A new linen towel is stiff and a little rough. Most people are disappointed with it for about a month.
What happens in the wash
Flax fibres are long and hard. Every wash breaks a few of them at the surface, and those fine broken ends are what make old linen feel soft. The cloth underneath stays strong.
How to look after it
Wash it warm, not hot, with ordinary soap and no softener. Dry it on a line, and iron it while it is still a little damp if you want it smooth.
Our oldest tablecloth was woven in this house in 1931. It is on the table every Sunday.
What to avoid
Bleach and tumble driers. The first weakens the fibres and the second breaks too many of them at once.
