Good materials deserve a little care, not a lot of effort. Here's everything you need to know to keep your natural fiber pieces beautiful for years, not just a season.
Washing Your Linen
Wash in cold or lukewarm water, on a gentle cycle, with a mild and natural detergent. Linen is a genuinely strong fiber, but hot water and harsh chemicals break it down faster than normal wear ever will.
Wash similar colors together to protect against any dye transfer, especially in the first few washes. Skip the fabric softener entirely, it doesn't actually soften linen, it just coats the fiber with a synthetic residue. Linen gets soft the honest way: through washing and wear.
If a piece has a delicate detail (a hand-finished edge, a decorative button), a gentle hand wash in cool water is always the safest choice.
Drying
Air drying is best whenever you have the time for it, either on a line or laid flat on a clean towel. Linen dries quickly, faster than most fabrics, so it's rarely an inconvenience.
If you use a dryer, choose the lowest heat setting available and pull the piece out while it's still slightly damp. Over-drying is the most common cause of that stiff, papery feeling people sometimes associate with linen, it's not the fiber's fault, it's just too much heat.
Steaming (Our Favorite Way to De-Wrinkle)
We reach for a garment steamer instead of an iron, and we'd recommend you do too. Steam relaxes linen's natural wrinkles gently, without flattening the texture and slight nub of the weave the way a hot iron can.
Hang the piece up, and steam from top to bottom in slow, even passes. Let it hang for a few minutes afterward so the fibers can settle before you wear it.
If you don't own a steamer, a warm shower works in a pinch, hang the piece in the bathroom while you shower, and the ambient steam will soften light wrinkles on its own.
Removing Common Stains
For fresh stains, cold water and a gentle dab, not a rub, is always the first step. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the weave.
For oil-based stains, a small amount of mild dish soap worked in gently before washing usually does the trick. For wine or fruit stains, a cold water rinse as soon as possible, followed by a normal wash, handles most of it. Avoid bleach entirely, it's harsh on natural fibers and can yellow linen over time.
Storing Between Seasons
Store clean, completely dry linen folded in a breathable space, a drawer, a cotton garment bag, or simply hung in a closet with room to breathe. Avoid sealed plastic bags, linen needs air circulation even in storage, and trapped moisture can lead to mildew or a musty smell.
If you're storing linen long-term, keep it out of direct sunlight, which can fade natural dyes over time. A sachet of cedar or lavender is a lovely, completely natural way to keep moths away without synthetic mothballs.
Why Linen Gets Better With Time
This is the part most people don't expect: linen is one of the only fabrics that genuinely improves with age and washing. Every wash relaxes the fiber a little more, the slight crispness of new linen smooths into something softer, the drape becomes more fluid, and the color settles into something quieter and more lived-in.
This isn't wear and tear in the way it would be for most fabrics. It's the material doing exactly what it's meant to do.
A Note From Us
Everything in this guide is exactly how we care for our own linen, in our own homes, long before any of it became something we'd sell. We hope it helps yours last exactly as long as it's meant to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does linen shrink when washed?
Linen can shrink slightly (usually a few percent) in its first wash or two, which is normal for a natural fiber. After that initial settling, it holds its size well through normal washing and drying.
Is it normal for new linen to have a slight smell?
Yes. Natural, undyed or lightly processed linen can have a faint earthy smell straight out of the packaging, this fades completely after the first wash and isn't a sign of anything wrong.
How many washes before linen feels soft?
Most people notice a real softening after 3 to 5 washes, though it continues to soften gradually well beyond that. The stiffness of brand-new linen is temporary, not permanent.
Can I put linen in the dryer?
Yes, on low heat, though air drying is gentler and better for the fiber's longevity long-term. If you do use a dryer, remove the piece while it's still slightly damp.
Why does my linen wrinkle so easily?
Wrinkling is a natural characteristic of the fiber, not a flaw. Steaming (see above) relaxes wrinkles beautifully if you prefer a smoother look, or you can simply embrace the relaxed, lived-in texture linen is known for.