How To Clean Your Summer Linen Clothing The Right Way

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For thousands of years, human beings have been turning to linen when the weather gets hot and sticky. Originally,  Egyptians wore it regularly thanks to its ability to provide comfort in the hot, sunny climate of the African country, linen eventually made its way to Europe, through expansive trading among cultures, where it was considered a luxurious fabric that quickly became a status symbol because of its natural beauty and ability to make summers bearable.

But as much as linen is a great fabric to keep you cool during the hot months, it can be a pain to take care of. "Linen is made from flax fibers, which are thicker and less elastic than cotton, making the fabric more prone to wrinkling, shrinking, and wear if not handled correctly," senior product manager of garment care at Hamilton Beach Brands, Julie Bray, exclusively tells Women. In order to preserve linen and get as many summers out of it as possible, it's essential to keep the quality intact. "I can say that linen's texture demands more heat and moisture to preserve its natural qualities which drives our product development," says Bray.

Although linen can be finicky and even induce a bit of anxiety when it comes to properly caring for that gorgeous linen dress you splurged on, Bray, who's the in-house laundry expert and oversees development and marketing of irons and steamers for the Hamilton Beach, CHI and Proctor Silex brands, gave Women the lowdown on all things linen related. Styling linen for effortless looks feels so much better when you know how to take care of those garments.

Because linen can be so testy, it's often assumed that the only way to properly care for it is through dry cleaning. However, that's not entirely true. "Most pieces can be machine washed in cold or lukewarm water using a gentle cycle then air dried," Julie Bray exclusively tells Women, adding that more structured pieces — as in those with perfect creases you need to make the article of clothing look as it should — might be better off going to the dry cleaner. "[It can] maintain their shape and finish," says Bray.

If you do decide to go the DIY route, then keeping your linen wrinkle-free is something you need to learn how to master. "Letting linen air dry and using a high-quality steamer or iron with adjustable temperature and steam settings can extend the fabric's life," says Bray, who recommends CHI Steam Iron for Clothes with 8' Retractable Cord 1700 Watts. As Bray explains, for the best results, pressing linen while it's still a bit damp and storing it in cool, breathable spaces will also help prolong the life of your linen. Granted, it doesn't take much to wrinkle linen, but if you take a couple extra steps to care for your garments, then you can keep wrinkles to a minimum and make sure your favorite pieces are still in great shape for next summer.