Washing and care instructions
The best advice we can give is to always follow the washing instructions printed on the product label. All products have a sewn-in care label with instructions on how to wash them, and the washing instructions can also be found on our website under each product.
Here are some general tips on how to best wash and care for your fabrics:
- Before using a tea towel for the first time, we recommend soaking it in cold water for about 24 hours. This will straighten out the fibres and ensure effective absorbency from the start.
- Soak terry cloth in cold water for about 1 hour. Wash it afterwards at 60 degrees Celsius. This will make the loops expand, which minimises the risk of the towel’s threads becoming snagged.
- Wash white/light-coloured products separately.
- Wash coloured fabrics separately. We recommend using bleach-free laundry detergent for coloured fabrics to preserve the colour of the product as much as possible.
- Avoid overfilling the machine. Permanent creases can occur, which can be difficult to iron out, and the product can develop surface wear.
- Terry towels and similar items should not be washed together with tablecloths and bed linen.
- Maintain the absorbency of terry towels, tea towels and kitchen towels by washing them without fabric softener. Fabric softener can also damage the bright colours of products.
- Tablecloths and bed linen should be spun at a maximum spin speed of 600–800 revolutions, as this significantly reduces wear and tear on the products and provides a smoother result.
- Tumble drying is unnecessarily hard on tablecloths and bed linen. Never tumble dry wool.
- If you have a linen or cotton product that has lost its lustre over time, Damavask can restore the original colour to a certain extent with repeated use. Damavask was specially developed by Georg Jensen Damask to help protect and brighten the colours of cotton or linen in everything from tablecloths and tea towels to bed linen and towels.
Tips for stain removal
Here are some tips on how to remove typical stains without damaging your Georg Jensen Damask product. For best results, pre-treat a stain before washing – this reduces the binding of the stain’s colour and grease.
When using stain removers, always follow instructions carefully, as some products can damage the fabric. Test in a less visible area first to make sure that neither colour nor fibres are affected by the product.
Be aware that many cosmetics and skincare products contain chemicals that can bleach and stain when in direct contact with fabrics.
ORANGE JUICE
If you rinse fresh stains under water immediately, they are likely to disappear completely. If that doesn’t help, you can soak the stain with clear washing-up liquid, leave the fabric to sit for 3–4 hours and then wash as indicated on the care label.
BLOOD
Fresh blood stains on fabrics are best removed by rubbing cold water on the stain and letting the water run through the fabric – hot water causes the stain to set. Then wash as indicated on the care label. Many white fabrics can typically be washed at 95 degrees Celsius. If the blood stains are old, soak the product. Use lukewarm water with colourless washing-up liquid and let the fabric soak for max. 30 minutes. Then rub gently and let the water run through the stain. Follow the washing instructions on the care label. Very old stains can be very difficult to remove.
CHOCOLATE
Apply colourless washing-up liquid to the stain. Leave the fabric to sit for 3–4 hours and then wash as indicated on the care label.
GREASE
Grease stains usually disappear when the fabric is washed as indicated on the care label. Alternatively, the stain can be rubbed with clear washing-up liquid before washing.
FRUIT / FRUIT JUICE / JAM
If you rinse fresh stains under water immediately, they are likely to disappear completely. If that doesn’t help, you can soak the stain with clear washing-up liquid, leave the fabric to sit for 3–4 hours and then wash as indicated on the care label.
HAIR DYE AND SILVER SHAMPOO
The stain will usually be impossible to remove.
MOULDINESS / ODOUR
Wash the product as indicated on the care label and add a little household white vinegar to the wash. Rodalon, a disinfectant for indoor use, is particularly effective. Follow the instructions for use.
COFFEE / COCOA
If the stains are fresh, rinse the product under running water. Rub gently on the stain and let the water run through the fabric. You can dip the stain in whole milk and then rub it with clear washing-up liquid. Leave the product to sit for 3–4 hours and then wash as described on the care label. Alternatively, dab the stain with glycerol before washing.
MILK / DAIRY PRODUCTS
Most stains will disappear when washed as indicated on the care label. Alternatively, you can rub the stain with clear washing-up liquid, leave the fabric to sit for 3–4 hours and then wash as described on the care label.
POLLEN
Pollen stains are very difficult to remove completely. Vacuum the stain, dampen with clear washing-up liquid and leave to sit for 3–4 hours. Wash as described on the care label.
RED WINE
A stain from red wine with high tannins can be impossible to remove. However, it’s important to act fast: Flush the stain with running water and let the water run through the stain while rubbing lightly. Then wash according to the instructions on the care label. Dampen dried red wine stains with clear washing-up liquid, leave to sit for 3–4 hours and then wash as described on the care label.
SOFT DRINKS
Dampen the stain with clear washing-up liquid. Leave to sit for 3–4 hours and wash as described on the care label.
SOY
Most stains will disappear when washed as indicated on the care label. Alternatively, mix 1 tablespoon of household white vinegar with a cup of water and rinse the stain with the mixture until it is gone. Flush with clean water and then wash as described on the care label. For stubborn stains, a stain remover can be used. Test the product on a hidden area first and carefully follow the instructions.
CANDLE WAX
Harden the stain by placing the fabric in the freezer or by placing a plastic bag with ice on top of the spilled candle wax. Crack the brittle wax and then scrape off as much as possible. The fabric should then be washed as indicated on the care label. For coloured candle wax, it is a good idea to wet the stain with clear washing-up liquid, leave the fabric to sit for 3–4 hours and then wash as indicated on the care label. This will draw the candle wax/colour out of the fabric. Alternatively, colour residue can be removed by dabbing gently with rubbing alcohol.
TOMATO / KETCHUP
Tomato and ketchup stains can be very difficult to remove. Rinse immediately with running water and let the water run through the stain while rubbing lightly. Then wash as indicated on the care label. Dampen set-in stains with clear washing-up liquid, leave to sit for 3–4 hours and then wash as indicated on the care label.