Linen bedding: tips for choosing and care

Sleep is an integral part of human life, therefore, the choice of bedding sets should be taken seriously. The best option would be linen made from natural fabrics, for example, from flax. Such material allows the skin to breathe, it absorbs moisture well and does not irritate the epidermis. Linen bedding can be washed up to 200 times without losing its aesthetics.

Linen linen is quite expensive. This is due to the complexity of production: processing of raw materials takes a lot of time due to the characteristics of the plant. Before starting to weave the raw materials from which fabric can be made, it is necessary to extract the fiber itself from the skin of the plant. It is believed that flax began to be grown on the territory of Ancient Rus. In fact, this plant originally appeared in the Far East and Egypt. Flax was highly valued, therefore, just like valuable breeds of fur, it could serve as an analogue of money.

Linen is a fairly dense fabric. Some consider it too rough and prickly. However, this material has a number of significant advantages.

• Environmental friendliness. Flax is not processed by chemists during the ripening period.
• Hygroscopicity. The fabric quickly absorbs moisture and also dries quickly.
• Thermal conductivity. Linen allows you to maintain a natural body temperature at any time of the year.
• Breathable material. Thanks to this property, sleeping on a linen bed is very comfortable.
• High wear resistance.

• Does not form pellets.
• Does not get electrified.
• Not susceptible to the formation of fungus, has an antibacterial effect on human skin.
• Does not cause irritation and allergies.
• Has a massage effect on the epidermis (due to the relief structure).

However, in addition to positive characteristics, flax also has negative properties:

• wrinkles quickly;
• gives noticeable shrinkage when washing with hot water;
• poorly smoothed;
• poorly keeps its shape;
• raw ends flutter a lot.

Distinguish between raw materials by the method of processing.

• Melange. Fiber of different shades is used.
• Printed. Ready-made material is colored.
• Bleached. Colored blotches are removed from the material using alkali.
• Multicolored. Threads of different colors are used.
• Sour. Sulfuric acid is used to obtain softened flax of a beautiful gray shade.
• Plain dyed. Easily dyed in the desired color.

Linen fabric also differs in the technique of weaving the fibers:

• finely patterned;
• combined translucent;
• linen;
• leno openwork (used mainly for decorative details);
• large-patterned jacquard.

The cost of a linen set should not be the main indicator when buying. There is always a risk of acquiring a fake (that is, a bed set made of synthetic raw materials that does not absorb moisture and forms pellets over time) or mixed flax fiber with cotton. The latter option is not bad, as the bed will be softer and softer to the touch. Also, as an alternative to natural linen, you can purchase a set of underwear with the addition of lavsan or viscose.

It is necessary to pay attention to the weaving of fibers: they should fit snugly together without forming voids.Thin fibers will not last long and will become unusable. The aroma of the product is of great importance. If the smell of paint emanates from the bed linen, it means that it is of low quality, and the color patterns will become faded after the first wash. All images must be symmetrical on both sides of the product. A label with the designation of the temperature regime for washing at 60 degrees can testify to the proper quality.

It is desirable that the seam be double, and not single, since the latter tends to quickly diverge. The strength of the seam depends on the strength of the threads used and their proper size. It is also important that the color scheme matches the general tone of the linen. It happens that customers prefer to purchase all the sleeping attributes separately: pillowcases, sheets, duvet covers. With a competent approach to the choice, you can get a very original bedding set.

Linen is a special material. Since ancient times, there are two places where flax production has rich traditions - Kostroma and Belarus. In Kostroma, linen products have been produced for more than 8 centuries. It is there that the largest number of linen manufactories is located, if compared with other Russian cities. Kostroma flax is of high quality. Bed linen produced at Kostroma factories is in great demand, therefore, various firms dealing with this material within the same city are not competing.

Most often, on the inside of the linen (duvet cover, pillowcase) there is a label with detailed designations regarding the rules for caring for this set. You can wash linen clothes by hand or in an automatic machine. It is necessary to wash your laundry immediately if you find stains on it, as old dirt may not be removed. If your bedding has zippers and buttons, zip them up before washing. The concentrated powder should not come into direct contact with the material, so it is diluted with water. Do not fill the machine with linen to the eyeballs - you must leave at least ½ of the tank free so that the linen is thoroughly rinsed.

Colored linen is washed with the addition of a special detergent, which allows you to preserve the brightness of the shades. If white or gray linen can be washed in 60-degree water, then colored linen - only at 40 degrees. The first three washings of linen, whether white or colored, must be carried out separately from other items. The fact is that flax releases substances that can negatively affect the appearance of other tissues. Then the concentration of natural enzymes is washed out, and linen and bedding or clothes made of other materials can be washed together.

If your white linen is heavily soiled, boiling will help to deal with it. To do this, you need to dilute a tablespoon of soda and laundry soap in 1 liter of water. To boil a kilogram of laundry, you need 6 of these tea leaves. Boiling takes about 2 hours. When the process is over, things must be left in a saucepan (basin) until they cool completely, and then rinsed thoroughly in warm water.

When cleaning bed linen, do not use bleaching agents containing enzymes or chlorine, as these substances destroy the structure of flax.The spinning of bedding attributes is carried out in a centrifuge at a rate of 600 revolutions (maximum permissible). If you choose a more intense setting, creases will remain on the fabric that will be difficult to straighten even with an iron. There is no need to be afraid to buy linen bedding if at the first touch it seemed rough and prickly to you. After a few washes, the material will become much softer. If you wash the bed by hand, you do not need to wring it out by twisting it - it is better to hang the laundry and let the water drain. If the laundry has been wrung out in a centrifuge, at the end of washing it must be immediately removed and all the wrinkles straightened.

Do not use any specialized technical means for drying flax, since flax tends to shrink strongly. It is good if the bed can be dried in the fresh air, then it will fade well and will give off pleasant freshness. Flax is ironed wet at a maximum iron temperature of 150 degrees. If the kit has lost its former shine, it must be ironed from the front side. The fabric should remain slightly damp after ironing. Then the linen is again hung out on the street until it is completely dry.

After the laundry is completely dry, you need to fold it and put it in the closet. Do not store white linen and colored linen together, as staining is possible at the points of contact. It is important that direct sunlight does not fall on the material, and if you put the kit in a linen bag for storage, then the brightness of the colors on the bed will last longer. If you choose a high-quality linen set and follow the recommendations for caring for it, then the linen will last a long time, retaining its beautiful appearance.

A linen set is quite difficult to find in retail stores, since such underwear is expensive and not everyone will like it because of its discreet colors. The easiest way to order your favorite kit is on the Internet. The final cost of the bed set is determined by the brand and the size range. The price can go up to $ 100-150.

Those who have purchased linen bedding sets note that they were attracted by the naturalness of the fabric and interesting colors (cream, light brown). Negative reviews are primarily associated with subjective sensations (too coarse fabric) and low-quality raw materials.

For information on how to choose the right linen bedding, see the next video.