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Home / The Joules Journal / Linen Care Guide: Love Your Linen for Seasons to Come

LINEN CARE GUIDE:
Love Your Linen for
Seasons to Come

Q: Should Linen Be Washed Separately?

You do not need to wash linen separately, but you should wash it with similar colours. Keep white and red linen separate to avoid color bleeding. Always read your garments’ care labels for any special instructions to ensure best washing practices.

Q: Can You Steam Linen?

Yes! Steam minimises wrinkles and damage to your linens. Steaming can be better than ironing for delicate linens, as it gently smooths them out without direct pressure.

SHOP LINEN EDIT

WHAT IS LINEN?

Along with ‘what is the meaning of life?’ and ‘where did I put my car keys?’ the question ‘what is linen?’ is one of the great mysteries of our time. Now we fully expect you to spit out your matcha in surprise when you read these next few words… you’re about to find out exactly what linen is. And how to care for it.

Linen is a natural fabric loved for its breathability, strength, and timeless appeal. It has long been a favourite for warm-weather dressing thanks to its lightweight feel and ability to allow air to circulate, helping the body stay cool and comfortable. This summer-friendly fabric also absorbs moisture and releases it quickly, keeping clothes feeling fresh and dry in balmy conditions, while gradually becoming softer with wear without losing its durability.

Now clean the matcha from your screen - you’re about to get the full linen lowdown.

SHOP WOMEN'S LINEN COLLECTION

SHOP MEN'S LINEN COLLECTION

Why Linen is
A SUMMER STAPLE

When it comes to warm-weather fabrics, nothing compares to linen. It’s breathable and plant-based like cotton, but even more cooling on your skin. It’ll keep you looking and feeling cool through balmy days and long summer nights.

How To Wash Linen:
COOL & GENTLE

It’s best to treat linen the same way you’d treat a cat or a crush you don’t want to scare off:

Take a cool, gentle approach.

Linen responds best to a cool or lukewarm spin in your machine, ideally at 30 or 40 degrees. Use a gentle detergent and steer clear of bleach. This maintains the integrity of the fabric and its natural fibres, while also preventing shrinkage, keeping it sizable and strong.

If your linen is patterned or embellished, turn them inside out to protect the print and keep any details intact.

Your linen, like your cat or your crush, will thank you.

Our Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Put on some music. Turn any printed or embellished linens inside-out.

Step 2: Add a gentle detergent. Dance.

Step 3: Set your machine to 30 or 40 degrees to keep it cool. Keep dancing.

Our Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Shake it out. Or shake it off. Or both.

Step 2: Hang white linens up in the sun to catch some rays - this can make them even brighter. Who knew?

Step 3: Air dry your coloured linens in the shade to preserve brightness.

How To Iron Linen:
EMBRACE THE CREASE

One of the things we love about linen is that it’ll look great, cooler and more relaxed if it never touches an iron. However, if you do like your linen a little crisper (maybe you are trying to impress your crush or your cat) the following tips will help.

To smooth things out, iron your linens while they’re still slightly damp. If your linens are dark, flip them over and iron the reverse side to prevent those annoying shiny patches, known as “glazing”.

How to Dry Linen:
CATCH THE BREEZE

Drying your linen is a breeze. While the tumble dryer is an option, the best way is air drying - the long-forgotten and rarely practised artform of actually hanging things on a washing line with pegs, somewhere outside. The high heat of a tumble dryer comes with a greater risk of shrinkage and may cause the fabric to become stiff so, whenever possible, it’s best to give your linens a little air time.

But first, give your linens a good shake to help their natural fibres settle and keep them from getting out of shape.

It’s also important to protect coloured linen. Coloured linens should stay in the shade to avoid any fading.

Our Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Iron linen while it’s slightly damp for maximum ease.

Step 2: Iron linens on the reverse side for maximum protection.

Step 3: Or don’t iron at all. The choice is yours.

How To Store Linen:
LET IT BREATHE

Store your linen in a cool, dry place to give it space to breathe. For long-term storage, keep your light linens in cotton garment bags rather than plastic bags, which can trap moisture. Heavier linens should be hung up to maintain their shape and stay fresh from season to season.

You and your linen can now officially live your best life. We wish you every happiness together.

Common FAQs

Does linen shrink in the wash?

All Joules fabrics, including linens, are tested for shrinkage. If washed properly, our linen should maintain its shape and size.

Should linen be washed separately?

You do not need to wash linen separately (phew), but you should wash it with similar colours. Keep white and red linen separate unless you want to risk a pink rinse! Always read your garments’ care labels for any special instructions to ensure best washing practices.

Can you steam linen?

Steam minimises wrinkles and damage to your linens. Steaming can be better than ironing for delicate linens, as it gently smooths them out without direct pressure.

Step 1: Hang up your linen or lay it flat.
Step 2: Set your steamer to medium steam for lighter linens and high steam for heavier ones.
Step 3: Steam in downward strokes from about 15 to 20 centimetres away.
Step 4: Let your linen air dry before wearing or storing it.