How to care for linen so your love for it lasts forever
A Linen-loving collaboration with our friends at Son De Flor
There’s so much to love about linen. It’s breathable, lightweight, and cool, which makes it perfect for your warm-weather wardrobe. And with Son de Flor’s stunning fall and winter 2025 collection, linen doesn’t have to be a fleeting summer fling. It can be an all-year-round romance.
From how to wash it, to how to remove wrinkles, here’s how to care for linen fabric. So you can make sure your linen love lasts a lifetime.
How to wash your linen garments
Linen fabric gets softer with each and every wash. So the more you wash it, the more lived in and loved it will feel.
You can choose to gently hand-wash your linen in cool, soapy water, rinsing well and taking care never to twist, wring, or scrub at the fabric. But if you’re short on time (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?) then you can wash your linen in the machine. Here’s how.
Check the care label
While most linen can be machine-washed, certain garments may need special care. So before taking any steps, check the label for specific instructions.
Choose a low temperature
Hot water can cause shrinkage, so wash your linen in cool to lukewarm water, preferably less than 30°C / 86°F.
Keep it gentle
Choose a gentle cycle and mild detergent, avoiding any harsh detergents or bleaches that could damage your linen’s natural fibres and color.
Wash separately or with similar fabrics
Linen could snag on coarser fabrics like denim. So wash it on its own or with similar natural fibres.
Un petit tip…
Washing linen in hotter water can damage the color and the fabric itself — maybe not right away, but the wear becomes visible after a few washes.
How to dry linen fabric in the dryer
It’s hard enough finding time to hand-wash clothing, let alone waiting for it to air-dry. Luckily, linen can be dryer-friendly. But a word of caution; overheating linen can make it shrink, stiffen, or break down over time. So here’s how to dry your linen garments in the dryer, without doing them damage.
Turn down the heat
Set your dryer to low heat – or better yet, a delicate setting.
Don’t over-do it
Take your linen out of the dryer while it’s still just a little damp, to keep it soft and prevent deep wrinkles.
Dry with like fabrics
Don’t tumble-dry your linen with heavy fabrics like denim or towelling. These can make your linen feel rough.
Shake it out
As soon as it’s out of the dryer, give it a good shake and then hang or lay it out flat to finish drying on its own.
How to minimise (and even embrace) linen’s natural wrinkles
As a natural fabric, wrinkles are part of linen’s charm. For some garments, like the Son de Flor Clementine shirt with its gorgeous blouson sleeves, linen’s natural creases and folds are even elevated to a core design feature.
While you may never be able to fully remove every single crease and crinkle, here are a few ways to achieve a smoother look.
Do a damp iron
For an extra crisp finish, you can iron your linen while it’s still a little damp, on a medium-to-hot setting. Make sure you always iron your garment inside out.
Steam it smooth
Ideal for dresses, shirts, and free-flowing linen garments, simply hang up your garment and steam it in a downward motion.
Give it the Poète treatment
Give the iron and steamer a miss, and simply spray the fabric with Poète Clothing Spritz, then smooth the wrinkles away with your hands.
Lean into the look!
Your linen’s little wrinkles are all part of its relaxed and effortless vibe. So if you can’t smooth them out entirely, try not to sweat it. Speaking of sweat…
un petip tip
Poète customer Kathy wrote to us after purchasing our Clothing Spritz. She shared “I decided to try this product because I don’t like ironing my linen clothes. I’ve noticed that the color of my linen dresses fades when I iron them.”
How to get stains out of linen
Sweat or otherwise, the last thing you want is a stain on you and your linen’s relationship. So here’s our quick guide on getting pesky stains out of your linen fabric.
Move quickly
Don’t leave your linen hanging. The sooner you take care of it, the easier it’ll be to remove.
Remove any excess
Blot the stain with a fresh cloth to remove as much excess residue as you can.
Give it a pre-treatment
Gently dab (never rub!) the stain with a mixture of water and a small amount of mild detergent. If it’s especially stubborn and needs help from a stain removal product, be sure to test it on a small inside patch first. And avoid undiluted bleach at all costs.
Give it a soak
Leave your linen in below-100 °F water mixed with mild detergent for an hour or two before putting it through the machine as usual, following its care label instructions.
How to freshen up your linen between washes
Made from flax fibres, linen is naturally strong and durable. But overwashing linen can cause wear and tear, and could shorten your long-term love affair. So try to resist the urge to wash your linen clothes as often as the rest of your wardrobe.
Instead, you can lengthen the time between washes with a clothing spritz, like Poète. Crafted with original fine French fragrances, just a few sprays of Poète Clothing Spritz will leave your lightly-worn clothing delicately scented and effortlessly ready-to-wear.
Here’s to a lifelong love for you and your linen
We hope these handy hints help make sure your linen will last the distance, and your love for it will last a lifetime. Shop Son de Flor’s fall and winter collection here. Then show it just how much you care, by treating it to a little Poète Clothing Spritz. Or reach out to the team any time for more on how to look after linen fabric.
