How to wash linen clothes without shrinking, yellowing or deep creases

Step by step: how to wash linen clothes without shrinking, yellowing or deep creases

1. 1

   Read the care label first

   Most 100% linen is machine washable, but blends with rayon, silk or structured linings may say hand wash or dry clean. A tub with a hand means hand wash only. Linen jackets and tailored trousers with interfacing are often dry clean only, so follow the tag on those.

2. 2

   Sort by color and weight, then turn inside out

   Wash linen with other light fabrics of a similar color, not with towels or jeans that rub and shed lint. Turn each piece inside out, close buttons and zips, and put anything with ties or lace in a mesh bag.

3. 3

   Treat stains before the wash

   Work a drop of liquid detergent into food, sweat or makeup marks with your fingers and let it sit 5 to 10 minutes. Do not scrub hard: linen fibers are strong but the weave can fuzz and lighten where you rub.

4. 4

   Use a short, cool, gentle cycle

   Choose the delicate or gentle cycle with cold or cool water, about 30°C (86°F) or what the label shows. Fill the drum no more than about half full so the pieces move freely; a packed drum sets deep creases. Use the normal amount of a mild liquid detergent, not extra.

5. 5

   Skip chlorine bleach and heavy softener

   Chlorine bleach weakens and yellows linen over time. For whites, add an oxygen bleach if the label allows. Linen softens on its own with each wash, so fabric softener is not needed and can leave a film that reduces how well it absorbs moisture.

6. 6

   Unload right away and shake out

   Take the clothes out as soon as the cycle ends. Shake each piece firmly, tug the seams straight and smooth the collar and cuffs by hand. Creases that sit in a wet heap for an hour are much harder to get out.

7. 7

   Hang to dry, or tumble on low for a few minutes

   Hang shirts and dresses on wide hangers and lay knits flat, out of strong sun for dark colors. If you use a dryer, run it on low for 5 to 10 minutes and pull the pieces out while still slightly damp, then hang them to finish.

8. 8

   Steam or iron while damp

   For a crisp look, iron on the linen or medium-high setting while the fabric is still a little damp, on the inside for dark colors. For the relaxed look linen is known for, a quick pass with a steamer is enough.

Should you machine wash or hand wash linen?

Machine wash sturdy everyday linen on a gentle cycle, and hand wash vintage pieces, embroidered items and linen blends with silk or rayon. Both work; the gentle machine cycle is simply less effort.

Woolite’s linen care guide recommends a short, cool cycle with a gentle detergent for linen clothing and a hand wash in cold water for heirloom or vintage linen. To hand wash, fill a clean sink with cold water and a capful of mild detergent, swish the piece for 3 to 5 minutes, rinse until the water runs clear, and press out the water instead of wringing. Our guide to washing clothes by hand covers the full routine.

The hand wash symbol on a care tag (a tub of water with a hand) means skip the regular machine cycle. Tide’s laundry symbol guide notes that the hand wash setting on many machines, in a mesh bag, may be safe for these pieces, but take care.

Does linen shrink, and how do you stop it?

Yes, linen can shrink a little, mostly in the first wash and mostly from hot water and high dryer heat. Cool water and air drying keep it to a minimum.

Woolite notes that linen can handle low dryer heat, but that air drying keeps its shape and avoids stiffness, and that hanging it while slightly damp cuts down on creases.

What not to use on linen

Avoid chlorine bleach, large doses of vinegar, and products that bleach on contact. Linen is a plant fiber, and harsh chemistry weakens it faster than washing does.

• Vinegar in every load. Tide warns that vinegar’s low pH can weaken cellulose fibers such as cotton and linen and change pH-sensitive dyes. An occasional splash in the rinse is not a disaster, but it is not a routine softener for linen.
• Acne creams and some skin care. Parachute’s care page for its cotton and linen goods warns that benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxy acids can bleach fabric, and suggests an oxygen cleaner instead of chlorine bleach for stains.
• Washing with zips and hooks. Parachute also advises against washing its linens with clothing that has zips or hooks, because they abrade the weave.

Linen sheets follow the same rules; see how to wash bed sheets for bedding.

Mistakes to avoid

• Washing linen on a hot, heavy-duty cycle with towels and jeans.
• Cramming the drum full, which sets creases that no iron fully removes.
• Leaving clean linen balled up in the washer for hours.
• Using chlorine bleach on white linen, which yellows and weakens it over time.
• Drying on high heat until bone dry, which shrinks and stiffens the fabric.
• Machine washing a structured linen blazer that says dry clean only.