Storing Linen So the Embroidery Survives

Store linen clean and completely dry, in a cool, dark, airy place. Fold loosely rather than crushing it, keep it out of direct sunlight, which fades both fabric and embroidery, and avoid sealed plastic, which traps moisture and can yellow cotton. A cotton bag or an open shelf is better than a plastic box.

Clean, dry, and out of the light

Put linen away only when it is fully dry; even slight damp invites musty smells and mildew over time. Keep it out of direct sun, since light fades dyed cotton and embroidery faster than washing does. A cool, dark cupboard is ideal.

Fold loosely, skip the plastic

Hard creases stress the fibres along the fold and can dull embroidery at the crease. Fold loosely, and refold along different lines occasionally if a set is stored a long time. Avoid sealed plastic bins and vacuum bags; cotton needs to breathe, and trapped moisture is what yellows white linen in storage.

Questions

Can I store sheets in a plastic box?

Better not to for long periods. Plastic traps moisture and can yellow cotton. A breathable cotton bag or an open shelf is kinder.

How do I stop stored linen smelling musty?

Store it fully dry, somewhere airy, and do not seal it up. A cedar block or a sachet is fine; damp is the real enemy.

Does storage affect the embroidery?

Only through hard creasing, sunlight and damp. Loose folding, shade and dryness keep it as it was.