Linen Towels are not THICK, Soft and Fluffy Like Cotton Towels

Don't be surprised that 100% Linen Flax towels may appear to be thinner than you expected and perhaps stiffer than you expected.

Cotton towels are thick and fluffy - Linen towels are NOT !

Pure true Linen is NOT cotton !

It is unfortunate that the name Linen has become a common name for a towel, sheet or table cloth much like Coke has for a carbonated soft drink.

But as you know, not all carbonated softdrinks are made or taste alike and Linen does NOT look, feel or dry the same as a cotton towel. 

We believe that linen is much more healthy for you, your family and the environment.

http://www.healthylinen.info/2009/07/looking-for-reference-materials-why-is.html

In fact Pure Real Linen performs much better once you get used to the feeling of thinness of Linen.

http://www.healthylinen.info/2008/03/why-linen.html

How to make Linen towels softer and fluffier:

1. Wash them in cool water with either no soap or a very small amount of a very mild soap like you would wash a lovely sweater.

Please:  Use a large amount of water compared to the volume of fabric in the wash. Linen likes water and does like to be crushed by overloading the machine

2. After removing the towel from the washer, stretch the towel in all directions by pulling on the fabric from opposite sides.

3. Allowing the towel to dry naturally is preferred as it uses less energy but if you wish to machine dry, use a very low heat setting.

4. After drying or while still slightly damp, iron the towel on both sides using a very hot steam iron to bring out the sheen

Try the towel and see if it is softer as you expected.

After two washings using the 4 step process listed above your Linen Flax fabric towels should be quite soft and will last for many years.

The reason for all this is that Linen Flax fabric is not the same as Cotton made towels.

Linen is NOT cotton and will last much longer than cotton.

http://www.flaxlinen.info/

Cotton towels are thick and fluffy - Linen towels are NOT !

Some cotton towels attempt to dry your skin and clean your dishes and glasses while leaving a wet feeling behind.

Linen towels do NOT !

The fact is, that a towel made from Linen Flax fabric absorbs liquid including water quite rapidly and completely on the first contact and without excessive rubbing or pressure.

Pure true Linen is NOT cotton !

It is unfortunate that the name Linen has become a common name for a towel, sheet or table cloth much like Coke has for a carbonated soft drink.

But as you know, not all carbonated softdrinks are made or taste alike and Linen does NOT look, feel or dry the same as a cotton towel. 

We believe that linen is much more healthy for you, your family and the environment.

In fact Pure Real Linen performs much better once you get used to the feeling and thinness of Linen.

http://www.healthylinen.info/2008/03/why-linen.html

More information about Linen and Flax on our Internet sites:

http://www.flaxforhealth.com/

http://www.healthylinen.info/2008/03/how-to-use-exfoliating-body-towel-wash.html

www.HealthyLinen.info

Contact information: www.HealthyLinen.tel

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How is the best way to wash linen products?

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Of course it depends on the product and what accessory items have been attached. So this discussion will focus on mostly simple linen products like towels and basic items.

Linen likes water... a lot of water! Cool water, not hot water, temperature 30 °C - 86 °F

Note: it is possible to wash linen in higher temperatures but it wears out faster than in lower temperatures.


So if washing in a machine don't turn the level dial down leave it on a higher setting and don't pack the items too dense use about 1/2 capacity of the wash tub.

Of course don't waste water either, you need to have common sense and a balance on how much water to use.

Linen likes mild soap something like you might wash delicate wools and silk. Also use a minimum amount of soap.

Use oxygen bleaches (hydrogen peroxide) for white linen. Experiment to see how much is needed. Chlorine bleaches can cause yellowing. Chlorine bleaching is not recommended for linen.

Thats a capital NOT, please.

Try a couple of tablespoons of cream rinse for your hair in the final rinse cycle. Linen is cellulose fiber, and cream rinse may make linen more soft and lustrous.

After a basic wash cycle, rinse well and consider a second rinse. Again, linen likes water.

If hand washing, be careful not to add too much soap and to rinse vey well. Removal of all soap will help prevent large brown spots on linen, which are caused by oxidation of cellulose by the residual soap.

For drying, we recommend using a machine spin cycle even if you hand wash.

Try NOT to fold and hand wring linen as linen fibers are long and brittle if bent sharply.

Linen does not like heat so best to let dry naturally. Avoid heated tumble drying, as it increases the possibility of permanent wrinkles and creasing.

We recommend a wooden clothes rack with larger diameter rungs as when linen drys it get creased easily.

Linen may shrink slightly when washed. Hand stretching while wet will return the item close to its original dimensions.

For example, take a towel and hand stretch it taught in several directions to assure the natural shape and then hang on a rack. Over the next couple of hours hand stretch again in several directions.

The linen will dry almost like it was ironed.

If you want to iron linen, use a very hot iron and try to iron it before it dries.

Iron the reverse side first (be sure your iron surface plate is clean); then iron the front side quickly.

Linen table textiles can be starched after the wash to achieve beautifully folded napkins.


For linen pants when you hang them to dry be sure they are folded where you want the seam crease as it will turn out quite good much like those metal pants frames you used to use.

We will cover stain removal in a later POST.

As always, use common sense and keep it simple and your linen will last a lifetime.

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