There's no getting around it. Linen clothes do crease due to the stiffness of the flax fibres the fabric is made from.
Unlike other items, they don’t spring back into their original shape once they’ve been creased.
But if you are unhappy about the wrinkles in your linens, check whether you are washing them right.
Proper care can reduce creasing, according to the Forum Waschen, a specialist advisory group in Germany.
The key tip here is to stress the items as little as possible. Your aim is to protect the fibres during washing by minimising how much the items are bent around during the process.
Try these tips suggested by Forum Waschen:
- Don't fill the drum of your washing machine more than halfway.
- Pick a delicate or gentle cycle.
- Do not wring out your linen garments.
- Remove linen items from the machine immediately after the wash cycle finishes; do not leave them in the drum whilst still damp.
- The care instructions label will tell you what temperature your item should be washed at.
- Pick the right detergent depending on whether the item is coloured or not.
- For coloured items, use a colour-safe or mild detergent. Liquid detergents do not usually contain bleach.
- Don't tumble dry your linens
Once the washing cycle finishes, act sooner rather than later. Gently reshape your linen garments after the wash and leave them to dry on a hanger or laid flat.
Do not put them in the tumble dryer as your favourite shirt could well come out a couple of sizes smaller.
When you iron linen items, it’s best to dampen the fabric slightly to ensure you can remove any wrinkles or creases.
To prevent creases from forming again straight away, hang your ironed linen garments up on a hanger. — dpa
