🌾 Linen Garment Care Guide
Our Amara Natural Linum handmade garments are designed to last for decades. Linen fiber is exceptionally strong – its tear resistance is twice as high, and its abrasion resistance is 3.5 times higher than that of cotton. With proper and caring wash, linen fabric becomes softer and more comfortable against the skin with every single wash.
To keep your new favorite garment beautiful at all times, follow these simple expert recommendations:
🧼 Washing
- Temperature: Wash linen garments at 40 °C (100 °F). Although linen can withstand higher temperatures, hot water can cause the fabric to shrink excessively.
- Wash Cycle: Choose a gentle or hand-wash cycle and reduce or eliminate heavy spinning (maximum 600 rpm is recommended). Avoid scrubbing the fabric and heavy mechanical cycles to protect the fibers.
- Color Separation: Wash linen items separately from other fabrics and colors. Always turn the garments inside out before placing them in the machine.
- Detergent: Use a liquid detergent designed for delicate fabrics that contains no optical brighteners or chlorine. Acids and strong bleaches quickly damage the structure of linen.
💨 Drying
- Tumble Drying is Not Recommended: The heat and mechanical friction of a tumble dryer weaken the fiber strength and can create deep, permanent creases.
- The Right Way: Shake the garment vigorously out right after washing while damp, gently pull it into shape, and hang it on a hanger or drying rack in a shaded area. White linen garments can be dried in the sun (it adds brightness), but colored garments may fade under direct sunlight.
- Important Warning: Because linen has excellent moisture absorption (up to 23% air humidity), it dries quickly. However, never leave linen products crumpled or piled up while damp – mildew spots can quickly develop in suitable moisture and warmth, and mold can destroy the fibers.
💨 Ironing and Creases
- Always Damp: Linen fabric must always be ironed while damp at a medium-to-high temperature and with plenty of steam. Ironing bone-dry linen is harsh on the fiber and will not remove wrinkles.
- From the Inside Out: Iron the garment on the reverse side (inside out) – this prevents the surface of the fabric from becoming undesirably shiny and preserves its authentic handmade texture.
- Creases are a Luxury: Since linen fiber is naturally stiff and does not stretch, wrinkling is an entirely natural characteristic of linen. Today, the slight wrinkled look of linen fabric is considered a sign of a relaxed, comfortable, and luxurious lifestyle. Feel free to leave the iron aside and enjoy the natural texture of the fabric!
Note: For Amara Natural Linum products, please always additionally check the special care label inside the garment.
For more detailed technical recommendations, you can read the Miele Official Fabric Expert Guide for Linen.