How to Wash and Care for Linen Clothing

Linen is one of summer's best fabrics. It's lightweight, breathable, comfortable, and made from natural flax fibres. It also has a personality of its own—linen wrinkles, softens with wear, and develops a relaxed appearance that's part of its charm.

With the right care, quality linen clothing can last for many years. Here's how to keep it looking its best.

Can You Wash Linen?

Usually—but always check the garment's care label first.

Many linen garments can be washed, while others may require professional cleaning because of their construction, dyes, trims, linings, or finishes.

Linen can also shrink, particularly if it hasn't been pre-shrunk by the manufacturer. Hot water and high dryer temperatures can increase that risk.

How to Wash Linen at Home

If your garment's care label allows machine washing:

• Separate light and dark colours, particularly with new garments that may release excess dye.
• Use cool or lukewarm water.
• Choose a gentle or short wash cycle.
• Use a mild detergent.
• Avoid overloading the washing machine so the fabric can move freely.
• Remove garments promptly when the cycle is complete.

For delicate linen pieces, hand washing may be a better option.

Can Linen Go in the Dryer?

Check the care label first, but air drying is often the gentlest option.

High heat can contribute to shrinkage and set wrinkles deeply into the fabric. When possible, reshape your linen garment after washing and hang or lay it flat to dry.

If the care label permits tumble drying, use a low temperature and remove the garment while it's still slightly damp. This can make pressing much easier.

Why Does Linen Wrinkle So Easily?

Because it's linen!

Linen fibres have very little elasticity, which means they don't readily spring back into shape after being bent or folded. That's what creates linen's characteristic wrinkles.

Rather than expecting linen to stay perfectly crisp throughout the day, embrace its naturally relaxed appearance. Those wrinkles are part of what makes linen look and feel like linen.

What's the Best Way to Iron Linen?

Linen is generally easiest to press while it's still slightly damp.

If you're ironing at home, check the care label and use an appropriate temperature for the fabric. Steam or a light mist of water can help release stubborn wrinkles.

Be particularly careful with linen garments that have special finishes, embellishments, or blends, as they may require a lower temperature.

And if you've ever tried pressing a linen shirt at home, you already know that getting that smooth, professional finish can require some patience!

Clean Matching Pieces Together

Have a linen suit or coordinating outfit?

We recommend cleaning all pieces at the same time—even if one doesn't appear dirty. Repeated cleaning, sunlight, and normal wear can gradually affect colour. Cleaning coordinating pieces together helps them age more consistently.

The same principle applies to matching household linens such as napkins and tablecloths.

Professional Linen Cleaning

Some linen is easy to care for at home. Other pieces are worth leaving to the professionals.

At Best Care, we evaluate each garment individually and determine the appropriate cleaning method based on its fabric, colour, construction, trims, and manufacturer's care instructions. Depending on the garment, professional wet cleaning or dry cleaning may be the best choice.

Our professional finishing equipment also gives linen that crisp, polished appearance that's difficult—and time-consuming—to achieve with a household iron.

Whether it's a favourite linen shirt, summer dress, suit, or treasured tablecloth, proper care can help you enjoy your linen for many summers to come.