Wash linen

Linen garments and linen clothing have been popular for thousands of years. Linen fabric is made from the fibers of linen, and is a natural material with many unique properties. Linen fabric breathes well, helps you maintain a comfortable body temperature and absorb moisture from your skin. It is also stronger than cotton, making linen fabric popular to use for bedding, tablecloths and towels. Whether you are going to the office or on a sun-soaked holiday, a linen shirt or a pair of airy linen trousers is a quick and easy way to stay both cool and stylish.

Linen laundry advice

Here we have gathered some tips and advice on how you can take care of your linen clothes – everything from washing linen, machine washing linen, tumble drying linen and ironing linen. We recommend that you always look at the washing labels and laundry symbols before washing your linen clothes.

• Although you can wash all dresses, tunics, shirts and pants made of linen in the washing machine, other materials used for stitches, lining or trim may require dry cleaning. If these garments are washed incorrectly, seams can be twisted and the garment damaged.
• Cheaper linen garments can sometimes withstand washing poorer than finer linen garments. Check the washing labels carefully, and do not wash linen garments of different quality together.
• Follow the instructions on the laundry symbols to avoid shrink-wrapped linen or weakened linen.

Wash linen – everything you need to know

• Always wash your linen garments on your washing machine's most gentle washing program. If it is possible to set the amount of water in the machine, set to max – linen fabric is most comfortable when there is plenty of water.
• Do not completely fill the machine – linen clothes should be able to move freely to get the best washing results. An overcrowded machine can twist and pull the garments so that they lose their shape.
• Make sure that all garments in the washing machine have a similar color, weight and washing instructions to get the best results possible, and to avoid discolored clothes.
• Linen clothes and other textiles made of linen prefer it if you wash them in lukewarm water. Too hot water can cause linen fabric to shrink and too cold can prevent the dirt from coming off completely.
• Use a mild detergent when washing, and make sure that all residues are completely rinsed off before drying the linen garment.

Wash linen - hand wash:

• If you wash linen by hand, it is best to use gentle and sweeping hand movements. Avoid twisting, scrubbing and pulling on the garments, so that they best retain their shape and quality.
• Fill a small container (bucket or sink) with lukewarm water and add a teaspoon of detergent.
• Add the linen garment you want to wash and let it soak for about 10 minutes.
• Gently move the garment back and forth with sweeping movements. Do not twist, stretch or scrub the linen.
• Drain the dirty water and rinse repeatedly until all the foam and detergent residue is gone. Dry, preferably on a flat surface, otherwise with a wide hanger.

Tumble dry linen

• If your linen clothing is pre-washed during production, it is usually fine to tumble dry them. Set the dryer to low temperature and remove the garment when it is still slightly damp.
• Always try to dry your linen clothes on a flat surface. Hangers and clothespins can leave ugly marks on the clothes, and can also cause the garment to lose its original shape.
• Linen fabric is very nice when it is a little wrinkled as well, but sometimes you want to iron linen clothes and linen tablecloths. If you are going to iron linen with an iron, it is important that the fabric is a little moist when you start.