Caring for your Maison Alia Linens

Washing

• Machine wash at 30°C on a gentle cycle, turned inside out to protect the embroidery. Whites may be washed up to 40°C if heavily soiled, always separately from colours.
• Use a mild, biodegradable liquid detergent formulated for delicate fabrics — powder detergents dissolve less evenly and can leave residue on embroidery threads.
• Avoid bleach and harsh whitening agents, which weaken both the fibres and the embroidery.
• Avoid fabric softener, as it gradually coats the cotton sateen and diminishes its natural lustre.

Drying

• Tumble dry on a low heat setting, or line dry away from direct sunlight — prolonged sun exposure fades colour and yellows white cotton over time.
• Remove while still slightly damp rather than fully dry; this makes ironing easier and reduces wear on the fibres.

Ironing

• Iron while the fabric is still slightly damp, using a medium setting on the reverse side of embroidered areas.
• Avoid spray starch, which can dull the sateen's natural sheen.

Washing

• Wash new pieces before first use to restore the natural loft of the terry loops and maximise absorbency.
• Machine wash at 30°C, turning embroidered towels and robes inside out, and wash separately from sheets or table linens to avoid pilling.
• Avoid fabric softener, which coats the terry fibres and gradually reduces absorbency. For extra softness and to prevent detergent build-up, add a small amount of white vinegar to the final rinse instead.
• Avoid bleach on embroidered areas to preserve the colour and finish of the threads.

Drying

• Tumble dry on a medium heat setting to maintain a full, plush texture. Even a few minutes in the dryer after line drying will help restore softness.

Rinse with Cold Water First

• Blood — Rinse immediately in cold water only, never hot, which sets the stain permanently, then dab with a little mild detergent. On a dried mark, apply a paste of baking soda and cold water, leave for 30 minutes, then rinse and wash as usual.
• Curry or turmeric — Rinse under cold running water from the reverse side immediately, apply a little dish soap, then leave the piece to dry in direct sunlight, which helps naturally fade any remaining trace. Avoid hot water and any delay, as turmeric sets very quickly.
• Grass — Rinse with cold water first, then dab with rubbing alcohol or a paste of baking soda and water before washing. Avoid hot water, which can set the green pigment.

Absorb with Salt, Baking Soda or Cornstarch

• Red wine — Cover generously with salt to draw out the liquid, leave to absorb, then rinse with cold water. Repeat if needed. Do not rub, as this spreads the stain.
• Olive oil or grease — Do not let it soak into the fabric. Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch over the mark and leave for a few hours until it thickens, then brush off and wash as usual.

Treat with Rubbing Alcohol

• Lipstick or makeup — Blot, do not rub, with a cotton pad dampened in rubbing alcohol, working from the outer edge of the stain inward, then treat with a drop of dish soap before washing.
• Ink — Hold the stained area against a clean white towel and spray the reverse side with aerosol hairspray from a distance; the alcohol in the hairspray lifts the ink onto the towel. Repeat with a clean section of towel as needed.

Soak in a Vinegar Solution

• Tomato sauce or ketchup — Scrape off any excess, then sponge with cold water from the outer edge inward. If a trace remains, soak for 30 minutes in a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts cold water before washing.
• Perspiration or deodorant — Sponge with a solution of one part white vinegar to four parts cold water, then wash as usual. Avoid chlorine bleach, which can turn these marks yellow over time.

Soak in Hot Water with Detergent

• Coffee or tea — Soak in hot water with a small amount of mild detergent, then rewash. Repeat the soak in fresh hot water if a trace remains.
• Chocolate — Scrape away any excess with the dull side of a knife, rinse the reverse side under cold water, then apply a little liquid detergent directly to the mark before washing.

Special Techniques

• Candle wax — Harden the wax with an ice cube, then gently scrape away as much as possible with the dull side of a knife. Iron the area between two sheets of absorbent paper, changing the paper until all the wax has been lifted.
• White wine — Rinse with sparkling water, then blot with a clean white cloth. Repeat until the mark lifts.