You’ve done your research, you’ve finished your shopping, and now your house is home to the best linen on the market. Now what? At Stella, we believe new linens are an investment, and making them last is key. That’s why we’ve put together this step-by-step guide on how to take care of your fine linens. From washing to ironing, we’ve broken down exactly how you can keep your linens fresh and soft for years (and even decades) to come.

Step 1: Wash

When machine washing, take care to wash our items with like fabrics in order to prevent unnecessary abrasion. Most linens can be washed on a gentle cycle using warm water, and can be finished with a cold-water rinse. Be sure to pre-treat any stains before washing, and do not use bleach, as it may weaken the fabric and cause yellowing. Use a Fine Fabric Wash without added bleach, optical brighteners, whiteners, or fabric softeners. Do not pour detergent directly on the textiles; rather, add it to the water as the wash tub fills or dilute detergent with water, and then add linens.

Step 2: Dry

Before machine drying, gently shake out and smooth damp linens to unravel any items that may have twisted during the wash cycle. Do not use dryer sheet fabric softeners, and set the dryer to the lowest heat setting, as high heat settings will weaken the fibers and increase shrinkage. When the dry cycle has completed, promptly remove items and, while still slightly damp, smooth with iron and let air dry before storing.

Step 3: Iron

Always check to make sure your iron is clean -- mineral deposits may build up and cause brown spotting. Iron linens while still slightly damp. Use a steam iron on a warm/hot setting for cotton. If needed, spray with water from a spray bottle to eliminate any stubborn wrinkles.