Steaming Linen? - YouLookFab Forum

I decided to splurge on some linen-knit fancy t-shirts by Sezane as I prepare for another summer of working from home. The fabric is just listed as linen, but it reminds me of what I see called "slubbed linen" vs. a woven linen. I love the tops already since they are far more breathable than my standard work clothes, but I am less crazy that I need to give them a light iron each wash. The tradeoff between synthetic and natural fibers, I suppose. I was investigating a larger iron press to make the job easier, but ran across portable steamers as another option.

Has anyone had any luck using either of these methods (iron press or steamer)? My main concern is the items will shrink with less control over the heating than my handheld iron. I have ruined a few tops of similar material when they accidentally went through a hot dryer cycle and came out 1st grader-sized

Some of the tops (won't link directly through YLF):

http://sezane.com/us/product/m.....ee#size-XS

https://www.sezane.com/us/prod.....ru#size-XS

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3 years ago

Joy

Veteran

I really like those tees and only wash linen in cold water and toss in a cold dryer, then hand to dry on fat plastic hangers ot lay flat on towels. if needed, I iron the usual way with a steam iron. Linen sweaters usually get dry cleaned.

rvg

Active Member

My trick is to first wash cold and dry flat, then hang on a hanger and spritz just wrinkles or all over with a spray water bottle. In fact this is what I do when traveling and refreshing something that has packing creases or can be reworn. My little water bottle travels with me everywhere, I just pack it empty and fill at my destination. Works so well with both cotton and linen. Actually, rayon too. The wrinkles just fall out!

slim cat

Same as @rvg - water bottle is essential for many summer items ( prefer not to iron - luck of space/time ).
The tee is adorable - great find.

Allie

Thank you all for the great ideas! I have used the "hang by the shower" trick to release packing wrinkles when travelling, but hadn't thought to spray directly with room temp water. I will try this next laundry cycle and report back.

rachylou

The tops are very nice! I await your report!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Very nice top!

Great quick tips too.

Personally, I haul out the iron.....

Stagiaire Fash

My guess is that the water spritz will indeed make all the wrinkles fall out, but will not lead to the crispness you’re looking for. Imho, trying to make linen be/stay crisp is futile.

Jonesy

I use a steamer all the time on all sorts of fabrics, including linen. It works great for silks (no risk of scorching accidentally, like with an iron). I haven't ever had any issues with shrinkage.

JAileen

I just use a spray bottle to get out wrinkles. It’s not as perfect as an iron, but it’s actually pretty good, and easy of course. I live in a very dry climate, so it evaporates quickly.

cat2

I just hand washed a similar top in sweater wash and dried it shaped and lying flat like a sweater. That helped prevent wrinkles.

Jenava

I use a travel steamer if the wrinkles are very bad. My linen tees usually aren't too terrible once they have hung dry. But I embrace the wrinkles with linen, at least with knitted linen tees and sweaters. I also find they tend to fall out as I wear them from body heat.

Anonymous

I toss things in the dryer with a wet rag. If that doesn't work I iron.

Thanks again for the advice and support. I remembered that I have a top in the donate pile with a similar fabric that would make a good test subject along with a travel steamer that spits water (ugh, will replace if this works). My main issue is at the hems of the sleeves and neckline to just sit a little more smoothly. Our summers are also very dry, so the water-to-steam trick may work well and without the heat of iron or steamer...

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