Washing
Wash your linen in a washing machine, or by hand in cold or cool water – nothing over 30°C. Anything hotter than this can weaken fibres and cause shrinkage. Use a gentle detergent and avoid fabric softeners, tumble dryers and washing linen garments with heavy clothing, such as jeans or jackets. The wonderful thing about linen is that it actually gets softer the more it is washed.
Drying
To dry your linen garments, it’s best to lay them flat on a clean, dry towel and keep out of direct sunlight. They can also be hung to dry, just be careful not to use wire hangers or clips that could leave an impression or snag the fabric, particularly with fine linen. When it comes to bed sheets made from linen, the easiest and most energy-efficient way to dry them is to hang on a line outdoors. But remember, the sun bleaches fabrics, so try not to keep darker linens in sunshine too long. If you don’t have access to outdoor space, or if you want to give your bed linen a bit of a helping hand in the colder months, then tumble dry on low until the bedding is almost dry then leave to fully dry on a line or flat on an airer.
Ironing
Yes, linen is prone to creasing, but that just adds to its naturally relaxed, lived-in charm. Taking it out of the washing machine and hanging – or laying it – to dry straight away will help keep creasing to a minimum. If you’d like to smooth it out, spritz your linen with water before ironing on a low setting with plenty of steam. Dampening relaxes the fibres, making it easier to remove creases for a crisp finish.
