Can You Put Linen in The Dryer – Properly Explain

Linen is one of the oldest fibers, made from natural flax fibers and used primarily in clothing. It is stronger and more absorbent than cotton, and unlike cotton, it gets better with each wash. This makes it perfect for the hot summers with its unique wrinkled look. Some people may think it is difficult to wash linen, but they couldn’t be more wrong. There are many ways of doing so.

But can you put linen in the dryer? Because linen is made from natural fibers, many may think it can’t be put in the dryer or else it will ruin it. I am here to tell you that you can put it in the dryer. However, there is a bit of caution that you have to take with both machine washing and drying. So let’s dive straight into all about cleaning and drying your linen products!

Key Takeaways

Before drying, it is important to understand how to wash linen products, whether it is hand-washed, machine-washed, or dry-cleaned.
Linen is sensitive to temperature so always remember to use the dryer if the linen is already pre-washed.
Drying linen in dryers has some problems due to the fact the colors can fade, the fabric could shrink, and get easily crushed.

How to Wash Linen Products?

Before you get to drying your linens in the dryer, you would have to first wash them! You may think that linen is a delicate fabric, but it is stronger than cotton! People might think like this because the products you use to wash have to be mild. Detergent products can interact with the flax fibers, which could either weaken, damage, or cause them to shrink.

It is always best to follow the label instructions of your linen products when you have to wash them. But older linen products might have no labels or you have discarded the label so you don’t have an idea of how to wash your linens. Because of this, I want to give you some guidelines you can follow while hand-washing, machine-washing, or dry cleaning your linen products.

Hand-Wash

Step 1: In a sink, put lukewarm water and add a tablespoon of mild detergent to it. Pure linen can resist hotter water but when it has other fabrics with it, it is best to use lukewarm water.
Step 2: Let the linen product soak in the solution for about 10 minutes and then gently move it around it. This will get the detergent to soak into the fabric. Avoid twisting or squeezing the linen because this can damage the fibers!
Step 3: Drain the water and pour cold water into the sink, repeating this cycle until the detergent is completely washed.

Machine-Wash

Step 1: Fill the washing machine with only linen-based products. Make sure to not completely fill the loader as this might cause the linen fabrics to not wash properly. Also, wash light and dark-colored linen products in separate loads.
Step 2: Put half a cup of mild detergent in the machine dispenser. Avoid using bleach and fabric softeners because they will weaken the fabric.
Step 3: Select the cold wash or low heat option for your linen products. It is to be safe because the water in the washing machine might be too hot and you have no way of knowing if it is safe for your linen products.
Step 4: Select the gentle cycle of your washing machine. This will allow the linen to soak in the detergent and not move around too much inside the machine. Otherwise, your linen products might get crushed or twisted, which you have to avoid when washing. The gentle cycle should not last more than 10 minutes.

Dry-Cleaning

Dry cleaning is a safe option but you have to consult either your dry cleaner or the label that comes with your linen clothes or curtain. Linen suits and jackets are more suited for dry cleaning because their structure is more suited for dry cleaning than other linen products.

How to Dry Linen in a Dryer?

Linen is a strong fabric but you have to know that only pre-washed linen products can be put in the dryer. This is because the dryers use heat to dry it which can cause your linen to shrink. Manufacturers make sure that their products are dryer ready by pre-washing them so that they don’t shrink when in the dryer.

As with machine washing, do not fill up the dryer loader with your linen products! This is to allow the linen to be able to move around freely without getting crushed or twisted. Put the dryer on the lowest temperature possible and tumble dry your linen products. It is best to stop the dryer when the clothes are slightly damp, that way you can iron them later.

While dryers might be safe for linen, heat is the major issue. Even pre-washed linen products can be in danger inside dryers so always make sure that the temperature is at its lowest possible setting inside the dryer.

Problems with Linen in Dryers

Even if dryers are safe, linen might be damaged inside. The pros are that it is easier to dry in a dryer, so let’s now turn our attention to the cons of dryers and linen.

Shrinking

Pre-washed or not, the heat from the dryers are being directly applied to the linen. This can cause the fibers in linen to break down and shrink. Pre-washed has the advantage of already being shrunk by the manufacturers but adding extra heat to the linen will cause the fabric to deteriorate.

Color Fading

Alongside shrinking, darker linen fabric is also prone to fading in color due to heat. The heat reacts with the fibers and discolors the fabric. So over time, if you are using a dryer frequently the color of your linen clothes might slowly look washed and discolored.

Dryer Sheets and Dryer Balls

Dryer sheets and dryer balls are used in dryers to prevent clothes from getting stuck together in the heat and help with better circulation of the heat. However, the dryer sheets might get tangled with the linen and get it twisted. And the fabric softening agents in dryer sheets and balls could further weaken the fibers of linen.

Easily Crushed

Because it is advised to tumble dry linen products, they might get crushed in the dryer. Linen already has a wrinkled look to it but this will get ruined if the linen clothes get crushed during tumble dry.

How to Dry Different Linen Products?

With that said, not all linen products can be dried in a dryer. Some are more suited for air or hang drying. This is usually because different products like clothes, bedware, tablecloths, and curtains are made differently. So let’s look at how these different products should be dried and if they are safe to be dried in a dryer.

Clothes

Linen clothes are the easiest to dry because they will dry in whatever condition. Linen also has the advantage of drying faster than cotton so air and hang drying is possible. You can hang them on a clothesline or use a padded hanger. That way the shape of the cloth is not ruined. Do not put linen clothes in direct sunlight as this will cause discoloring of the fabric. And if it is a pre-washed linen, then low-heat tumble-dry is your quickest option. Just make sure that it does not completely dry in the dryer.

Bedding

Linen bedding, such as bedsheets and pillowcases, is more suited for dryers than clothes. The best way to dry them is to set the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes on low-heat tumble-dry. Then before it is completely dry in the dryer, take them out and hang them to dry away from direct sunlight.

Tablecloths

Tablecloths are more prone to spills and stains than other linen products. That is why it is best to soak them in warm water before putting them in the machine. When it comes to drying, linen tablecloths are better to air-dried than dryers as they are a bit more delicate.

Curtains

The best way to wash and dry curtains, especially heavy ones, is to dry clean them. They are more suited for dry cleaning plus you don’t put the fabric at risk. Also, dry cleaning helps them look better than cleaning and drying at home. So let the experts handle your curtains.

FAQs

What makes linen special?

Linen is a natural fiber that is highly absorbent and breathable material. It also naturally wrinkles which you might prefer for aesthetic purposes.

What is the best type of linen for cleaning?

Plain-woven linen is the best type of linen for cleaning. It is used on towels and dishcloths, making it more durable and absorbent.

How long does linen take to dry?

Linen takes no more than 10 to 15 minutes to dry. Make sure that you dry linen away from direct sunlight and under low heat in dryers.

Final Thoughts

While linen might be stronger and better at drying than cotton, it still has to be handled with care. The washing has to be done with milder detergents and drying has to be done on low heat. Otherwise, you risk ruining your linen products. Some like clothes and bedding are more suited for dryers; tablecloths are better suited for air drying. And curtains are best suited for dry cleaning so that the fabric is taken better care of. So if you are looking to use a dryer for your linen garments, hopefully, this has helped you understand how to do it.

Can You Put Linen in The Dryer – Properly Explain

Key Takeaways