How to Take Care of Linen Clothes: Wash, Dry, & Iron With LOVE

Linen is the epitome of summer luxury. Whether it’s a breezy dress, a crisp shirt, or a cozy linen sheet, this material offers unbeatable comfort and style with its breathable, smooth texture, quick drying, and moist absorbing properties that never leave you feeling wet on a hot sunny day. Linen is extremely easy to take care of if you know the tricks and easy to ruin if you don’t. In this guide, I will tell you how to take care of linen clothes and home textiles without shrinking, wrinkling, fading, fuzzing, luster loss, and other troubles so you can enjoy the natural beauty of your favorite items longer. 

Your linen will be happy if you save this brief linen how-to-care prompt and pin it in your laundry room.

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101 linen care tips:

• Cold machine wash only, dark colors separately, short spin or 
• Cold hand wash
• Neutral detergent 
• Non-chlorine bleach only
• Line dry in the shade
• Reshape while damp 
• Iron while damp, warm setting, wrong side, with a press cloth.

Avoid:

• Hot washing, tumble drying, and storing
• Mixing colors
• Long spin cycle
• Wringing 
• Air drying in the sun
• Ironing on the front side

Now let’s delve into details and the process!

What temperature to wash linen clothes?

Despite the seemingly sturdy structure, linen is a pretty whimsy material and requires delicate care.

Remember that linen thrives in cooler temperatures. Always wash your linen garments in COLD water (30°C, 86°F) on a GENTLE cycle or HAND WASH to preserve their delicate fibers. Cold water helps maintain the fabric’s softness and prevents shrinkage.

How to take care of linen clothes in washing machine?

Luckily, linen tolerates machine wash well but it’s not a good idea to mindlessly toss your linen items to your regular load. Linen requires special washing settings.  

How to wash linen clothes in washing machine?

1. Use a cold, delicate cycle only (hot temperature makes linen shrink).
2. Use mild detergent.  
3. Wash dark colors separately to prevent color bleeding. 
4. Wash linen in a mesh bag to avoid fuzzing (linen is sensitive to friction).
5. Use a short spin cycle to avoid creases.

If you have linen bedding or another linen home textile piece, you SHOULDN’T wash them with your other non-linen (for example, cotton) bedding and towels that normally withstand much higher temperatures and longer spin cycles.

How to wash linen clothes by hand?

Hand washing your linen items is the safest way to launder linen especially if you have only 1-2 items to wash.

1. Pretreat stains (check along the collar area for linen shirts) if needed. 
2. Soak your linen piece in lukewarm water with some mild detergent.
3. Wash delicately and rinse with cold water. 
4. Hang to air dry without wringing or twisting the fabric. 

How to wash linen clothes without shrinking?

Linen is a dream to wear, but improper care can lead to shrinkage. To keep your beloved linen pieces in top shape, pay close attention to washing and drying temperatures.

Linen is susceptible to shrinkage, especially during the initial wash. While it won’t continue to shrink over time like wool, it’s crucial to avoid hot water, high-heat drying, and excessive ironing. These factors can cause the fibers to contract, resulting in a smaller garment.

To prevent shrinkage, always opt for cold water washes and gentle drying methods. Air drying is ideal, but if machine drying is necessary, use the lowest heat setting. By following these simple tips, you can enjoy the luxurious feel of your linen for years to come.

A tip: if you don’t want to have issues with shrinking, choose high-quality linen clothes and bedding labeled as “pre-washed” (like this Simple&Opulence set). This ensures that the item you purchase maintains its size after your first wash. Some shrinking-conscious manufacturers even apply special finishes to the linen fabric to help stabilize the fibers and reduce the risk of shrinkage. 

How to wash linen shirts without wrinkles?

Everyone who has linen items in their wardrobe knows how easily linen gets wrinkled during washing. The regular spin cycle in your washing machine is too long for your linen items. The vigorous and prolonged agitation in the drum causes unsightly creases that are difficult to remove. Even stretching and flattening the item while wet won’t help much.

So the obvious solution is to go with the SHORTEST, GENTLEST spin available in your washing machine to minimize creasing and preserve your linen’s luxurious feel. 

If you wash linen items by hand, do not wring them after rinsing. Just gently press out excess water before hanging to dry. The item will stretch itself under the weight of water and will look smooth.

The best detergent for linen clothes

For washing linen clothes and bedding, choose a neutral detergent that is:

• Gentle. Opt for a detergent specifically designed for delicate fabrics. Look for products labeled as “free and clear” or “hypoallergenic” to minimize the risk of skin irritation and fabric damage. Avoid detergents containing harsh chemicals, bleaches, softeners, or perfumes.
• pH balanced (helps maintain the fabric’s integrity and prevents color fading).
• Enzyme-free. While enzymes can be effective at removing stains, they can also be harsh on delicate fabrics. 
• Concentrated. These formulas often require less product, reducing the risk of detergent residue buildup.

How to dry linen clothes at home?

The safest way to dry linen clothes is to AIR DRY. This method helps prevent shrinkage and maintains the fabric’s natural texture.

• Choose a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight to avoid fading. 
• Do not wring the item before hanging it to dry. The excess water will stretch the item and save you from the wrinkling headache.
• Do not use pins for thin clothes. They may leave unsightly marks.

Luckily, linen dries super fast, and you won’t have to wait long before it will be slightly wet and ready for ironing.  

If you have no choice but to tumble dry, opt for the lowest heat setting and remove items while still slightly damp to minimize wrinkles and shrinkage. If you remove it damp, you will be able to reshape your clothes if something goes wrong, but if you miss the moment and remove it dry, crevices may stay there until the next wash.  

How to dry linen shirt?

After washing a linen shirt, hang it on a sturdy padded hanger and leave it to dry until slightly wet and ready for ironing. If hung without wringing, the weight of water will do the “ironing” for you, stretching the fabric, so you won’t have trouble ironing your shirt later. 

How to dry linen pants?

To minimize wrinkles and ensure your linen pants dry beautifully, focus on proper hanging techniques. Align the inner seams of your pants and pin them to the drying line or rack at the hem, not the waistband. This clever trick utilizes the weight of the fabric (the waistband is heavier) to gently stretch out wrinkles as the garment dries.

How to take care of linen clothes after washing: ironing

Should you iron linen? Yes! With proper settings, you can easily iron out the wrinkles and restore the brand-new look of your linen items. 

How to iron linen clothes?

Ironing linen can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, you can achieve a crisp and flawless finish. Here’s how:

• Timing is everything. The ideal time to iron linen is when it’s slightly damp. Either freshly washed or lightly spritzed with water, the wet fabric becomes more pliable and easier to smooth out. Ironing very damp linen clothes may result in scorching or shrinking.  
• Essential equipment. You will need an ironing board, an iron with a spray function, and a pressing cloth. The pressing cloth protects the fabric from direct heat. If you don’t have one, use a thin pillowcase or a tea towel. 
• Ironing technique. Begin by ironing the garment inside out to prevent shine. Use gentle pressure and consistent strokes, avoiding lingering in one spot to prevent scorching.
• Focus on details. Pay close attention to areas like collars, cuffs, pockets, and seams. Use the pointed end of the iron to reach into corners and creases.
• Finishing touches. Hang the freshly ironed garment immediately. You do not need new wrinkles.

Ironing linen temperature setting:

It’s better to play safe if it’s your first time ironing linen. Begin with a low to medium heat setting, gradually increasing as needed. Always test a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure the temperature is suitable. Excessive heat or steam can cause yellowing or damage to linen.

How to take care of linen clothes after washing: storing

To preserve the perfect look of your freshly ironed linen, proper storage is key:

• Hang your linen clothes on padded hangers to maintain the shape of your garments. 
• If folding is necessary, ensure the folds are loose and even. Do not stack heavy items on your ironed linen ones. 
• Store your linen in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, to protect its color and texture.

How to take care of linen clothes? Nothing difficult, just one thing to remember: linen loves it COLD.  

I hope this post was useful. Drop more linen care hacks in the comments! 

We moms have to take care of many things, but after reading this linen care guide, you have one less thing to worry about. With these simple tips, your beloved linen summer outfits will be a breeze to care for and bliss to wear.

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