Linen Care Guide

Linen Care Guide

The short version: wash before first use in cold water on a delicate cycle. For ongoing care, machine wash at 40 °C, tumble dry low or line dry. Oxygen bleach is safe for white linen; do not bleach oatmeal. Ironing is optional.

Before first use

New linen should always be washed before the first night you sleep on it. Our pieces ship cut 3–5% oversized to absorb the natural shrinkage of linen. They settle to nominal size after one or two cold washes.

• Cold water (≤ 30 °C / 86 °F)
• Delicate cycle
• Mild detergent, no fabric softener
• Wash like colours together (whites with whites, oatmeal with oatmeal)

Ongoing wash

Machine wash at 40 °C (104 °F) on a delicate cycle. Linen does not need hot water to come clean — heat shortens its life. Avoid overloading the drum so the fabric can move freely.

• 40 °C / 104 °F maximum for routine washing
• Mild detergent — no chlorine bleach, no fabric softener (softener coats the fibres and reduces breathability)
• Wash like colours together

Bleach

White linen: oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate, e.g. OxiClean or similar) is safe for occasional brightening — use per the bleach product’s instructions. Never use chlorine bleach on any of our linen — chlorine weakens the fibres and triggers yellowing over time.

Oatmeal linen: do not bleach. Oatmeal is an undyed natural tone — bleach would lighten it unevenly and damage the fabric.

Drying

Tumble dry on low heat or line dry. Take items out while still slightly damp if you plan to iron — it makes ironing much easier and the crease softer.

• Tumble dry low (not high — high heat is the single biggest factor in fabric wear)
• Line dry is fine; avoid prolonged direct sun on white linen (UV can yellow over many cycles)
• Do not over-dry — fully-dry linen out of the dryer is harder to soften and harder to iron

Ironing

Ironing is optional. Linen carries a soft crease naturally — that is part of its character, not a defect. If you want a crisp finish:

• Iron while the fabric is still slightly damp
• Linen setting on your iron (hot, with steam)
• Iron on the reverse side for items with ruffles or a flange — it preserves their shape

Storage

Always store linen fully dry. Damp linen in storage is the most common cause of mildew spots and white-linen yellowing.

• Cool, dry, well-ventilated
• Cotton or linen storage bags rather than plastic (linen needs to breathe)
• Refold every few months if storing long-term, so the same crease lines do not weaken

Stains

Treat stains promptly — linen is naturally absorbent and releases most stains in the wash if not allowed to set.

• Blot, do not rub
• Cold water rinse, then wash as usual
• For stubborn stains on white linen, oxygen bleach soak (cold) before washing

White linen yellowing — prevention & fix

White linen yellows when stored damp, when bleached with chlorine, or after many cycles of UV exposure. To prevent: always store fully dry; never use chlorine. To brighten yellowed white linen: cool oxygen-bleach soak for 1–2 hours, then wash on delicate at 40 °C.

Pilling, snags, loose threads

Linen does not pill the way cotton or polyester does. Loose threads at hems can be trimmed flush with scissors — do not pull. If a seam comes undone in the first 60 days of use, email us and we will repair or replace.

Longevity

Treated well, 170 GSM linen lasts well beyond a decade and softens steadily. Avoid: high-heat drying, chlorine bleach, fabric softener, storing damp. Embrace: cold or warm washes, low tumble dry, the soft natural crease.

Questions

Email info@linenowl.com for anything specific to your piece — stains, repair, washing a custom size.