Linen: anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.

Linen is naturally resistant to fungus and bacteria - and that is why it is used in medicine. For example, if we want to get a bit scientific, the flax cell is highly compatible with the human cell, and because of its compatibility, the human body can completely dissolve the flax cell making it suitable for the purpose of being used as natural internal sutures during surgery. These strings gradually dissolve within the organism. 
It is also used in bandage dressings. 
According to Japanese medical research studies, bed-ridden patients do not develop bedsores when linen bed sheets are used. 
Pure linen also resists bad odours. For example, linen insoles absorb surpluses of moisture in the internal surfaces of footwear, a feature that serves to suppress harmful micro-organisms, bacteria and fungi, which, if allowed to develop, would produce unpleasant odours. 
No doubt you have noticed how your wash cloth or dishcloth starts to develop a nasty smell after a day or two? This is simply due to a build-up of bacteria. I used to knit cotton face cloths, and these invariably started to smell unpleasant as they dried. I have now replaced them with 100% linen wash cloths. Not only is the linen a natural gentle exfoliant for the skin, but also I have noticed that they last a lot longer before developing any odour, and they dry out faster than cotton. For this application, linen is a much healthier option than cotton.

I have just posted a new linen wash cloth pattern on our free pattern page. It features a dandelion flower stitch, which looks fabulous in linen.
It is made with one of our DK multi-colour yarns, Pink Ice.
Click here to see the Dandelion Linen Washcloth pattern.
Click here to see the yarn.