Linen Cleaning Can Be a Delicate Process

Truthfully, very few of us can consider ourselves to be any kind of expert on linen. More precisely, almost no one knows how to take care of and clean fine linens which is why most of us either have them cleaned by a professional or simply destroy them through misuse and neglect. But, as the price of some linens can positively leave you petrified about ruining them to the point that you don't even use them, it is perhaps more practical to learn how to care for them instead.

The older linens are made from fine materials, and require more delicate handling because they can be damaged irreparably. If you do not learn the correct method of cleaning heirloom linens, you will destroy the linen so that no one else can ever enjoy it again.

And it is just a shame to store away old linens like museum pieces for fear of ruining them. The fact remains that using old linens is a great way to breathe some life and charm into your décor while adding a distinctive piece of character to the space. Although it can be time consuming and somewhat tedious, the extra effort put into maintaining and cleaning your old linens will more than be worth it when you can pass it down to your children in the same shape as you inherited it.

Caring for quality linens means keeping a watchful eye out for dirt and the damage it can cause. Dirt can literally burrow down into the fibers and cause damage that is irreversible if it is allowed to set in. It is possible to safely remove this dirt by using a vacuum cleaner on the textile. For especially fragile linen, you may want to place a fiberglass screen over it first to help protect the fabric.

Most importantly, do not store away linen that you know has already become soiled. The linen must be cleaned before you store it in order to prevent insects from damaging it. Insects searching for grease and food can destroy your fine linen in the process.

Cleaning itself can damage the linen by changing the strength, shape and color of the fabric. Cotton fabrics can be safely cleaned with water as it helps to keep down acid build-up and the fabric will ultimately become more flexible in the process. On the other hand, water can weaken fabrics made out of silk or wool thus these are more difficult to clean and keep dirt-free.

You want to use a mild soap when cleaning fine linen as harsh chemicals will almost certainly cause damage. Plus, in order to avoid learning that the colors bleed the hard way, try dabbing a few drops of water in some obscure place on the linen and allowing it to dry to see if fading occurs.

Giving your fine linens for dry cleaning is the last resort. The high temperatures involved in the cleaning process can damage the fabric. However, if you cannot clean it at home, you have to get them dry cleaned. But, make sure the linen is clean before you store it so that you and your children can enjoy them for a long time.

Article Source: http://www.diyarticlelibrary.com

Elizabeth Voke is the owner and operator of F linen, the #1 source on the internet for information about linen, For more articles on linen visit: www.flalinen.com/articles
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