How to Care for Linen Clothes

Linen clothes make a great choice for dressing up and wearing to the office during the spring and summer, or for casual, care-free weekends at the beach. Unlike your normal work or lounge attire, linen clothes require a bit more effort to keep in top condition. Linen is notorious for wrinkling, and you certainly don't want to be seen wearing wrinkled linen pants that look like you just scooped them up off your bedroom floor. With a little attention to detail, you can enjoy the soft, natural style of linen clothes while maintaining a sleek, polished, pulled-together look.

What You Need:

Liquid laundry detergent
Pillowcase, optional
Clothes iron
Spray bottle filled with water

Steps:

1.) Wash linen clothes by hand or in the washing machine on the gentle cycle with liquid laundry detergent. Place fringed or embroidered linen garments in a pillowcase before washing. Use warm water for non-dyed linen clothes and cool water for colored linens.

2.) Soak your linen clothes in liquid laundry detergent immediately if you spill something on them. Allow garments to soak for at least 10 to 15 minutes, and then launder as usual. Repeat if necessary to remove any lingering stains.

3.) Hang up linen garments to dry outdoors in the sunlight or lay them flat to dry in a well-ventilated indoor area. If necessary, place linen clothes in the dryer on the air-dry or low heat setting until almost dry. Do not dry on high heat, as this can cause linen to shrink.

4.) Iron linen clothing on the lowest heat setting while it's still damp for the best results. If the item dries completely before you iron, simply spritz it using a spray bottle filled with water and iron as usual. Turn the garment inside out and iron first before ironing on the right side.

5.) Store your linen clothes in a well-ventilated area to prevent the formation of mildew, and make sure they're thoroughly dry first. Hang them in the closet away from other clothes, or place them in a dresser drawer that isn't too crowded with other clothes.

Tips:

Always read the manufacturer's care instructions on the label of your linen clothes before washing them. Some types may be dry-clean only, and you might damage them if you put them in the washing machine.

Warnings:

Do not wash linen clothes in the washing machine with other types of clothing, or in a fully-loaded machine.

Do not use chlorine bleach on linen clothing, as this can cause the garments to turn an unattractive yellow color.

Sources:

Linen Kids: Linen Care Tips
Tide: Special Care for Summer Wear
NY Fashion Center: Linen Fabric Information