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How to wash linen: tips on washing, ironing and drying

Linen is an elegant and timeless material that is made for summer. The natural fibres make this material breathable. Linen is a great choice as it dries quickly and it also helps to keep you cool on hot summer days. There are a couple of things that you need to keep in mind when washing linen so that you can get the most out of your linen clothes. Despite its robust texture, linen requires special care to maintain its quality. We will show you how to wash, dry and iron linen so that your clothes always look pristine.

Contents

How to wash linen: wash cycle and detergent

Linen is a versatile material that can feel a bit rough compared to cotton. However, depending on the processing and material blends, it can also sometimes be quite soft. It is important that you always look after linen. If you would like to wash your linen clothes you can follow our wash and care tips below:

Washing linen: temperature

Wash linen at a maximum temperature of 30 °C to protect the fibres. This is especially important with dyed linen as this will prevent the colours from fading.

Tip: Linen garments can be aired out between washes, provided they are not heavily soiled.

Tip

In order to protect your linen clothes from getting damaged or any discolouration, it is advised to separate your laundry and not completely fill the washing machine with dirty laundry. For example, do not wash linen with durable or rough materials such as denim. To ensure that your linen clothes stay intact you can pop them into a laundry net bag before putting them in the washing machine.

Washing linen: wash program and spin speed

You can wash most things made out of linen in the washing machine without any problems. However, make sure that you choose a wash program for delicates, so that the fibres don’t get damaged and also to avoid excessive creasing. Make sure to choose a low spin speed such as a maximum of 600 revolutions. Also make sure not to overload the washing drum: linen fabrics can absorb a great deal of water and therefore become heavier during washing.

Double-check the care label on very delicate fabrics such as light scarves as it may recommend handwashing them.

Washing linen: choosing the right laundry detergent

Make sure to use a mild laundry detergent to wash linen. Although the fabric has a stable and robust structure it is still made up of sensitive natural fibres that can easily get damaged by harsh substances such as bleach. Even light coloured linen should not be washed with laundry detergents containing bleach or optical brighteners. A colour or mild laundry detergent is perfect for washing and gently caring for linen.

Light and airy linen summer looks:

How to dry linen: protect fibres with proper drying

As already mentioned above it is important that you do not wash linen at a high temperature or use a laundry detergent that contains lots of chemicals or bleach. It is also advised not to tumble dry linen, but instead you should leave it out to air dry. Follow the tips and advice below to dry linen:

  • Hang up any clothes made of linen on a clothes horse or on a hanger to dry.

  • Avoid direct sunlight on coloured linen as the colour on the fabric can fade very quickly.

  • Don’t leave linen to completely dry if you would like to iron it.

Tip

If you have enough room in your wardrobe, it is recommended to store linen clothes hanging up so that they don’t become creased or lose their shape. Wide or padded hangers for shirts or blouses are the best choice.

How to iron linen: here’s how to get your linen nice and smooth

Linen is well known for creasing, but you can still iron it. Below you will find some helpful ironing tips for linen:

Ironing linen: the right temperature

When it comes to ironing linen you can use a higher temperature in comparison to what is recommended for washing linen. However, always make sure to follow the care instructions. Depending on the composition, dyed linen or mixed fabrics can sometimes only be ironed on a medium heat.

How to iron linen – step-by-step

It’s best to iron linen clothing when it is still slightly damp because it is easier to smooth out any small creases. If your item of clothing is completely dry, you can give it a quick spray with a little bit of water. A steam iron is not a must for ironing linen, but it can make it easier.

  • Use the correct setting and temperature depending on the item of clothing.

  • To avoid shiny iron marks, you should iron especially dark coloured linen clothes inside out.

  • For extra care you can put a slightly damp cotton cloth between the ironing board and the linen clothes.

  • Iron slowly and evenly, making sure to remove all residual moisture from the clothes.

  • Don’t forget to leave your linen clothes to cool down before putting them away. This will help to fix the smoothed fibres.

FAQs on how to take care of linen

Linen is a natural fibre and with the right care it can be very durable and resistant. Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about how to wash and dry linen.

Should you wash linen with fabric softener?

You shouldn’t wash linen with fabric softener as it can damage the natural structure of the linen. This will have an effect not only on the quality of the material, but also the beneficial properties of the fabric. Fabric softener damages the breathable fibres in linen as well as how well it can soak up moisture.

Can linen be washed in the washing machine?

In general, you can wash linen in the washing machine, but you must make sure that it is washed at a low temperature on a delicates wash program with a mild laundry detergent. Afterwards leave any items of clothing made out of linen to air dry. This will help to prevent any damage to the fibres and it will also help the clothes to keep their shape.

Can you tumble dry linen?

It is recommended not to tumble dry linen. Even gentle drying programs can still damage the delicate fibres, which can cause your linen clothes to not only become very creased but also to shrink. Make sure to double-check whether your linen clothes or clothes made out of mixed materials can be tumble dried. If you’re not sure, it’s best to leave them out to air dry.

Does linen shrink when it is washed?

Linen is made up of natural fibres that swell when they come into contact with water and can shrink again once it has dried. The first time linen is washed it may shrink a little and lose a bit of its shape. However, any shrinkage can be reduced or ideally avoided by washing and drying correctly. It is also important to make sure not to wash linen at a high temperature or to put it on a rapid spin cycle.

Tip

Even with proper care, natural fibres, such as linen or cotton, can shrink a little after they have been washed. Therefore, when buying linen trousers, for example, you should make sure that they aren’t too close-fitting.

Conclusion: care tips for washing linen

You should wash linen at a low temperature and on a delicates wash program to help it keep its shape and also to protect the delicate fibres. It is also advised not to use bleaching agents or optical brighteners as this can damage linen. In general, you can iron linen but do not tumble dry it. To get the best results when ironing linen, make sure that the material is still slightly damp.

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