remains -- treat stains until they disappear.

Candle Wax / Gum: 

Use ice to freeze wax or gum, or place item in the freezer; scrape off with dull side of knife or crack off as much as you can, then remove residue with an oil solvent or mineral spirits. Rinse with isopropyl alcohol; let dry. Treat with a detergent; wash.

White Wine:

Flush the stain with cold water, and spray with diluted dishwashing-soap solution. Treat area with a detergent and wash according to label instructions.

Alternative: Rinse the table linens afflicted area with Club Soda and pat the stain out against a clean white terry towel.

Red Wine: 

Spray diluted dishwashing-soap solution on stain; tamp with a soft-bristled brush. Flush with water, apply white vinegar, and 1 or 2 drops of ammonia to wet area. Flush with water. Treat with a detergent; wash. If stain is still there, apply a powdered non chlorinated color-safe bleach, such as sodium percarbonate; rewash according to label instructions.

(Alternative: Cover the table linens afflicted area with salt, then rinse with cool water. Repeat as needed with fresh cool water. Wash according to label instructions).

Oils:

 Blot the table linens afflicted area while still wet, then pre-treat with stain remover or liquid laundry detergent.

Grease: 

Treat area with a dry solvent (such as mineral spirits or acetone) in a well-ventilated room. Using an eyedropper, rinse with isopropyl alcohol; dry well. Spray diluted dishwashing-soap solution on any remaining residue and soak the item in a detergent before washing.

 (Alternative:  Sprinkle the fabric’s afflicted area with cornstarch or baking soda and allow to sit so the powder soaks up the grease. After the powder thickens, scrape away, and repeat the process as needed. Be sure to brush off any remaining powder before laundering).

Coffee, Tea, Soda:

Soak your table linens afflicted area in hot water and pre-wash with stain remover. Repeat the soaking process as needed, using fresh hot water and stain remover. Treat with a detergent; wash.

Juice, Jams:

Spray diluted dishwashing-soap solution on the stain to remove sugars. Using an eyedropper vinegar and then hydrogen peroxide to remove any remaining color. Follow up with detergent to remove residue before washing.

Protein (blood, egg):

Spray diluted dishwashing-soap solution on stain, and let it sit, rinse in tepid water. If stain remains, treat area with detergent, and wash according to label instructions.

Chocolate:

Gently scrape off excess chocolate; spray area with diluted dishwashing-soap solution. Follow up with a detergent to remove residue before washing per label instructions.

Meat Juice or Tomato Juice: 

Rinse the table linen with cool water - never hot - and blot with a clean white terry towel. Wash according to label instructions.                                                   

Sauces (tomato, ketchup, barbecue):

Scrape off sauce; spray area with diluted dishwashing-soap solution. Soak in tepid water. If color remains, apply white vinegar with an eyedropper. Treat with detergent; wash. If color persists, apply several drops of hydrogen peroxide; let sit. Rinse; treat again with detergent, and wash.

Soy Sauce:

Spray with diluted dishwashing-soap solution; tamp with a soft-bristled brush. Flush with water, apply white vinegar, and tamp; 1 or 2 drops of ammonia to wet area. Flush with water. Treat with detergent; wash. If stain is still there, apply a powdered non chlorinated color-safe bleach, such as sodium percarbonate; rewash according to labels instructions.

Vinaigrette:  

First, treat stain as a grease stain (see grease, above). Then flush with white vinegar to remove any remaining spot. Follow up with detergent to remove residue before washing according to label instructions.

Felt-Tip Ink:

First, determine whether the ink is oil-based or water-based by building a “dam” around the stain with mineral oil or petroleum jelly; work within the confines of the “dam.” Test the ink with a cotton swab saturated with water and another one saturated with isopropyl alcohol. If isopropyl alcohol pulls more pigment out of the stain, follow the steps for ballpoint ink stains below. If water is more effective, spray the stain with diluted dishwashing-soap solution, then flush with cold water. Alternately, to remove permanent marker apply Amodex Ink & Stain Remover to the stained area. For fabrics, gently rub with a brush, then rinse and launder according to label instructions.

Ballpoint Ink:

Build a “dam” around the stain with mineral oil or petroleum jelly isopropyl alcohol using an eyedropper. Remove any remaining pigment with a dry solvent in a well-ventilated room; let dry. Rinse with diluted dishwashing-soap solution, then wash with detergent in warm water.

(Alternatively:  Hold stain against a clean white terry towel and spray closely from behind with aerosol hair spray. Ink should transfer from the table linen to the towel. Repeat as needed with clean portions of the towel, then launder).

Lipstick:

Use a dull-edged knife to remove excess lipstick. Using an eyedropper, apply a dry solvent (such as mineral spirits or acetone) in a well-ventilated room; tamp with a soft-bristled brush. Flush area with isopropyl alcohol and tamp. Repeat until all stain is removed and let dry. Spray with diluted dishwashing-soap solution. Treat with detergent and wash according to label instructions.