How to wash your linen tablecloth?
Not only soft to the touch, but also elegant and refined, the linen tablecloth appeals to all nature lovers and those who want to infuse their dining room with a soothing and friendly atmosphere. You can use your linen tablecloth for everyday family meals as well as for festive occasions, because this natural material is suitable for all situations. In order for your tablecloth to retain its ever-popular characteristics for as long as possible, it is necessary to maintain it properly.
How to wash a linen tablecloth for the first time?
There is a specific procedure to follow when you receive your linen tablecloths or towels. Before using them for the first time, soak them overnight in a tub of cold water, into which you will have previously poured 25 cl of white vinegar. This contact of several hours with fresh water will allow the fabric to soften and the vinegar will have a fixing action on the colors. After this preventive treatment, your linen table runner or your table set will withstand the following washings without fading.
You can clean your linen tablecloth by hand or by machine, the important thing being not to exceed 50°C. Never add detergents or chlorine-based bleaching agents, as they could irreparably damage each of the plant fibers that make up your tablecloth. White vinegar is a good solution, but you should not use it too often, as the linen could turn yellow in the long run. For drying, use open air, without exposing your tablecloth to direct sunlight. You can also tumble dry it on a delicate program.
This natural material tends to wrinkle very easily. You have two options: keep the wrinkled effect for a casual look, or carefully iron your linen tablecloth after each wash. Iron on the reverse side: the soleplate of the iron should not exceed a temperature of 200°C. Some steamers even offer linen programs. Moisten your fabric slightly before ironing for more efficiency. You will be pleased to see your linen becoming softer and softer to the touch after each cleaning.
How do I get rid of hard-to-remove stains?
A tablecloth usually gets stained faster than most textiles since it is intended to protect the table from stains. So you're likely to find yourself dealing with stubborn spills that you can't get out. If your linen tablecloth or runner is stained with grease, don't panic, there is a solution: take baking soda powder and mix it with a little bit of water to form a paste with the consistency of ointment. Rub the paste into the stains and let it set for a good hour. It will penetrate the fabric and loosen all the grease particles.
Then wash your fabric in the washing machine to get it back as good as new. Did you spill a glass of red wine on your linen tablecloth? Don't worry, you can clean it up. Absorb the liquid with a microfiber cloth and then gently rub the stain with a sponge soaked in cold water and Marseille soap. If it is white wine, white vinegar is very effective. To clean wax that has dripped from a candle, take a piece of blotting paper or paper towel, place it on the stain and iron it at low temperature. The wax will melt slowly, soaking the paper instead of the tablecloth.