17th Jan 2023 love2laundry Love2Laundry

Is It Ok for Linen to Get Wet?

Linen is one of the most valued fabrics in the world. It is used to make everything from clothing, bedding, and lampshades, to luggage, art canvases and surgical thread.

Historically, linen was treasured so much, that it was used as a medium of currency or exchange in Ancient Egypt, as well as to wrap mummies for mummification!

In this article, we will answer the question ‘is it ok for linen to get wet?’

What is linen?

Linen is a fabric derived from the flax plant. The flax plant’s natural fibres are extracted from the stem, which are then spun and woven to become linen fabric.

Lots of everyday household objects are made from linen, including clothes, aprons, curtains, cushion covers, bedding sets, tablecloths, napkins and handkerchiefs.

There are different weaving techniques for the fabric, which result in different types of linen fabric:

damask linen- a soft, delicate fabric which is more common in decorative items.
plain-woven linen– a durable, non-patterned fabric, used to make towels.
loosely-woven linen– a highly absorbent fabric, usually used to make reusable nappies and sanitary napkins.
sheeting linen– a soft, untextured fabric, with the highest thread count, used to make linen clothing, bedding and soft furnishings.

Linen comes in natural colours such as ivory, grey and beige, but also in other colours including dyed white, blue and black. The fabric is also incredibly breathable and hypoallergenic, so it is hugely skin-friendly and a perfect bedding choice for people with asthma and allergies.

Linen is both a winter fabric and a summer fabric. If you wear linen clothing, it will keep you warm during the bitterly cold season, while the fabric is lightweight and breathable enough to cool you down when temperatures soar. How versatile!

The characteristics of linen fabric are:

soft
strong and durable
breathable
naturally hypoallergenic
more lustrous than cotton
low maintenance
moisture-wicking
dries very quickly
wrinkles easily

Did you know that linen is also a sustainable fabric? The entire flax plant can be woven into a fibre, which creates no waste from the spinning and weaving process; what’s more, linen is 100% biodegradable and recyclable!

Is it ok for linen to get wet?

So, is it ok for linen to get wet?

Well, if you accidentally spill water on your linen item, there’s no need to worry.

Linen is not water-resistant, as it will absorb water. But getting wet will do no harm to your linen. In fact, linen will wick the moisture away

Also, linen is one of the few fabrics that gets stronger when it is wet. The flax-based textile is very durable: it can hold up to 20 to 30% of its weight in water.

Your wet linen will dry much quicker than you realise. All you have to do is hang it out to dry in the fresh air, or in a well-ventilated spot indoors. Unless stated otherwise on the care label, you can put linen items in the tumble dryer; however, linen can shrink with too much heat, so air drying may be the best option.

How do you wash linen?

To machine wash linen:

Read the care label of your linen items, to check whether they are machine washable.
Only machine wash the linen items that are machine washable.
Separate your linen items by colour, and in a separate load from other fabrics.
Select a gentle spin cycle, at a temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius.
Do not wash linen using very hot water, as the nice lukewarm water will be gentler on the natural fibres of linen.
Use a mild laundry detergent that is specially formulated to work on soft fabrics at low temperatures. Ideally, look for a laundry detergent that is free from VOCs such as chlorine bleaches, parabens, solvents and sulphates. This is because toxic chemicals can weaken and destroy the natural fibres of linen.
You might want to choose a laundry detergent that is made for washing baby clothes, as the formula will be gentler and free from artificial scents or dyes.
There is no need to use fabric softener, because linen naturally gets softer with every wash.
Once the linen items have been washed, allow them to dry fully, outdoors in the fresh air, or in a well-ventilated spot indoors. Luckily, linen dries quickly, so you can dry linen items on a towel or air-drying rack.
Unless stated otherwise on the care label, you can put linen items in the tumble dryer; however, linen can shrink with too much heat, so air drying may be the best option.

To hand wash linen:

Read the care label of your linen items, to check whether they are hand washable.
Fill a sink or bathtub with warm water.
Add laundry detergent or soap powder.
Use a gentle swishing motion to swirl the linen around in the water, to release the dirt and grime.
Never scrub the fabric or twist it harshly, as this can damage the fibres of the linen.
Rinse and repeat.
Allow the linen to dry fully, outdoors in the fresh air, or in a well-ventilated spot indoors. Linen dries quickly, so you can dry linen items on a towel or air-drying rack.

Does linen shrink in the wash?

Yes, linen does shrink when coming in contact with water, but that is true for almost all fabrics.

The best way to prevent shrinkage is to wash your linen at a lukewarm temperature, on a gentle cycle: we recommend around 40°C.

It is not necessary to use fabric softener to wash linen, as the fabric becomes softer and more supple, the more it is washed.

A neat hack to prevent shrinkage is to hand wash your linen in cold water first, before machine washing it. Don’t use freezing cold water for this, though. Additionally, don’t wring the cold water out, as this will disturb the fibres. Instead, let the linen dry naturally.

How do you get wrinkles out of linen?

Linen is prone to getting wrinkly, but this is part of the charm of the fabric.

To remove creases and wrinkles from your linen item, try putting water in a spray bottle, and lightly spritzing this over the creased section, then smoothing it with your hands and allowing it to air dry.

You can also use an iron, a handheld steamer, or a hairdryer to get rid of stubborn wrinkles.

Another hack is to put your linen item in the tumble dryer, set it on a low heat, and toss in a single ice cube for 10 minutes; as the ice melts and gives off steam, this will actually de-wrinkle your linen!

Where can I find an online laundry service?

Here at Love2Laundry, we are an on-demand laundry service, serving London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton and Bury.

We provide a door-to-door service, so we will collect your dirty laundry and we will wash, dry and fold or hang them up, and then deliver them straight to your door!

We also offer ironing services across London, as well as dry cleaning, shoe repairs, upholstery cleaning and alterations.

All you have to do is make an order online on our website, or through our mobile app (which is available for iOS and Android).

You can choose a location and time slot that works for you, and our friendly couriers will collect your laundry items. We will then professionally clean your items and return them to you- all within 24 hours!

Our prices are affordable- for example, the ‘wash, dry, and fold’ package starts from £2.65 per kg. See the prices on our website here.

At Love2Laundry, we are not your typical launderette. We operate a cashless system, so you will pay for your order via our mobile app or online via our website. We accept various forms of payment including American Express, Visa and MasterCard.

No more worrying about finding the correct change, or physically dropping off your laundry items- simply input your order with just a click of your fingers, and the rest is up to us!

Hotel Quality Linen Cleaning Service in London

Here at Love2Laundry, we also offer an on-demand linen cleaning service for hotels and Airbnb hosts. All you have to do is make an order, and we will pick up your dirty linens on the same day and professionally clean them for you.

We also offer all the essentials that you need to keep your guests comfortable and happy, including a complete range of bed linens, towels, hotel toiletries, bath mats, kitchen clothes and more.

Click here to learn more about our Hotel Quality Linen Cleaning Service in London and request a quote.

Does Love2Laundry operate internationally?

Yes, we have branched out to several countries and we now offer our services in:

About Love2Laundry

Love2Laundry is one of the leading laundry service providers in the UK, serving London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bolton and Bury.

We have an array of services to make things easy for you: from laundry and dry cleaning, to linen services, ironing, shoe repairs, upholstery cleaning and alterations.

For more content like this, check out our blog here to read more articles.

Find out more about Love2Laundry’s dry cleaning and laundry services by visiting our website here.

Download our Love2Laundry app on the Apple App Store here or on Google Play here.

We hope you now have the answer to the question ‘is it ok for linen to get wet?’