Linen: Pre-Wrinkled?

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hereforthecake

Active Member

I LOVE linen, especially in the summer. I own lots of linen clothing for our hot, humid summers.

So I iron them prior to every wear....and of course they wrinkle. And I try to not bother about it.

But this year I'm honestly wondering if it would make more sense to just not bother ironing them at all? Just wash, hang to dry and put them on, "pre-wrinkled"?

Is this too sloppy? What do you all do with linen?

3 years ago

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from lisaflex

JAileen

Veteran

I don’t worry about the wrinkles because they’re going to wrinkle. I hang linen up to dry. I don’t iron it, I spray it with water. This relaxes the wrinkles. It’s good enough for me, but might not be for you, if you’re a perfectionist.

3 years ago

slim cat

Veteran

Ditto @JAileen - no ironing .

3 years ago

Anonymous

I try ...but then they get wrinkled!

3 years ago

hereforthecake

Active Member

Hmmmm.....why has it never occured to me to just not iron in the first place?

I have to get over my neurosis that this makes me look sloppy.

3 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Ironing linen is like telling a toddler—or me—to sit still. You can do it all you like, but shouldn’t expect it to have much effect. I do think there’s a difference between “pre-wrinkled”, which is a caffeinated, sleep-deprived toddler on a sugar high on one hand, and the natural, gentle movement of linen that’s been hung to dry and of toddlers who are deeply engaged, otoh.

3 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

I never iron my linen. The appeal for me is the soft, organic look. I do line-dry and store all my linen pieces on hangers so they don't develop weird linear creases from being folded; they just have an all-over rumpled look. I find that thicker, higher-quality linen fabrics look and feel a lot better than cheaper, thinner ones -- less prone to creasing.

Color matters to me too. I find earthier colours like olive, brown and terra-cotta look better in their natural, un-ironed state. I've moved away from saturated black and navy for linen, as they tend to have a sheen that highlights the wrinkles in a way that bothers me.

3 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

I also second JAileen, that is the same approach I take.

3 years ago

hereforthecake

Active Member

Ok! You've convinced me!
I'm going to give up trying to force my linen to submit to my controlling tendencies!

Thanks all!

3 years ago

Irina

Veteran

I iron linen after washing. I like certain crispness for my linen but I don’t iron between wears, prefer instead a naturally formed wrinkles. I just leave it my bathroom overnight to steam and air it. I find that ironing helps not only with wrinkles but also restores a garment’s shape.

3 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

I’m with Irina. I like my linen ironed, but accept the creases from wear. I like the contrast of smooth with wrinkled.

3 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Iron, hmm, what a concept! I do occasionally steam but not linen, but polished I am not.

3 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

For me it depends upon the piece and how wrinkled it gets whilst laundering. I have a shirt with puff sleeves (in finds) and the sleeves sit horribly if not ironed, whereas a linen singlet top can be dried on a hanger and have a nice light rumpled effect, no ironing required.

3 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

There are wrinkles and then there are wrinkles... my one linen jacket shrivels into a ball and I have to whack it back to wearable with the iron, hehe

3 years ago

Katerina

Veteran

I am with Irina and Runcarla. I don’t own many linen items though… If I did I might reconsider

3 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

Agreed, it depends on the item. I had a loose sheath dress that I would hang to dry and it would turn out beautifully. Some linen pants have needed ironing after the wash (but not between wears) or they would just be a rumpled mess. I guess experiment with your linen items and see what your wrinkle tolerance is with each one.

3 years ago

ChristelJ

Veteran

I'm one who irons between washes. The wrinkles from wear look better to me than the wrinkles after washing. But then, I have never tried steaming. I hand wash my pieces and hang to dry.

3 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fascinating.

I iron all linen items after laundry. The plackets and collar need to look very neat. Maybe I’m wasting my time? Then I leave it at that, and wrinkle through the day.

3 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

Once or twice a season I have them washed starched and pressed. Then I just wear thru the season. I wear infrequently and unless I sweat profusely in them, they are good with a little airing and a steamy shower.

But I’m also not bothered by a little body dirt

3 years ago

lisaflex

Veteran

I dry-clean

3 years ago

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