Linen fabrics are known for their superior comfort properties over fabrics of other origins. However, they have a very high tendency to wrinkle during use and laundry. In order to overcome this problem, easy-care finishes are applied on linen during or after fabric production. These chemicals are partially released during use and washing. Moreover, strengths of fabrics are affected negatively. Increasing ecological concerns and public awareness bring the need for an environmentally friendly alternative process. Delicate washing may decrease the number of wrinkles on fabrics but the functions used in the new-generation washing machines regarding the wrinkle reduction do not provide the expected results on linen fabrics. In this study, the wrinkling behavior of linen fabrics encountered during washing action in washing machines with steam generators is improved by selection of proper levels of processing parameters, including temperature, rate of mechanical action (ED), revolution per minute (rpm) and water amount applied during laundering. In order to further improve the wrinkling behavior of linen fabrics while still maintaining the gentle washing action, steaming steps were inserted into the laundering process between the adjacent laundering steps. The shrinkage and wrinkling characteristics of laundered linen fabrics were measured and analyzed. The best four profiles amongst others were chosen, and will be used for the development of a laundering process specializing in gentle washing linen products.

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In this study an attempt was made to improve the wrinkling behavior of linen fabrics encountered during washing in washing machines with steam generators was tried to be achieved. To improve the wrinkling behavior of linen fabrics while still maintaining a gentle washing action, different combinations of steaming steps were inserted into the laundering process. Moreover, individual and interactive effects of the spin level, as well as those of heating in rinsing or in softening steps, upon average shrinkage and average smoothness ratings of the laundered linen products were evaluated after performing relevant standard tests. An alternative algorithm was created offering even better performance in terms of smoothness rating with acceptable average shrinkage after laundering, offering an increase in the smoothness rating from 1.40 to as high as 3.63, with a decrease in shrinkage from 5.50% to as low as 3.45% for the levels studied. Heat application was found to have positive and significant effects on the average smoothness rating.There are novel studies regarding the enhancement of the cleaning performance of the laundry process without giving any damage to textiles. 1-4 Many programs have recently been developed as a function of washing machines as a result of research regarding the washing algorithms for the fabrics produced from synthetic and natural fibers. 5 Due to the fact that time is one of the most important phenomena in daily activities, decreasing the time required for the laundering process and elimination of the additional processes before and after the laundering process has become the most significant and considered topic to be achieved for a washing machine laundering program. Wrinkling, which causes a waste of time because of the long ironing process required to remove wrinkling, is the main issue of the laundering process. Making improvements to the wrinkling problem encountered in the laundering process would absolutely reduce the time needed for ironing.Linen is one of the most preferred fabrics for the summer. Due to the increase in perspiration rate, garments are washed frequently in the summer, and wrinkling developed in the laundering process becomes the most common problem for linen fabrics. Furthermore, it is a known fact that linen products, like those manufactured from other natural cellulosic fibers, have a