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Ironing your linens
General Guidelines
None of us enjoy
ironing! Let's be honest. That will never happen. But if your have a
minute, read the following tips. They will help you save time
and avoid unwanted wrinkles.
First of all, it is very important to use a good quality steam iron for both
bedding and table linens.
Always check the iron’s plate and make sure it is free of
mineral deposits, otherwise, it will leave brown marks as you
iron, especially when you press the "steam" button. To
clean the steam holes of the plate, make sure the iron is cold and
use pipe cleaners dipped in soapy water to scrub the holes. To
rinse, turn you iron on, and "steam" the soapy water out onto
a rag. If the plate itself is dirty, use a soft scrub cream
cleaner and rub the plate gently.
You should always fill your steam iron with distilled water,
particularly if your water is hard.
To save time and make your ironing easier, I would recommend using
a heat-reflective cover on your ironing board. Another
clever solution is to place aluminum foil under the ironing cloth, it will retain heat
longer while you iron. Do not forget to set your iron at the
temperature indicated by the universal laundering symbols on the
tags.
To minimize your ironing time, you should fold
your laundry as soon as your dryer stops.
For best results, you should iron your linens while still damp and
on the wrong side of the fabric to avoid damaging any finishes like
embroidery, cutwork or lace. You should place a protective cloth
before you iron for total protection. I find this very useful
against those “lovely pressmarks” when ironing over hems and seams.
To avoid shining marks of delicate fabrics, place tissue paper
over the material and make sure the iron isn't too hot
If you run out of time and can’t iron your damp linens right away,
place them inside a plastic container that will be stored in
the refrigerator. This will prevent mildew and give you
until the following day to catch up.
Before you start ironing, always
stretch your dampened articles to their normal shape.
For a fresh and sweet smell, you should spray your linens with
perfumed linen water while ironing. You can even make your own
scented water by mixing essential oil ( any flower you like,
lavender, rose etc...) with distilled water.
Do not use too much starch as it will cover the surface of the
iron and might invite unwanted guests like silverfish in your linen
closet. I usually like a little on my napkins as they fold better
and keep their shape on the dinner table.
It
is a good idea to wait a while before folding your freshly ironed
linens, to make sure they are perfe ctly
dry.
With linen, iron the wrong
side first, and finish with the right. This little trick will help
bring back the sheen of the fabric. A hot iron will render linen all
its crispness and make every wrinkle disappear. Even though
linen can take the highest temperature of any iron, you should
always pretest it on a small corner. With a linen garment, iron the
wrong side only.
If you have access to a
fabric store, ask them to give you an empty cardboard tube. It comes
in handy when ironing large tablecloths. I usually place my ironing
board next to a large counter or table and roll the table cloth
around the tube as I go. For smaller pieces, you can use a couple of
chairs next to your ironing board.
A steam iron should always
be used over damp cotton linens. If embroidered, they should be
ironed on the back side and protected by a press cloth.
Now it is time to store your
linens. You're welcome to read our tips by going to our
Storing Your Linens info page.
I hope your found these little
hints helpful and as always,
I
appreciate any comments or contribution to the information posted on
this site.
.
Martine.
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