Sanity check: laundering linen?

[jducoeur]

I've finally finished unpacking everything from Pennsic, and today is quiet enough to be largely dedicated to laundry. But I am suddenly butting up against yet another of those moments where I realize that I don't know how my life works. Specifically: how does one wash linen?

My Pennsic garb is heavily linen -- after all, when dealing with the heat of Pennsic, why would one wear anything else? (This is why you see me in so much medieval garb at Pennsic. My Renaissance outfits are mostly cotton; my medieval ones are in many cases head-to-toe linen, and much more comfy in the heat and humidity.) So I have an entire hamper made of nothing else. The articles and colors vary wildly, but all of it is linen.

But of course, Jane used to do all the laundry, and I've never washed this stuff. So I'll toss the question out to the network: what should I do or not do? My instinct is that machine-washing on delicate is probably okay. (Should I get some Woolite or such instead of using ordinary detergent?) Not sure whether it is appropriate to tumble dry on a cool setting, or whether it all needs to be hung to dry. I'm not terribly worried about it wrinkling (it's linen -- wrinkles are a feature), and I'm not *too* worried about wear, since I wear each of these outfits only a couple of times a year. I am a great believer in the principle that linen is at its best when it is a little worn, and the fabric starts to relax.

So: opinions? I'm flying blind here, so words from the fabric geeks would be welcome...

Comments

Washing Linen

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

Me, I wash mine in cold or cool water, like colors together, and then either hang them up to dry or run them through the dryer until they are nearly dry. If the pieces have been washed often enough, they won't run (much), which is why I use the cool water and ALWAYS use Shout color-catcher cloths. Most important in my experience -- take them out as soon as they finish washing. The colors will bleed onto one another as much from the clothes sitting on each other wet than from the loose dye in the wash floating around and settling back on something.

(Good question. I had to think about it, since it's been a while since I washed more than one piece in a standard load.)

Re: Washing Linen

[dulcinbradbury.livejournal.com]

Weird. I never have problems with linen running.

Re: Washing Linen

[tashabear.livejournal.com]

Not even red? Lucky you...

Re: Washing Linen

[dulcinbradbury.livejournal.com]

Ah... you know I don't have any red linen, in part because I don't believe I could get the reds I like to actually take to linen using the dyes available in my period. (Linen is not terribly dye friendly.)