Linen bedding: tips on how to choose 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 from natural fabrics, for example, from flax. This 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 the aesthetic appearance.

Linen from flax is quite expensive. This is due to the complexity of production: the processing of raw materials takes a lot of time due to the nature of the plant.Before weaving the raw material from which to produce fabric, it is necessary to extract the fiber itself from the skin of the plant. It is believed that flax began to grow on the territory of Ancient Russia. In fact, originally this plant appeared in the Far East and in Egypt. Len was valued very highly, therefore, as well as valuable sorts of fur, could serve as an analogue of money.

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

• Environmental friendliness. Flax is not processed by chemists during ripening.
• Hygroscopicity. The fabric quickly absorbs moisture and also quickly becomes dry.
• Thermal conductivity. Flax allows you to maintain 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.
• Not electrified.
• Not susceptible to the formation of fungus, has an antibacterial effect on human skin.
• Does not cause irritation and allergies.
• It has a massage effect on the epidermis (due to the relief structure).

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

• hesitates quickly;
• gives noticeable shrinkage when washing with use of hot water;
• badly smoothed;
• bad form;
• unprocessed ends ike hard.

Distinguish raw materials by processing method.

• Melange. Used fiber of different shades.
• Printed. The finished material is painted.
• Bleached Colored blotches are removed from the material with alkali.
• Multicolored. Threads of different colors are used.
• Sour. Sulfuric acid is used to produce softened flax of a beautiful gray color.
• Plain dyed. It is easily painted in the desired color.

Linen fabric also differs in fiber weaving technique:

• fine knit;
• combined translucent;
• linen;
• leno openwork (used mainly for decorative parts);
• jumbo jacquard.

The cost of a linen set should not be the main indicator when buying. There is always the risk of acquiring a fake (that is, a bedding set of synthetic materials that does not absorb moisture and forms pellets over time) or a mixed fiber of flax and cotton.The last option is not bad, as the bed will be softer and more delicate to the touch. Also, as an alternative to natural flax, you can purchase a set of linen 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 last very long and become unusable. Of great importance is the aroma of the product. If the smell of paint comes from bed linen, it means that it is of low quality, and the color drawings after the first wash will become faded. All images must be symmetrical on both sides of the product. A quality mark may be indicated by a label indicating the temperature when washing at 60 degrees.

It is desirable that the seam was double, and not single, as the latter tends to diverge quickly. The strength of the seam depends on the strength of the threads used and their suitable size. It is also important that the color gamut corresponds to the overall tone of the linen. It happens that buyers prefer to purchase all the sleeping attributes separately: pillowcases, sheets, duvet covers.With the right approach to the choice, you can get a very original bed set.

Flax 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, when compared with other Russian cities. Kostroma flax is of high quality. Bed linen produced at Kostroma factories is in great demand, therefore, various companies involved in 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 of care for this set. You can wash linen things with your hands or in a typewriter. Zastiryvat linen should be immediately, if you find it stains, as long-standing dirt can not be washed. If there are zippers and buttons on the bedding, they should be fastened before washing. Concentrated powder should not be in direct contact with the material, so it is diluted with water. You can not clog the car with linen linen "to the eyeballs" - you must leave at least ½ of a tank free, so that the laundry is well rinsed.

Colored linen linen washed with the addition of a special detergent that allows you to keep the brightness of shades. If white or gray linen can be washed in 60-degree water, then color - only at 40 degrees. The first three washings of linen products, be it white or colored, should be carried out separately from other things.The fact is that flax secretes substances that may adversely affect the appearance of other tissues. Then the concentration of natural enzymes is washed out, and it is possible to carry out a joint washing of flax and bed or clothes from other materials.

If white linen linen is heavily soiled, boiling will help to cope with them. To do this, dilute 1 tablespoon of soda and laundry soap in 1 liter of water. To boil a kilogram of linen, you need 6 such brews. Boiling lasts about 2 hours. When the process is completed, things must be left in the pot (basin) until it cools completely, and then rinsed thoroughly in warm water.

When cleaning bed linen, bleaching agents containing enzymes or chlorine should not be used, since these substances destroy the flax structure. The spinning of bed attributes is carried out in a centrifuge at 600 turns (maximum allowable). If you choose a more intensive mode, creases will remain on the fabric, which will be difficult to straighten even with the help of an iron. Do not be afraid to buy linen from flax, if at the first touch it seemed rude and prickly.After several washes, the material will become much softer. If you wash the bed by hand, it is not necessary to wring it out by twisting it - it is better to hang the laundry and let the water drain. If the laundry was wrung out in a centrifuge, at the end of the wash it should be immediately removed and all the folds should be straightened.

You should not use any specialized technical means for flax drying, as flax tends to shrink heavily. Well, if the bed can be dried in the fresh air, then it will erode well and will give a pleasant freshness. Iron flax in a wet state at a maximum iron temperature of 150 degrees. If the set has lost its former shine, it should be ironed from the front side. After ironing, the fabric should remain slightly damp. Then the laundry is hung out again until it is completely dry.

After the laundry is completely dry, it should be folded and put away in the closet. Do not store together white flax and color, as it is possible staining in places of contact. It is important that the material does not fall into direct sunlight, and if you remove the kit in a canvas bag for storage, the brightness of the colors on the bed will last longer.If you choose a high-quality set of flax and follow the recommendations for caring for it, then the linen will last for a long time, maintaining a beautiful appearance.

Linen set is quite difficult to find in retail stores, as such clothes are expensive and not everyone will like it because of the inconspicuous colors. The easiest way to order your favorite kit on the Internet. The final cost of bedding is determined by the brand and size range. The price can reach 100-150 dollars.

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

How to choose the right linen from flax, see the next video.