Linen is the fabric of a Georgia summer. It’s breathable, it dries fast, and it gets softer every time you wear it. It also wrinkles if you look at it, and it can shrink if you treat it like cotton. Knowing how to care for linen clothing keeps your favorite shirts and dresses looking relaxed rather than rumpled.
Why linen behaves the way it does
Linen is made from flax fibers, which are strong but not very elastic. That’s why it creases so easily, and why it doesn’t bounce back the way cotton or synthetics do. Linen also absorbs water quickly, so the fibers can tighten in hot water and high heat. Learning how to care for linen clothing mostly means avoiding too much heat and too much friction.
Check the label first
- “Machine wash” is common for casual linen shirts, pants and dresses.
- “Dry clean” often appears on structured linen: blazers, suits, lined dresses and pieces with interfacing. Washing these can make linings and facings shrink at a different rate than the linen, which causes puckering.
- Linen blends (linen and cotton, linen and rayon) follow the label for the blend.
9 tips for how to care for linen clothing
- Wash in cool or lukewarm water. Hot water is the most common cause of linen shrinking.
- Use a gentle cycle and don’t overload the machine; linen needs room to move.
- Choose a mild detergent and skip chlorine bleach, which weakens flax fibers.
- Wash dark linen inside out to reduce fading and surface wear.
- Skip the hot dryer. Line-dry or lay flat. If you must machine-dry, use low heat and remove it while it’s still slightly damp.
- Shake and smooth while damp. Most wrinkles come out with a good shake and a quick smooth by hand.
- Iron while slightly damp, on the linen setting, from the inside out for dark colors.
- Store on wide hangers or folded loosely in a breathable space, never in plastic.
- Embrace a little texture. Some softness and gentle creasing is part of linen’s charm.
When to bring linen to a professional
- Linen suits, blazers and lined dresses
- Pieces with stains you can’t identify
- Linen you want crisply pressed for an event or work
- Vintage or heirloom linen
- Linen labeled dry clean only
At The Elementals Laundry, linen blazers, suits and dresses are cleaned with the gentle GreenEarth® method and pressed. Our price list includes a 2-piece suit at $19.95, pants at $7.10 and dresses from $11.75. See our pricing page for the full list.
Linen bedding and table linens
The same rules apply: cool to warm water, gentle cycle, low heat. Linen sheets get softer with every wash. If you’d rather not deal with large linen pieces at home, our wash and fold service is $2.50 per pound.
Common questions
Does linen shrink? It can, especially in hot water or a hot dryer. Cool water and air-drying are the best protection.
Should I dry clean or wash linen? Follow the label. Casual linen is usually washable; structured and lined linen is usually safer dry cleaned.
How do I get wrinkles out of linen? Iron while slightly damp, or steam it. Some light creasing is normal.
Related reading from our sister shop: How to read clothing care labels and how to care for silk
Want help with how to care for linen clothing? Bring your linen to 3330 Cobb Pkwy NW, Suite 344, Acworth, or schedule a pickup.
