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

[jjaynes.livejournal.com]

In reading other comments, perhaps I am too cautious with my linen. I do wash it on regular (I have a front load washer, so it's like delicate cycle for a top loader as far as wear on clothes) with woolite or other delicate wash. When I started having linen garb, I read up on the internet and was told by the ever-reliable oracle that linen fibers are not as strong as cotton's when wet, so a super-agitating top loader might cause undue wear. Also to use a soap like woolite rather than a detergent as it's better for the fiber; I cannot cite my source. I use warm for whites and cold for colors because of potential for bleeds, but it is not usually a problem *except with RED*. I wash reds separately if possible, as some bleed like mad.

Internet also said that heat drying will over time weaken linen, but I believe we're talking hundreds of dryings, not dozens. I line dry my stuff if feasable, because I have few dresses I wear often. It sounds like you are the opposite, so go for it with the dryer on medium or low.

[jducoeur]

Yes -- Jane beat the red lesson into my head many years ago. (And now that I have one lovely pink shirt, I am being much more careful to remember it...)

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

Rit Dye Remover may recover that shirt. Ask me how I know. :-)

[jducoeur]

Huh -- hadn't even occurred to me that it was possible. Thanks: I may well try that...

[kls-eloise.livejournal.com]

Well, I didn't just turn MY stuff pink, but also one of Bob's rally shirts. It took the pink right out. I keep a couple of boxes on hand.

I've found it can have odd effects on things that are supposed to be a color - it'll take the color out of anything overdyed also. But if the garment was white to begin with, or if the running dye made it unwearable anyway - nothing to lose.

And if you round out the load with whites, it'll brighten them up too.

[jducoeur]

The shirt in question has a collar that is lined in blue, but that's a relatively minor detail. If the result is a white shirt with a paler blue collar, that's better than a pink shirt with a dark blue one...

[grinnellian2001.livejournal.com]

Yes to this! I wash all of my linen exactly as I do other clothes *except* that the reds, pinks, and blacks (to make a full load, since the blacks won't be hurt by getting a little fugitive red dye) together, the whites together, and the blues/browns/greens etc. together. Misc cotton (stockings, older junky clothes, underwear) gets thrown in the appropriate pile after Pennsic as well, I don't separate by fiber. We wash all of our laundry on cold or warm unless it really needs more (yours may, after a month, especially the whites) with regular detergent and then machine dry. No need to baby linen as long as you're sure it won't bleed, and if you have anything that does you will know after you do this a time or two.

[tashabear.livejournal.com]

I think the internet lied to you. Linen is a long-staple bast fiber, which means the length of each fiber can be measured in inches, as opposed to the fractions of an inch you find with cotton. It's actually stronger when wet than it is dry, and unless creased and ironed in the same place every time, will stay strong for years and years.