How to Wash Linen and Keep It Wrinkle-Free This Summer and Beyond-by Cori Sears

Javier Zayas Photography / Getty Images

Linen is a natural textile made from the flax plant that is commonly used for clothing and homeware such as curtains, tablecloths, pillow covers, rugs, and more. It is known for being durable, absorbent, lightweight, and long lasting with the right care.

Proper washing and drying practices will ensure that your linen garments and textiles stay in good condition, and wrinkle-free. Here’s everything you need to know about how to wash and care for linen.

How to Wash Linen

In general, you should treat linen as a delicate when it comes to washing. Linen should be washed in cold or lukewarm water with a mild detergent to preserve its texture and fibers. Natural detergents or detergents designed for delicate fabrics are both appropriate options. This fabric becomes softer with each wash so fabric softeners are unnecessary and should also be avoided. 

Linen can be safely machine-washed or hand-washed depending on your preference. If you plan to machine wash your linen items its best to wash them alongside other delicate garments. Heavy items like jeans, towels, and hoodies could damage the linen fabric during the washing process, as well as items with hooks or snaps that could catch in the fibers (such as bras for example).

Aside from these general guidelines for washing linen, there are are a few specific guidelines for washing larger linen items (such as sheets, duvet covers, curtains, etc.) versus linen clothing. 

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Washing Linen Sheets

Linen sheets, duvet covers, pillow cases, and curtains should be turned inside out before washing (where applicable) and all snaps and buttons should be done up.

When washing these larger items, be sure to not overload the machine so the items have plenty of room to rinse properly. Avoid adding heavy items like towels and jeans to the same load. Tumble dry on low or no heat immediately after washing.

Washing Linen Clothes

Linen clothing should also be turned inside out before washing and all zippers, snaps, buttons, and ties should be done up. Sort your linen clothing into darks and lights for best results and to maintain color brightness, particularly in your whites. 

The main difference between washing linen clothes and larger items like linen bedding is that clothing needs even more room in the wash in order to help preserve its structure. Over-filling the machine can result in excessive friction on the fibers that could cause them to break down over time. While linen clothing can also be dried on low heat in the dryer, it is best to hang-dry it.

How to Wash Linen by Hand

Washing linen by hand is a quick and easy option that is ideal if you only have one or two small linen garments that need to be cleaned. Follow these steps to wash linen fabric by hand:

Fill a sink or small tub with water. Use cold or lukewarm water.Add your detergent. Add a teaspoon of mild laundry detergent to the water. Submerge the linen garment in the water. Leave to soak for 10 to 15 minutes.Gently swirl the linen items around in the water. Don’t scrub, wring, or twist the item as it can stretch and warp the fabric. Drain the water and rinse the items. Continue rinsing until all of the detergent residue has been removed.Dry your linen. Hang to dry or put it in the dryer on a low or no-heat setting. 

4 Tips for Caring for Linen

Aside from washing, there are a few important things to know about how to care for linen to ensure its longevity. Here’s what you need to know about properly drying, ironing, storing, and removing stains from linen.

Drying Linen

People often assume linen cannot be machine-dried, but this is not the case. Both linen blends and 100% linen can be tumble-dried safely as long as the dryer is set to low heat or no heat. Just like with machine-washing, it is the high heat settings that can destroy linen fibers over time.

However, hanging linen items to dry is also an acceptable choice and is often preferred for smaller linen garments (versus large sheets or covers). 

The key to air-drying linen without it becoming stiff is to lay it flat on a dry white towel to finish drying once it is about mid-dry. If you do choose to machine-dry your linen items, never use dryer sheets or other harsh chemicals as these can damage the linen fibers.

Wool dryer balls can be used with linen, but generally you don’t need them, as linen softens naturally over time.

Stain Removal

The general rule of thumb for getting stains out of linen is to avoid using bleach or detergents with optical brighteners wherever possible. These harsh chemicals can damage the fibers over time. However, tough stains may require the use of bleach or whiteners to remove if nothing else works. 

Tackle the stain as soon as it happens to prevent it from soaking deep into the fibers. For minor stains, try soaking the garment in a solution of water and laundry detergent until the stain is removed. Alternatively, blotting the area with some club soda or vinegar and baking soda can also help remove the stain. 

For tougher stains, a diluted bleach and water solution is ideal. Always be sure to read the garment’s care instructions and spot test any stain removers or bleach solution in an inconspicuous location to ensure you don’t damage the fabric.

Ironing

Linen is notorious for wrinkling and creasing, particularly after its been worn or machine-washed. While there’s not much you can do to prevent it, if you’re a fan of the crisp look, you can safely iron your linen items to get them looking wrinkle-free once again. 

The most important thing to know about ironing linen is that it must be slightly damp before you begin ironing. As a result, ironing is best done partway through the drying process. You can also moisten your linen items using a spray bottle if you’ve allowed them to dry completely before ironing. 

Alternatively, using a clothes steamer is a great option for getting wrinkles and creases out of linen clothing. Steamers won’t give the same crisp look as an iron, but will smooth out the most aggressive wrinkles. 

Storing Linen

Properly storing your linen items goes a long way in preserving their condition and the longevity of the garments. As a natural fiber, linen needs to breathe so it should never be stored in plastic bags (try a linen bag instead or reuse an old pillowcase) and should always be stored in a cool, dry area. Always ensure that your linen garments and sheets are fully dry before putting them away to prevent mildew from forming. 

Linen clothes should always be hung on hangers rather than folded in drawers. Hanging linen items ensures they don’t accumulate fold lines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does linen shrink in the wash?

Linen is at risk of shrinking in the wash when high temperatures are used, particularly during the first wash. This is why cold or lukewarm water is best. Most high-quality linens have been pre-washed and shouldn’t shrink much, even at higher temperatures. 

Does 100% linen need to be dry cleaned?

It is not necessary to dry clean 100% linen. Treat the garment as a delicate and wash in cold or lukewarm water with a mild detergent. Hang to dry or throw it in the dryer on low to no-heat, and either steam or iron the fabric to remove any wrinkles or creases. 

How many times can you wear linen before washing?

As a general rule you can wear linen garments a few times before washing, unless there is a noticeable stain or they have developed an odor. Linen gets softer and more “lived in” with every wash, but you still don’t want to over-wash it and risk breaking the fibers down too quickly. 

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