SILK
Silk is very easy to care for, as long as you don’t let bad habits take over! These tips also apply to most natural-fiber textiles.
WASHING
Use a wool detergent or a gentle baby shampoo, two tablespoons are enough. Add two tablespoons of white vinegar during washing or rinsing to revive colors and gently soften the fibers. In the washing machine, use a special silk or delicate cycle, meaning a short cycle, a temperature of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius (68–86 °F), and a gentle spin. We recommend placing your silk items in a laundry mesh bag to avoid friction with the drum. You may use a short, gentle spin; if washing by hand, avoid twisting the fabric to remove excess water.
DRYING
First, place your silk item between two terry towels and press gently, it will delicately absorb the water. Air-dry away from direct sunlight.
Do not tumble dry.
IRONING
Silk generally does not require ironing; however, if ironing do so on the reverse side with the iron set to a low temperature. Avoid adding water or steam. Instead, iron the silk while it is still slightly damp.
BATH TOWELS
WASHING
First, avoid washing your terry linens at a temperature above 40 degrees Celsius (104°F). If you wish to disinfect your laundry, add two tablespoons of baking soda directly into the washing machine drum. Avoid mixing fibers, that is, do not wash your terry linens with other materials, to limit the formation of lint or pilling. Never overload the machine, as this allows the laundry to move freely during washing and ensures optimal rinsing. Use a standard, neutral detergent. Avoid adding fabric softener, which coats the fibers and reduces their absorbency during use. Instead, use white vinegar in the rinse compartment to soften the fabric and revive the colors.
DRYING
Terry linens tolerate machine drying well at a medium temperature. Do not leave your laundry sitting in the machine once the cycle is finished, to avoid creases from forming. Prefer to hang your linens when they are still slightly damp to finish drying in the open air. This will keep them very soft and absorbent, and they will not require any ironing.
IRONING
This step is neither necessary nor recommended, as it tends to heat and flatten the natural fibers, partially reducing their absorbent properties.
WHITES
WASHING
Avoid adding colored items to your wash cycle. White loves to absorb any color it encounters! Unlike colored textiles, white fabrics prefer powder detergents that contain whitening agents. Add two tablespoons of sodium percarbonate during washing to restore brightness to the fabric fibers.
DRYING
Air-dry outdoors in the sun whenever possible. For machine drying, choose a low-temperature cycle to avoid overheating the fibers and causing yellowing.
IRONING
As with drying, pay close attention to temperature: excessive heat can affect the whiteness and cause yellowing. Select a medium temperature rather than a very high one. You may use steam and press firmly on the fabric. Do not leave the iron on the same area for too long to avoid overheating the textile fibers again.
COATED COTTON CANVAS
Our coated cotton canvas is water-resistant and treated with a specific finish applied after the weaving and/or printing stages, making the natural fiber hydrophobic and therefore resistant to liquid absorption.
A simple wipe with a slightly damp sponge is enough to clean stains or spills. Then dry with a soft, dry cloth.
To preserve all of the fiber’s technical properties, do not soak, do not machine wash, and do not iron.
STAINS
How many times have I been told to put salt on a red wine stain to make it disappear… It’s a mistake: salt may absorb on the surface, but above all, it acts as a color fixative. This is where our grandmothers’ secrets are so valuable and sweep away many common misconceptions. Here are a few precious and easy tips for caring for your textiles.
The very first thing to do as soon as possible is to blot the stain with a terry cloth soaked in lukewarm water (preferably a white cloth to avoid any color transfer). Then…use Marseille soap for cleaning, and keep in mind that lemon juice is formidable against most stains.
More specifically,
- Grease or makeup: we recommend using neutral-colored dishwashing liquid.
- Red wine: first, soak the stain with white wine, which will discolor it. Repeat if necessary and finish with sparkling water to thoroughly dilute the residue.
- Rust: soak the stain for a long time in a small container filled with lemon juice.
- Ink: on the reverse side of the stain, spray hairspray after placing two sheets of absorbent paper on the opposite side so that the stain transfers onto them. Finish by blotting with milk at room temperature or lukewarm, then wash.
- Wax: avoid scraping so as not to damage your item. Remove the bulk with a soft cotton pad, then iron the remaining wax with a hot iron, placing several sheets of absorbent paper on top beforehand so that the wax, once melted, transfers onto them. Repeat if necessary. Finish with the tips for greasy stains to permanently remove any residue.
