Behind the Seams:  Laura De Barra on making your linens last longer

We’re teaming up with bestselling author and clothing care expert Laura De Barra for a new series of tips and tricks designed to help our customers get more from the clothes that they love.

Laura brings her signature know-how to clothing care - from everyday advice to fibre-specific guidance - all designed to help people/our customers get more wear out of what they own.

First up: linen. Loved for its light, breathable feel, linen is a go-to for warmer months. But to help it last summer after summer, it needs a little extra care.

Laura shares some of her top tips for linen:

1. Wash less often

Only wash when necessary. Linen lasts longer when it is not overwashed. Consider spot cleaning stains, and steaming will help to release odour and visually freshen up the garment.

2. Prep before washing

When washing, turn the garment inside out. Open all buttons to prevent misshaping and close all zips to prevent any damage to the fabric. Bonus points if you use laundry bags!

3. Pick your products wisely

Products! A mild detergent is perfect for linen and ditch the fabric softener. It can overload the fibres and affect breathability and absorbency.

4. Select the right cycle

Cycle selection matters here as linen doesn't do well in hot temperatures and fast washes. Choose a low temperature to avoid shrinkage and fading. An ‘eco’ will also be ideal here as they are much slower and gentle cycles.

5. Dry with care

Post wash tips: avoid heat! Linen doesn’t love the tumble dryer, instead, air dry and if it is outside, pop in a shady area to avoid direct sunlight. When it comes to de-wrinkling, steaming is best with linen, but if you must iron, make sure that the garment is inside out and slightly damp. It's much easier on you and the fibres! Finally, avoid storing your linen in vacuum bags as it will affect how absorbent and breathable the fabric is when you go to use it again.