Caring for Linen
Linen is the material that genuinely gets better with every wash. It softens, drapes more beautifully, and develops a quiet patina. Here is how to look after it.
Washing linen cushion covers
- Cool wash: 30°C maximum. Hot water shrinks linen and weakens the fibres.
- Mild liquid detergent: avoid powder detergents (they don't dissolve fully in cool water and leave white marks).
- Skip the fabric softener: it coats the fibres and stops linen breathing. Worse, it makes linen less absorbent over time.
- Wash dark and light separately for the first 3–4 washes — natural linen dyes can transfer.
Drying
Linen is happiest air-drying. If you must tumble dry, use the lowest heat setting and remove it slightly damp.
- Reshape while damp. Linen holds the shape you leave it in.
- Air dry flat or hang on a wide hanger. Avoid line-drying with pegs — they leave marks.
- Direct sunlight is fine for natural linen but will fade dyed linens slightly over time.
Ironing
Iron on the reverse while slightly damp for the smoothest finish. Or — better — leave a few soft creases in. Crisp, perfectly-ironed linen looks like polyester. Slightly relaxed linen looks like the real thing.
Storage
Fold loosely and store somewhere dry and dark. Avoid plastic — natural fibres need to breathe. A cotton storage bag or a linen drawer liner works perfectly.
The first wash makes linen significantly softer. By wash five, you'll wonder why you ever bought anything else.