Can You Iron Linen?
According to Wikipedia, Linen is three times stronger than cotton. However, such durability and strength are only retained when the fabric is maintained properly. Treating Linen like any other fabric will reduce its lifespan.
This brings us to a very important question: Can you iron Linen?
We will answer that in today's post to help you understand how to boost its lifespan.
Can you iron Linen?
Yes, you can iron Linen, but you must choose the right iron. Ideally, you should choose a steam iron that can generate a significant quantity of steam. If it has a spray feature to increase the moisture in Linen, that's even better.
Due to frequent wrinkling, Linen requires periodic ironing. However, the procedure for ironing Linen is a bit different to ensure it doesn't get damaged.
Check the section below to understand how to iron Linen.
How to iron Linen?
It's time to understand what you need to iron Linen.
Things you will need to iron Linen
1. Spray Bottle
The only way to eliminate wrinkles from Linen is to dampen it. Without that, you would need to subject Linen to heat for longer, which can break down the walls of flax fibers or shrink Linen. A much better option is to spray water on it using a spray bottle.
2. Premium Steam iron
It's much better to use a premium steam iron with a specific setting for Linen instead of a normal iron. The more steam it can generate, the faster you can remove wrinkles and the less the impact of heat.
3. Ironing Board
Ironing Linen unevenly can disrupt its appearance. The best way to avoid this problem is to use a sturdy Linen board. If you don't have one, you can use a flat surface like a table.
4. Pressing cloth
To minimize the impact of heat on Linen, it's best to have a buffer layer between Linen and the iron when it comes in contact with the fabric. That's why you need a pressing cloth.
Additionally, using one helps you avoid flattening the flax fibers, further enhancing Linen's lifespan.
Prepping Linen
Before we even go into the details of ironing Linen, it's important to understand how to prep Linen for ironing.
Step 1: This step applies only to Linen garments. Turn them inside out. If you are dealing with Linen bedsheets, move directly to step 2.
Step 2: Lightly mist the Linen using a spray bottle. Moistening it will help you remove wrinkles easily.
Procedure:
Step 1: Set up the ironing board and iron.
Step 2: Start steaming the part of the Linen you want to iron. Release bursts of steam, then iron the Linen fabric. While ironing, place the press cloth on top to avoid direct contact with iron and Linen.
Step 3: If the wrinkles persist, repeat the procedure over the same area till the wrinkles disappear.
Step 4: Start with one corner of the Linen fabric and move toward the other.
Step 5: Apply slight pressure while ironing to remove the wrinkles.
Step 6: Move the Linen along the ironing board to cover the entire area.
Pro tip:
If the sheets have hems with elastic edges, start by ironing those first and then move forward to the center.
Ironing vs Steaming Linen pieces
Above, we spoke about steaming Linen pieces and then ironing them. However, if you are dealing with thin Linen pieces like bedsheets, you can simply steam them to remove the wrinkles and skip ironing.
But what is the difference between both?
The section below will compare steaming and ironing Linen.
- Steaming can remove the wrinkles but will not provide a crisp, polished look. For that, you need to follow up with ironing.
- The choice between ironing and steaming also depends on the exact gadget you use. A fabric steamer might sound good for steaming, but the amount of steam generated is what matters. A powerful steam iron is a better choice since it generates more steam and can help with ironing as well.
Tips to follow while ironing Linen:
Even after following the procedure above, there are a few additional tips to follow while ironing Linen.
1. Iron when damp
When directly ironing the Linen after washing, ensure that it is lightly damp. Steaming will further increase the moisture content.
Keeping the fabric damp becomes even more important when you have thicker fabric. Applying heat to dry Linen increases the probability of Linen shrinking significantly.
2. Use padding
Padding the Linen piece becomes even more important if there is slight embroidery on it. Also, iron the opposite side of the embroidery, and don't touch the iron directly on the embroidery.
3. Prioritize heavier parts
If certain parts of the Linen pieces are heavier than others, iron those first. This is especially true for Linen waistbands, cuffs, and collars. Moisten such parts more to ensure the heat doesn't impact them.
4. Move the iron constantly
Even after moistening the Linen piece, if it is exposed to heat for longer, the moisture will evaporate. Any further application of heat will damage the Linen. The best way to avoid this problem is to keep moving the iron. This ensures the heat is applied to a certain part only for a limited time. So, there is no risk of scorching and, therefore, shrinking or damaging the Linen.
5. Stretch gently while ironing
Stretching Linen puts pressure on the flax fibers and reduces wrinkles. That's why you must apply some pressure on the Linen piece while ironing. That way, you can reshape it. With some effort, you can also remove the older creases, which will give you crisp and clear sheets without any markings.
6. Let it dry after ironing
After ironing:
- Don't use the Linen piece right away. Hang it for 10 to 15 minutes to let it dry, and then use it.
- If you want to store the Linen piece, fold it when slightly damp, but let it dry before placing it in a cabinet or wardrobe.
When to strictly avoid Ironing Linen?
There are a few cases where it's best to avoid ironing Linen. These include:
1. Dealing with embellished Linen
While ironing Linen pieces having embellishments over a small area is possible, those having embellishments over large areas shouldn't be ironed. That's because, despite taking precautions, it is very likely that you might end up damaging the embellishments, which will render the Linen piece unusable.
2. Printed Linen
We are familiar with Linen's heat sensitivity. However, we are seldom aware of the dyes used for printing. That means when you iron such printed Linen pieces, the dye might get scorched or damaged, thus damaging the Linen's aesthetics.
Alternatives to ironing Linen
There are a few ways to avoid ironing Linen altogether and still get a crisp, clear Linen piece.
1. Avoid the dryer
One of the easiest ways to skip ironing and still get wrinkle-free Linen pieces is to avoid putting them in the dryer.
The question then arises: how do you dry it?
You have 2 options.
Option 1: Air dry it on cloth lines.
Option 2: Spread it indoors on a flat surface, slightly stretched.
Once it's almost dry, fold it as needed.
2. Use a steamer
If the Linen piece isn't that thick, it won't require ironing. Simply steaming it while hanging it vertically can help remove moisture and wrinkles. That's why we recommend choosing a steam iron that can generate copious amounts of steam.
FAQs on Ironing Linen
How do you unwrinkle Linen?
There are two ways to remove wrinkles from Linen pieces. The first is to steam them while hanging them vertically. The second is to steam them first and then iron them.
Should Linen be steamed or ironed?
Steaming is gentler on Linen and should be preferred if you just want to remove light wrinkles. If you need that crisp, polished look, steam and iron the Linen piece.
Will ironing shrink Linen?
Without the right precautions, shrinking is a real probability when ironing a Linen piece. However, if you follow our guide above, it's easy to avoid shrinkage and get that crisp, wrinkle-free Linen piece we all desire.
What happens if you iron Linen?
Linen fibers might scorch at very high temperatures while ironing, which can break or shrink them. However, following the ironing procedure above makes this easy to avoid.
Does ironing soften Linen?
Ironing the Linen piece when it is still damp and keeping a press cloth as a buffer can soften it. However, without these 2 conditions met, instead of softening the Linen, you might damage it while ironing.
Should Linen sheets be ironed?
Merely hanging Linen sheets or steaming them is fine. It is not necessary to iron them. Only when you need the flawless, polished, and crisp look you need to iron them.
Is Linen hotter than cotton on iron?
Yes, the Linen setting in an iron usually represents a higher temperature at around 445°F, whereas cotton is usually around 400°F. The exact temperature might vary, but the Linen setting does mean a higher temperature.
What happens if you iron Linen too hot?
Ironing Linen at a higher temperature can scorch the fabric, burn holes into it, or leave a burning mark on it.
Purchase Premium Quality Linen Today!
So, yes, you can iron Linen, but you must follow a few precautions, as highlighted above. Apart from the procedure to follow, the quality of the Linen also matters a lot. Sub-standard Linen is more likely to get damaged while ironing than pure, high-quality Linen like the one we sell.
Want to avoid trouble while ironing Linen? Buy our Pure High-Quality Linen & follow the guide above to iron it.
