With a minimum amount of proper care, the natural beauty of linen is easily maintained. Linen is the strongest natural fiber known to man, and of all textile fibers is the one which washes best. Linen wears extremely well and is able to maintain its special qualities throughout its long life. The more linen is washed the softer and more luminous it becomes. Provided a few simple rules are followed, linen will remain in pristine condition for years, through normal household use.

Laundering...

Linen increases in strength when wet, which is why it stands up to the rough and tumble of repeated laundering so well. Commercial soap powders and liquid detergents can be safely used but as with all other textiles, always test for color fastness. Avoid detergents which contain Optical Brightening Agents (O.B.A.) as they may cause colors to alter slightly and will detract from the appearance of the subtle white linen damask pattern. O.B.A. is particularly deleterious to natural unbleached linens.

Avoid using bleach, any natural fibers worst enemy.  Due to it's sheen and smooth surface, linen releases stains easily, although it is advisable  to work on very stubborn stains before washing.  Fine hand-embroidered linen needs to be treated with care and should be hand washed or machine washed on the gentle cycle.  

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Drying...

Never tumble-dry linen as this can over-dry the fibers and makes ironing more difficult. Linen naturally dries quickly anyway.

Ironing...

Always iron linen when damp, first on the wrong side to eliminate creases and then on the right side if you wish to enhance the fabric’s natural sheen. There is no need to use starch except perhaps for the finest linens, for linen has built-in crispness. If the linen has already dried out before ironing, use a water spray to re-dampen it. A good steam iron will work best on linen.

Storing...

Slatted shelves allow air to circulate. Avoid cupboards with heating pipes running through them or cedar linen chests, as these can discolor linen. If by mischance it does become discolored, wash as soon as possible and dry in the sun to whiten again. Whenever possible, store linen articles without folding. Linen napkins and tablecloths store best rolled.