Groupe VDS

You have just chosen a product from our lines. You will find hereunder some washing advice that will enable you to best benefit from the comfort of these items.

• Prior advice
• Advice for towelling
• Advice for bed linen
• Advice for kitchen and table linen
• Stains removal
• Universal symbols

Prior advice:

We kindly recommend some simple rules for your household linen care (in pure linen, cotton or cotton/linen)

• Do not forget to wash your linen before using it for the first time. That way, it will be cleaned from all dressings and will be more comfortable.
• Before this first washing, leave the linen to soak in cold water during a whole night. This precaution will enable the colours and dimensions to stabilize.
• Always follow the linen care instructions shown on the product label.
• Separate the coloured linen from the white ones, and be careful to use a special detergent for coloured linen. Detergents containing whiteners might change the colours of your linen.
• Leave your linen to dry as soon as the washing cycle is over by spreading it out as much as you can. Iron it when it is still damp, ironing will be easier.
• If you use a tumble drier, make sure you take your linen out before complete drying.
• Drying on a clothes-line is best to have linen with fewer creases.
• Whenever it is possible, do not wash natural and artificial fibres together. Artificial fibres release lint which snags on natural fibres and make them lose softness and suppleness.
• Do not mix your household linen (particularly towelling) with clothes having hooks, zip fasteners or hook-it pads. They might snag on fibres and damage them.
• If your linen is embroidered, iron it on the reverse side in order to protect the embroidery.
• Be careful that your linen is completely dry when you put it away.
• Put your linen flat away. Be careful with wooden shelves which might snag the fibres or contain oil that could settle on your linen. Cover them with paper to protect your linen.
• Be careful: some cosmetics (for body, face or hair) contain oxidizing agents and can leave marks on your bed or bathroom linen. If you use that kind of products, protect your pillow with a pillowcase or a white towel.

Shrinkage: Natural fabrics are subject to a light shrinkage during their first washing. The dimensions of our products take this shrinkage into account. If you wash and dry your linen at high temperature, the shrinkage will increase. Therefore be careful to follow the washing and drying temperatures instructions to limit this phenomenon.

Advice for towelling:

• Wash your towels and bathrobes before using them for the first time; towelling will be softer and more absorbent. Maximum absorption capacity will be reached after a few washings.
• Separate the dark colours from the light ones, to keep the fibres of one from becoming attached to those of another.
• Tumble drier is recommended for towelling bathroom linen. Indeed, it gives it volume and suppleness back.
• We advise you against the use of a fabric conditioner which reduces the absorption power of the fibres of cotton or linen by cladding them.
• When you remove your linen from the washing machine, we recommend you to pull the decorative borders of the bathroom linen back to their original shape. Do it again after drying and iron low if necessary.
• In case of snagged loops, you can simply cut them to the same height as the other loops.

Advice for bed linen:

• It is recommended to wash pillowcases and bolster cases inside-out. This will protect the colours.
• Be careful to separate the light colours from the dark ones.
• Whenever possible, wash all the pieces of a set together, so that they all keep the same appearance as time goes by.
• Iron your linen when it is still damp, ironing will be easier (especially for pure linen).
• Put your linen out to dry on a clothes-line rather than in a tumble drier. Your linen will be easier to iron and fresher.

Advice for table and kitchen linen:

• Precautions to take are the same than for bed linen.
• Be careful to remove difficult stains immediately and particularly before washing. They will vanish more easily.
• Be careful to wash all the pieces of your set (tablecloths and napkins) to keep them the same appearance.

Stains removal:

Butter and Margarine: Dab with diluted washing-up liquid. Repeat the process several times if needed. Then wash as usual.

Candle: Carefully remove the wax with your nail. Put the stained item between two silk or blotting papers and press with a warm iron. The remaining wax will be absorbed by the paper.

Coffee and tea: Apply a borax solution (1 volume of borax for 6 volumes of water) directly on the stain. Then wash with soapy warm water.

Fruits and Berries: Sprinkle with salt and mild liquid soap. Allow them to work during a few hours and then rinse thoroughly.

Grease: Sprinkle the stain with bicarbonate of soda or Terre de Sommières and allow it work during a few hours. Scratch and repeat the process. Brush off to eliminate the powder and wash as usual.

Mould and Rust: Apply white vinegar or lemon juice to stop the mould. Leave to dry in the sun during a few hours. Wash as usual but separately.

Lipstick: Scratch the stain at the most with a blunt knife. Use a before wash stain remover for fabrics and scrub with a clean white linen. Then wash as usual.

Blood: Immediately clean the blood stains with cold water (never use hot water, the stain would remain permanently). Then, leave the linen to soak in cold water with two cups of salt during 24 hours and wash as usual.

Red wine and Jam: Immediately scrub with sparkling water, and then wash normally.

Universal Maintenance’s symbol :

Please find here the meaning of main symbols