Caring for your Hoi bo linen pieces - Linen Washing Instructions

1. Turn your clothing inside out before putting in the wash. 
2. Wash like colours together to prevent the transfer of colour from darker fabrics to lighter coloured garments.
3. Wash like weight fabrics together and your clothing will keep their shape.
4. Machine wash on a delicate cycle in cold water using a natural mild laundry detergent. We suggest using a detergent that isn’t scented or with any fabric softeners added to it. At Hoibo we use Eco Max Natural Laundry Wash that is available at most large grocers and health food shops. 
5. Skip the fabric softener, it leaves a waxy residue on your clothing that can make stains more difficult to remove.
6. Remove from the laundry machine, lay flat and smooth out the wrinkles.
7. If after washing you feel like your linen piece is a touch shorter you can iron with steam on the linen setting until smooth to bring it back to the original length.

Treating stains in Linen

It’s always easiest to treat stains when they’re fresh! The faster you act, the better your results will be. See below for some stain-specific treatment instructions.

Oil:

If possible, rinse the stained linen immediately with cold water. Gently rub a colourless, non-antimicrobial dish soap onto the stain to help loosen it, and then rinse with water. Repeat if necessary until it appears lifted. After this pre-treatment, follow the general washing instructions for linen (see above).

Do not use anti-microbial soaps on your fabric as they often contain a bleaching agent that can remove the colour from your pieces. If you're out-and-about and you're not sure what's in the soap dispenser, you're better off waiting to treat the stain. 

Coffee:

To treat coffee stained linen use club soda to soak the area as soon as possible and blot with a clean cloth until the stain is gone. Next, follow the general washing instruction for linen (see above). 

Make-up and general stains:

Treat the affected area with a stain remover and follow the instructions specific of your chosen product. Always pre-test your stain remover or detergent in an inconspicuous place before you use it on your garment. After you have pre-treated the stain, follow the general washing instruction for linen (see above).

At Hoi Bo, we have tested Oxy Clean stain removers and have found the product to work well on our linens when following the instructions.

Although we have tested Oxy Clean and found it to work well without damaging the fabric, always spot test any stain remover in an inconspicuous area; formulations of products can change and it's always best to err on the safe side. 

After you have pre-treated the stain, follow afterwards with the general washing instruction for linen posted above.

We're always here for you if you need a hand! Drop us a note at hello@hoibo or chat with us at (647) 852-5488.

With strong natural cloth and quality craft — we make the clothing that you live in. Extend the life of your pieces while minimizing their environmental impact by simply changing the way you care for them. We’ve put together a short list of things you can do that will significantly reduce your carbon output. Because 75-80% of your clothings carbon emissions happen at home.

Wear more, wash less

People have been taught to wear their clothing once and toss them in the wash. Pause. Choose to wear pure natural materials that regulate body temperature and wick away moisture — you’ll be able to wear your pieces multiple times before having to wash them.  Keep your clothing in a well ventilated area and spot clean them when necessary. Hanging them by and open window or in the bathroom while you shower with your favourite essential oil will help keep things fresh! 

Go natural!

Choose natural laundry detergents and keep harmful chemicals away from your skin and out of our waterways.  There are many great local companies trying to make a difference by reducing packaging and using ingredients that are safer for the environment. 

Did you know that synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon and acrylic are adding to the micro-plastic pollution that is accumulating in our food chain and damaging our world’s oceans? Take a deeper dive into the issue — https://www.ecowatch.com/how-to-stop-microfiber-pollution-2602405415.html. Choose pure natural materials as often as you can. 

Machine wash cold, lay flat to dry

We have simple care instructions for our collection at hoibo — machine wash on a gentle cycle with cold water and lay flat to dry. With the evolution of washing machines and detergents your clothes get clean even when washed in cold water. No need to wash hot, save on the hydro and still get your clothing clean! 

Stay cool. 

Keep your clothing out of the dryer, and on average, you can save our atmosphere one tonne of carbon dioxide every year. The atmosphere and your clothing will thank you. By putting your clothing in the dryer it makes the fabric weaker by causing microscopic tears. The more lint, the more damage. Skip the dryer and use a drying rack instead! 

For the long haul.

To keep your materials looking their best, wash like-weight materials together, flip your clothing inside out and do up any zippers or buttons before putting them in the wash. Heavy materials like denim with zippers and buttons can be very abrasive in the machine causing damage to garments made with lighter weight materials.

A few simple changes can go a long way in making sure that you get the most out of your pieces while being mindful of the impact they have on the environment.