I am SO happy to be able to line dry my linens again! To me there is nothing nicer than real 100% linen, washed in pure soap, rinsed with a few tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, line dried in the sun and put freshly on the bed.
Up until now I have been ironing (or letting someone iron) the linen sheets for my bed and breakfast. But I am starting to wonder why. I mean, ironing takes away that breezy feel and the scent of the outdoors. It makes them "perfect" but that perfections lasts only until someone sits on them, because linen is a natural wrinkly fabric.
So here is my question to you. If you had your choice, would you want to come into a room with perfectly ironed 100% linen or with line stretched and breeze dried linen? I am talking the full program -- duvets, sheets, pillowcases. What would make you feel the most comfortable?
18 comments:
Hi Diana, Your visitors should be so lucky to have line-dried linen sheets. I also dry my sheets outside when the weather gets warm. In the winter I roll out my trusty Miele and iron away. Yes, the linens are softer but something is missing. So, here is my 2 cents worth, DO NOT IRON YOUR LINENS.
Gina Garner (Gina Ceramics)
No iron! The charm of your rooms is their coziness, and rumpled linen feels so much more natural and sensual. Besides, the smell of line-dried sheets is MUCH more important than whether they are ironed or not.
I'm with everyone else. I would not iron them either. I love the smell of linens after they have been hung up. I remember that as a kid. I wish I had a belcony so I hang my wash outside again. Now I trust my Miele, as well.
I vote to throw out the iron :)
Hold on! What's the lemon juice for? I presume to sort of naturally bleach?! Please explain your trick!
About the ironing, linen is a fairly stiff fabric, and in my experience it keeps that very creased after-washing look even if you line dry it. I never iron my own sheets, but you're talking b&b, and your guests may not know linen, and wonder about the washing ...
I'm afraid I disagree with most of the folks commenting. Ironed sheets are a luxury. When people travel, they want luxury. Iron those sheets!
Ciao Diana! I like linen too! And perfectly ironed...the problem is that I hate ironing!!!
Have a nice Sunday!
Warm hugs
Vale
I remember how wonderful it was as a child to have fresh sheets from the days wash. Perfect is ok but real trumps perfect any day. We are building a house and when I asked about marble for the counter tops I was told that Americans want perfect and marble does not stay perfect!
Don't bother to iron them-why make yourself crazy when they'd be wonderful without!
Hi Diana...At home I don't iron my sheets, but do my Duvet covers and pillow cases....
I have to agree with Dana and Les Cotions...if I go to stay in either B and B or an apartment...I do like to see ironed Bed Linen...but on the other hand, if I came to stay with you and they were not ironed ..I would at least know the reason!! :-)
Ok. The only way I can settle this is to do two beds, one ironed and one not ironed. I will photograph the two beds and post them. This is great! I love having everyone's input!
The lemon juice is something I started a few years ago just because I love the extra cleaning action of lemons and refuse to use fabric softner because of all the chemicals and fake smell.
Ironing is overrated in my opinion! Limes smelling of the lovely Piemonte air would be heaven!
I vote for no iron...
The fresh air smell and the softness would be heavenly.
Non ironed please. :)
The clean crip natural look and feel is much more appealing.
When I stay at an inn or b&b or vacation home, I like the "organic" natural feel, as long as it is nice and clean...no need for ironing.
I can't hang my sheets outside so I have to iron.
Line dried sheets that smell great? No iron.
Tough question! Do you feel that you lose the nice fresh smell if you first line dry them and then iron them while they are still a little bit damp? I like nice ironed sheets, I have to say - maybe because I never iron my sheets at home!
Do you have any letter of welcome in the room where you give basic information? If so, add something about the sheets: e.g. "we do not iron our beautiful linen sheets because they keep the nice sunny smell and we do not waste energy". People wants to know.
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