How to wash linen clothes?

Everything you need to know about washing linen clothes:

How to minimize linen washing?
Hand linen washing
Washing linen in a washing machine
How to remove stains from linen?
Detergents for washing linen
How to remove odors from linen clothes?
Why linen get soft after washing?
Linen shrinkage during washing
Laundry symbols on linen clothes

Minimize laundry - sometimes less is more

Although linen is one of the most durable natural materials and acquires a softer and finer texture with each wash, frequent washing can cause premature wear of the fibers . After just a few dozen washes (approximately 30-50 depending on the intensity of use and care), changes to the fabric can be observed, such as slight thinning of the fibers, loss of original shine or fine hairiness of the surface. These phenomena are a natural consequence of mechanical friction and the action of detergents during washing.

Each wash also disrupts the molecular structure of the linen fibers - especially if aggressive detergents, high temperatures or hard water are used. This can lead to a gradual weakening of the fabric, which in the first stage is manifested by an increase in the translucency of the fabric.

In order to make linen clothes last as long as possible, it is recommended to wash them only when it is really necessary. Instead of general washing, stains can be cleaned locally. For this, use a mild detergent and a soft sponge or cloth. Treat the stain by gently rubbing the product in and then rinse the area with cold water. This will minimize the wear and tear of the fabric and at the same time preserve its fresh appearance.

Remember that linen clothing naturally repels dirt and odors due to its fiber structure, so it does not need to be washed as often as other materials such as cotton.

How to prevent frequent washing?

After each wear, let the linen clothes air well in the fresh air. Linen has natural antibacterial properties and resists odors, so it does not need to be washed after each use unless it is visibly soiled.
Use unscented antiperspirants when wearing linen shirts, blouses and dresses. Perfumed products can leave stains on the fabric and increase the need for more frequent washing.
Instead of washing the entire piece of clothing, focus only on the stains.
For outerwear such as boleros or jackets, you can wear lightweight, sweat-wicking underlayers underneath. This will significantly reduce the need for frequent washing of outerwear.

Hand washing linen clothes

Hand washing is the recommended option for linen clothing. For delicate pieces, such as delicate dresses with lace or linen blouses, hand washing is a must. Linen home textiles (sheets, tablecloths) can be washed in the washing machine without any worries.

Correct steps for hand washing linen:

Turn inside out: Before you begin, turn your linen clothes inside out. This will protect the surface of the fabric and any decorations such as buttons or lace.
Water preparation: Fill the sink with lukewarm water (never hot) and add a mild detergent designed for hand washing. Soft water is not necessary, but if you have it, it will result in even softer laundry.
Soaking and washing: Soak linen in water for up to half an hour. Wash clothes without gloves - you will have a better feeling in your hands. Avoid rubbing or strong scrubbing, which could damage the fibers.
Rinsing: After washing the clothes, rinse thoroughly in clean, lukewarm water. Never wring or twist linen clothing to avoid warping the fabric.
Removal of excess water: Press the garment against the wall of the sink or place it on a clean towel and gently roll it up to absorb excess water.

Washing linen in an automatic washing machine

Linen clothing, although durable, requires the right approach when washing in the washing machine in order to maintain its quality and not lose color or shine. The following procedure will help you achieve the best results.

Turn inside out: Always wash linen inside out. This will protect the surface of the fabric from mechanical abrasion and the capture of fibers from other textiles.
Fasten zippers and buttons: Always fasten all zippers and buttons before washing to avoid damaging the fabric or other garments in the washing machine.
Use laundry bags: Place delicate linen items such as blouses or dresses in laundry bags to protect them from mechanical damage.
Separate washing: Wash linen separately from other types of materials. Linen easily picks up fine hairs, microparticles and color from other types of textiles, which can cause graying or loss of shine.
Gentle cycle: Use a gentle washing program at a maximum temperature of 30 °C with a lower spin speed ( max. 600 rpm ). Linen gets rid of dirt easily, so high temperatures are not necessary. A higher temperature, on the other hand, can cause precipitation.
Half load the washing machine: Fill the washing machine only half full so that the linen can move freely. As our grandmother used to say: "lens likes to expand in the washing machine and needs enough space for that". This will ensure that enough water gets to the linen during rinsing and that it will wrinkle less.
Delicate detergents: Use detergents intended for washing delicate laundry or natural fibers. More information about laundry detergents for linen.
Natural (undyed) linen: Wash separately to retain its light, natural color without graying.
Colored linen: Wash rich colors separately according to their shade.

TIP: to achieve less wrinkling and better color fastness, we recommend soaking the clothes in lukewarm water for 30 minutes to which you add 1 dcl of vinegar before washing in the washing machine. The fabric will be able to absorb a sufficient amount of water and will no longer tend to "get dirty" with other laundry in the washing machine. Vinegar disinfects and helps fix colors .

After the first washes of new linen clothes or home textiles, we recommend cleaning the washing machine filter. Linen fabrics are dustier and loose fibers. This is a natural process that will stabilize and disappear after a few wash cycles. An alternative is to carry out the first few washing cycles only by hand.

How to remove stains from linen clothes?

When an accident happens, don't wait and act as quickly as possible. If you have a fresh stain on your clothes while reading this guide, it's already bad.

Your shed is on fire, you go get your laptop and start looking for instructions on how to put out the shed? Probably not... It's the same with removing fresh stains.

Remember a simple procedure in case of a disaster:

rinse the stain under cold water. Ideally through the fabric so that the stain does not spread to the sides.
soap the stain or use a cleaning agent you have at hand (washing gel, dish gel, vinegar, alcohol,...) - usually something is better than nothing
rinse and repeat until the stain is (almost) gone
then put the laundry on a delicate program in the washing machine
if you feel that you have done your best and the stain still hasn't disappeared 😢, you can go to Google and order a special product from the e-shop to clean your particular stain.

As the years go by, you'll remember the best practices for treating common types of stains.

Detergents for washing linen

Washing linen clothes requires the selection of gentle detergents that respect the natural character of linen fibers. Here are recommendations on what detergents to use and why:

1. Gentle washing gels and liquid products

Why: Liquid detergents dissolve better in water and are easily washed out of the fibers, minimizing residues that could stiffen linen.
Ideal choice: Products intended for delicate laundry or hand washing.

2. Products without enzymes and aggressive chemicals

Why: Enzymes and bleaches can disrupt the structure of the linen fibers and cause the color to fade or the material to weaken.
What to look for: Detergents without optical brighteners, bleaches or aggressive degreasers.

3. Ecological and natural detergents

Why: Linen clothing is natural, and therefore it is advisable to use ecological products that do not burden the fibers or the environment. These products tend to be gentler and often contain natural ingredients such as soap or vegetable oils.
Example: ecological detergents based on soap nuts or with the addition of natural essences.

4. Neutralizing additives for hard water

Why: Linen tolerates hard water well, but adding a fabric softener can increase its softness and maintain a pleasant touch.
Tip: Using natural vinegar when rinsing (approx. 1 dcl per rinse cycle) will help remove detergent residue and soften the fabric.

If you have it, use white vinegar instead. It is more concentrated than table vinegar and is not colored with caramel or flavored with tarragon.

What remedies to avoid?

Bleach and chlorine: They can damage the fibers and cause them to weaken.
Stain removers: They damage the linen fibers and discolor the linen fabric along with the stain.
Strong fabric softeners: Linen loses its natural absorbency and lightness, so fabric softener is not suitable.
Washing powder: This often contains anti-caking ingredients that are not good for the linen fiber and are difficult to wash out of the fibers.

How to remove odors from linen?

A useful feature of linen fabrics is that odors are usually removed from linen by themselves. If the smell is intense, here are some proven ways to get fragrant linen clothes.

1. Natural descaler – white vinegar

Procedure: Add 1 dcl of white vinegar to the rinse cycle when washing. Vinegar neutralizes odors and helps remove detergent residues.
Advantage: Vinegar leaves no odor and at the same time softens the fibers.

2. Baking soda

Procedure: Dissolve 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda in lukewarm water and soak linen clothes for 30 minutes before washing. Can also be added directly to the wash cycle.
Advantage: Baking soda is a great odor absorber and does not weigh down the material.

3. Sun and fresh air

Procedure: Dry linen clothes in the fresh air. The sun's rays act as a natural deodorant and help remove residual odors.
Tip: Avoid drying in direct sunlight to avoid color fading.

4. Essential oils

Procedure: Add a few drops of essential oil (eg lavender or tea tree) to the rinse water instead of fabric softener.
Advantage: They leave a fresh scent and have an antibacterial effect.

5. Freezer for persistent odors

Procedure: If washing is not an option, put the linen clothes in a bag and leave them in the freezer overnight. Freezing temperatures neutralize odors and refresh the fabric.

Why does linen get soft after just a few washes?

With each wash, the linen will become softer - this is a characteristic that you will learn about every linen dress or skirt. We will now tell you why:

1. Loosening of flax fibers

Flax fiber is made of cellulose, which is strong and relatively stiff. Each wash leads to a slight loosening of these fibers:

Influence of water and movement: When washing, especially in warm water, the fibers mechanically stretch, bend and lose their original stiffness.

2. Removal of natural waxes and impurities

During the production of linen textiles, natural waxes or pectin residues may remain in the fibers. Pectins are polysaccharides found in plant cell walls and act as a "glue" that holds cells together

Washing removes these residues from the surface of the fibers, resulting in a softer and smoother surface. This will remove the initial roughness that may be apparent with new linen.

3. Hydration and drying of fibers

With each wash, the linen fibers become wet and absorb water:

Tension during washing: During washing, the fibers are stretched and then relaxed during drying, which causes the fabric to become more supple.
Gradual release of tension: The original tension left over from spinning and weaving is released with each wash, making the fabric more pliable.

4. Surface microerosion

Mechanical action during washing causes fine wear of the fiber surface:

Smoother surface: This results in the roughness being removed from the surface of the fibers, resulting in a finer and softer fabric.

Linen shrinkage during washing

Flax shrinkage is a natural process caused by the properties of its fibers. Linen fibers have a firm but relatively little elastic structure, which means that they do not expand when in contact with water, but rather contract. This causes the fabric to lose its original dimension. Several key changes occur when linen is washed:

Water absorption: Linen fibers absorb water quickly, causing the individual fibers to shrink. This reduces the size of the overall piece of fabric.
Thermal shock: High water temperatures, especially above 40°C, accelerate the precipitation process. Hot water releases the natural tension of the fibers, which then shrink.
Mechanical friction: During intensive washing or spinning in the washing machine, mechanical stress occurs on the fibers, which can contribute to the loss of their original shape and size.

When washing natural linen fabric for the first time, it is therefore necessary to take into account a certain amount of shrinkage, which is roughly 5 - 10%. The solution is to always wash or use sanforized linen before sewing.

What is sanforization?

Sanforization of linen is a process that serves to minimize shrinkage of the fabric during washing. It is a special treatment of the linen material, which ensures that it shrinks only minimally (1-3%) after the first wash. This process is carried out on an industrial scale and consists in the mechanical processing of the fabric, during which it is only moistened, heated to a certain temperature and then subjected to pressure.

Sanforization involves the following steps:

Wetting: Linen is first moistened with water to soften its fibers.
Pressing: The fabric is then subjected to pressure at high temperatures, which partially straightens and strengthens the fibers.
Drying: This is followed by drying, during which the fabric acquires a stable size and shape.

The result of sanforization is linen that is more resistant to shrinkage and remains in its original shape after washing. This process ensures that clothes or other linen products do not shrink as much after several washes, thus extending their life and improving their appearance.