How to Wash Linen Clothes: Drying, Ironing and Care Labels Explained
A gentle guide to washing, drying, ironing and storing your linen, so every piece stays soft, fresh and lovely to wear, summer after summer.
In this guide
In short: Wash linen in cold water on a gentle cycle, separately from other colours, then dry it in the shade or tumble dry on low if the label allows. Our linen is pre-shrunk, so it keeps its size; always follow the care label.
There's a quiet joy in caring for linen. It loves cool water, grows a little softer with every wash, and asks for so little in return. Treat it gently and your favourite linen dresses, linen tops and linen pants will feel even lovelier next summer than they do today. Here we share how to wash linen clothes, how to dry, iron and store them, and the small rituals that keep linen looking its most beautiful, all guided by the care labels sewn into our own European linen pieces.
Start with the care label
Every LILLY PILLY linen piece carries its own little care label, and it's always the final word for that garment. Most of our linen labels read the same way, and here's what each line is gently asking of you:
| On the label | What it means |
|---|---|
| Machine wash cold | Choose the cold setting. Heat is what shrinks natural fibres, so cool water is linen's best friend. |
| Wash separately | Wash it on its own, or with similar shades, so rich colours stay true and soft whites stay bright. |
| Gentle cycle | A slower, softer wash with less spinning, kinder to delicate fibres and seams. |
| Do not bleach | Bleach weakens natural fibres and can mark colours. |
| Tumble dry low or Do not tumble dry | This one changes from piece to piece, so it's always worth looking at the individual care label (more below). |
| Cool iron if necessary | Only if you'd like a smoother finish, and always on a low heat. |
How to wash linen clothes in the washing machine
- Sort by colour. Wash deep & rich shades like Cherry Red or Chocolate separately, especially for their first few washes.
- Choose cold water and the gentle cycle. This is what almost every one of our linen labels asks for.
- Use a gentle detergent, and leave the bleach in the cupboard.
- Give your linen room to move. A half-full drum means softer fabric and fewer creases.
- Lift it out as soon as the cycle ends. Linen left sitting wet in the machine holds onto its creases.
So many of our pieces are happy in the machine on a cold, gentle wash: the ZAHRA and ADELE mini dresses, the IRIS midi dress and AZALEA maxi dress, our best-selling TINA top and KIRRA shirt, the LETTY and OLI pants, our GAIA shorts, the KEELY jumpsuit and the RILEY bias cut skirt.
Can you hand wash linen?
Absolutely, and it's the gentlest care of all. A few of our pieces are made with a soft cotton lining, like the EDEN midi dress and the ARI vest. Their labels say hand wash cold or machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, and that they can also be dry cleaned. Swish your piece softly in cool water with a little mild detergent, rinse well, and press the water out with your hands rather than wringing it.
Does linen shrink?
Linen can shrink when it meets heat, whether that's hot water or a hot dryer. That's why we take care of it before your piece ever reaches you: our fabric is pre-shrunk before it's cut, so sizing stays consistent across every colour and your garment keeps its size after washing. Each piece is then garment washed, which gives it that soft, relaxed feel from the very first wear. Our labels still ask for a cold wash and, where tumble drying is allowed, a low setting, a gentle habit that keeps your linen looking its loveliest for longer.
How to dry linen
This is the line on the label that changes most between pieces, so it's worth a quick look each time:
- Tumble dry low: many of our linen pieces can go in the dryer on a low setting, including the TINA, DEMI and LEIA tops, the KIRRA and PIXIE shirts, our IVY crop pants and EMER pants, the GIA midi skirt and the KEELY jumpsuit. Take them out while they're still slightly damp and they'll need far less ironing.
- Do not tumble dry: some pieces prefer to stay out of the dryer, like our STELLA maxi skirt and lined EDEN dress. Hang them to dry instead.
- Line dry: our cosy padded ASTER jacket is line dry only.
Line drying suits all linen beautifully. Give each piece a gentle shake, smooth the seams and hems with your hands, and hang it in the shade. Avoid drying your linen on the line in hot, direct sun: strong sunlight can fade colours over time, especially rich shades like Cherry Red, Chocolate and Forest Green. Turning coloured pieces inside out on the line gives them a little extra protection. Dresses and shirts dry wonderfully on a hanger, ready to wear.
How to iron linen
Most of our linen labels say the same thing: cool iron if necessary. We love that "if necessary", because those soft creases are part of linen's relaxed, lived-in charm (we explain why in What Is Linen?). If you'd like a crisper finish:
- Iron while your piece is still slightly damp, on a cool to low setting.
- Turn coloured pieces inside out before ironing. It helps keep colours bright and true, and avoids any shine on the right side of the fabric.
- Or simply float a steamer over it, which refreshes and softens the fibres again in moments.
How to store linen
- Make sure it's completely dry before you tuck it away.
- Hang your dresses and shirts on a sturdy hanger, and fold pants, skirts and camis loosely.
- Let it breathe. A cotton garment bag or a clean, airy wardrobe is ideal between seasons. Plastic traps moisture.
- Keep it out of strong sunlight while it's stored, so colours stay true.
Caring for linen-silk blends
A few of our pieces blend linen with silk for a soft, gentle lustre, and they love a little extra tenderness:
- Our black ROSA linen-silk cami asks for a cold hand wash, separately and inside out, with no tumble drying.
- Our ALLY midi slip dress (84% linen, 16% silk) is machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, separately and inside out, with no soaking, rubbing or tumble drying. Let it drip dry in the shade. It can also be dry cleaned.
Caring for lined linen and linen jackets
Some pieces combine linen with other materials, and their labels reflect that. Our EDEN dress and ARI vest have a cotton lining, so their labels allow hand washing or a gentle cold machine wash, and dry cleaning. Our ASTER jacket has a cotton lining and an insulating filling, so it's machine wash cold on a gentle cycle and line dry only. Our MILLY and WES linen jackets can be machine washed cold on a gentle cycle and tumble dried low. Whenever a piece has a lining or a filling, its label always comes first. Discover our linen jackets and coats.
Ready to fall in love with a new piece? Discover our European linen collection, linen dresses in mini, midi and maxi lengths, linen shirts, linen skirts, linen shorts, jumpsuits and matching sets, all in 100% European linen, many in EUROPEAN FLAX® certified linen.
Linen care FAQs
Can you put linen in the washing machine?
Yes. Most of our linen pieces are machine wash cold, separately, on a gentle cycle. Always check the label on your piece first.
Does linen shrink in the wash?
Our linen fabric is pre-shrunk before it's cut and each garment is garment washed, so your piece keeps its size after washing. Washing cold and drying on low, or line drying, as the label says, keeps it looking lovely.
Can you tumble dry linen?
Some pieces can, on a low setting, and some can't. The label on each piece will say "tumble dry low" or "do not tumble dry".
Do you have to iron linen?
Not at all. Our labels say cool iron if necessary, and many of us adore linen's soft creases. A steamer is a gentle alternative.
Why does linen get softer after washing?
Washing relaxes linen's flax fibres, so it feels a little softer every time you wear and wash it.
Can I wash linen with other clothes?
Our labels ask you to wash linen separately. Washing with similar colours keeps rich shades from transferring.
