FABRIC CARE

Monday, 26 June 2023

Looking after your fabric

 

Linen is a wonderful fabric that can last for decades when properly looked after. We want you to enjoy your Earthed products for years to come, so it is important to know how to take care of your fabrics.

Firstly please follow the care instructions when cleaning; lets take a look at the care symbols;

  • 1. Do not Wash – Linen in particular does not like being creased in a confined space and will look ‘beaten up’ after washing. Many washing powders contain optical brighteners which are damaging to your printed or dyed fabric. These brighteners lift the cloth colour but have a negative impact on the performance of the dyes, making it likely repeated washing will significantly change the colour of your print or fabric and expose it more to the effects of sunlight. If you decide you must wash your fabric (we only recommend dry cleaning) please do so by hand in warm water and hang to dry naturally.
  • 2. Do not bleach – This goes without saying. Bleach will certainly change the colours in your fabric and will weaken the strength of the fibre considerably.
  • 3. Iron at medium temperature on the reverse side – With linen, the temptation may be to iron at a high temperature. We recommend if you are ironing your fabric you do so at a medium heat on the reverse using gentle steam to help iron flat rather than high temperature.
  • 4. Dry Clean P Only – Dry clean using any solvent except Trichloroethylene. This is a gentle cleaning method that will keep your fabric draping beautifully with little impact to the print or colour.
  • 5. Do not tumble dry – Natural fibres don’t like being forced dry at high temperatures, it can lead to shrinkage and weakening of the yarn strength. The last thing you want when cleaning your curtains is for them to shrink! If your linen is wet it will dry beautifully hanging outside.

 

Sunlight

 

Sunlight over time has an effect on all natural fabrics. This is most commonly seen when colour fades but sunlight will also weaken the strength of a fabric over time. To help reduce the impact of sunlight on your fabric there are some things you can do. Firstly, for curtains and Romans, using a good black out fabric for lining will stop sunlight streaming through the back of your fabric. Using blinds, sheers or shades as a secondary window dressing will hugely reduce the impact of sunlight on your drapes as they help absorb sunlight before it hits your curtain fabric. This is particularly important if you are using your fabric in windows that get significant direct sunlight. In summer months when the sun is at its strongest it is a good idea to alternate your curtains every month; this means the leading edge exposed to the most light changes so that one edge of your curtains is not taking all the beating the bright summer sun has to offer. Finally avoid putting your favourite Earthed fabrics in a conservatory or room with direct overhead sunlight, fabrics created for use outdoors will last much longer in areas like these.

 

Dust

 

Dust can make your drapes, upholstery or blinds look dirty. If you use your drapes every day giving them an extra little shake each time you open and close will stop the bulk of the dust build up. Getting rid of dust on a regular basis is a good idea, at least every couple of months. To do this use a handheld vacuum with soft brush attachment to avoid trapping your fabric inside your vaccum. You can also steam your curtains in situ to get rid of creases if needs be.