How is it that every time we put on linen dresses or linen shorts we are instantly taken to a yacht, somewhere in the Mediterranean, sipping on a glass of champagne and having the time of our lives? Yes, linen fabric has this unique quality to take you straight to a summer paradise. But summer also means insane amounts of chocolate ice cream, icy lattes, and all sorts of delicious foods! And if you are clumsy like us, stains are gonna happen, and you will be wrapping your head around the fact of what is the best way to wash your linen. Well, here comes our post (just in time!) to teach you the best tips and tricks on keeping your favorite linen pieces for many summers to come.

How to wash linen?

Linen is highly durable due to amazingly strong fibers meaning it is quite easy to keep it in a good condition, however, there are still a few key elements to remember. You can feel free to wash linen by machine or wash with your hands – whatever you prefer. To start the washing process, separate dark-colored linens from the white ones to minimize the risk of dye transfer. If you want to achieve the best results, turn linens inside out and wash them separately from other fabrics. It is important to avoid mixing heavy items like jeans, hoodies, or towels in a load with linen textiles because it complicates the washing process, and heavier materials might cause linen fabric damage over time. Generally, try not to overload your washing machine so garments would have plenty of space to soak and rinse perfectly. When choosing the temperature for your machine linen wash, follow the sellers' instructions because they may vary. For instance, our linen clothes are made from pre-washed and pre-shrunk fabric meaning they will not shrink in the temperature is chosen correctly. Wash linen in lukewarm water (preferably 30°C/86°F and no more than 40°C/104°F) because higher temperatures may cause shrinkage of up to 10% and weaken the linen fiber over time. Opt for a short wash cycle as linen is naturally stain resistant and washes out easily.

How to remove stains from linen?

Well, it is best to react fast. The more time you let the stain sit, the harder it may be to wash it off. Although linen is naturally a stain-resistant fabric, we recommend rinsing or soaking the stain immediately with a mild washing product. It is crucial to remember that bleaching linen is prohibited – it will not give the desired effect and may also damage the fibers of the fabric. Here is our little trick for white-colored items – if there‘s a stain on your white garment, leave it in the sun and the sun will naturally remove the stains. It might be hard to believe but it is true! Now you may wonder what washing product is the best to use for washing linen clothes? There is no one correct answer. We always recommend using mild washing detergent, ideally the one suitable for wool. Some of our customers only wash their linens with water, and it seems to be working out pretty good for them. The only thing we will say here is to avoid detergents that contain substances like Sodium Borate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cellulase, Protease, and Amylase. Linen fabric does not enjoy the company of these.

Linen care guide tips and tricks

What do you need to know about drying linen?

In modern times, tumble drying is practically a lifesaver, and linen will not stand in its way. Although, there are a few elements to remember. Linen fabric is sensitive to heat and higher than recommended temperature will most likely cause the fabric to shrink. Poor quality linen items are even more prone to shrinkage so it is important to invest in the higher quality items if you want to enjoy your linens for longer. If you choose to tumble dry your linens, do it in cool or warm temperatures and do not over-dry. Take linen out when it is still slightly damp to reduce the fabric damage. But if that goes wrong and your linen gets that stiff texture, spray it with water, and it should get back to its original condition in a minute. We have to admit that up to this day, the best and the safest way to dry linen is by air-drying the item in fresh air or a well-ventilated area. Simply lay the linen items out on a flat surface or hang them on a hang line to prevent shrinking and wrinkling in certain areas. Linen dries very fast, and even the hang-drying method will take less time than you imagine!

What makes ironing linen clothes easier?

We firmly believe that linen‘s unique wrinkliness is one of its most beautiful features and signature looks. Our collection is full of effortlessly beautiful dresses that don‘t need ironing every day and most importantly – if you‘d ask us, wrinkles add charm, distinctive crispness, and a textured look to the garment so you may want to think twice about ironing your linen skirts (or other pieces). Anyway, if you like your linen fabric for clothing perfectly smooth, the best and time-tested method for ironing linen is to keep it slightly damp so the heat of the iron would dry the fabric removing the wrinkles at the same time. First thing first, just to be on the safe side, when ironing linen pants (or any other garment), do not forget to turn them inside-out, same as you would do with any other garment. This ensures that if your iron start leaking water with calc, at least these stains will not be visible on the good side of the garment, and you will not ruin your mood for the day. If your linen skirts (or other clothing pieces) are dry, spritz them with water and turn the iron to a linen (flax) setting which is usually 230 C/445 F. Smooth your garment, position it on the ironing board, and iron carefully.

Are there any methods to reduce creases on linen (without using an iron)?

Some of us might not have iron in our homes, and honestly, that is a thing to admire. It saves energy and time! We do have some tips for those who choose not to iron linen but still want a crispy and nice texture to shine. When you wash your linen item, take it off the wash while it is still slightly damp and place it on the hanger or solid foundation to dry. When it dries, you can spray starch for a crisper look. If your garment is not yet dirty to be washed but you want to freshen it up, spray it with water and slightly smooth prominent creases with your hands. Once the item dries, you will have a wonderful crease-free garment to wear for the day. We mentioned it earlier, and we will say it again, linen dries fast so it is not like you will have to wait hours for your linen dress to be ready to wear. Of course, you can also use a steamer, which is a much faster way of removing the creases, however, there are also more energy-saving tips, and having machinery to iron your clothes is not always necessary. And one last tip for the travelers – if you do not have an iron, steamer, or a spray bottle for the water, hang your linen clothing piece in the bathroom when you are having a shower. Steams from the hot water will start softening your linen in minutes, and you will have a fresh and wrinkle-free item to wear.

What‘s there to know about storing linen clothes?

The last thing we need to talk about is storing your linen garments. Yes, you can choose to do the way you do with the rest of our clothing but we still have some tips up our sleeve that we would love to share. To keep your clothes in perfect condition, store your linen clothes in a cool and dark place like your closet. This one might be obvious but only store the items that are completely clean and fresh, although visually the item looks clean, even the small dirty areas like sweat or soil on the clothing will cause set-in stains, and these dirty areas are often the cause of the yellow looking stains you find when you get out stored clothes. What are more, unclean clothes are more likely to attract pests and cause unpleasant odors that will affect the whole closet? Make sure that everything you choose to store is completely dry – even slightly wet clothes might be the reason for the mold to form, and it is not easy to get this one out.

Have any questions? Reach out to us for a piece of advice

It may seem like there is so much to know about washing, ironing, drying, and storing linen yet we believe that these are just our friendly guidelines and not everything we mentioned here is neccesary. This post is just a collection of our most useful ideas about linen care and how to wash linen, but you are free to find the best methods that work well for you and your linen clothes. Some washing tips may vary depending on the stains you have on your clothing, for example, wine, blood, and blueberries are a bit harder to work with. It was a pleasure to share our best linen care tips with you. If you still have questions or doubts – do not hesitate to contact us via email or the at the bottom of the page. We are here to help you with whatever we can!