How to Wash a Linen Jacket

Co-authored by Elias Weston and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: November 9, 2021 References

A linen jacket is the perfect accessory for your wardrobe. It can give your outfit a casual appearance or lighten your look, which makes it perfect for warmer seasons. Unlike cotton, linen becomes softer the more often you wash it. It's also easy to clean since you can toss it in the washing machine or wash it by hand. Either way, your linen jacket can last for years with the proper care.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Washing Machine

1
Read the care label to determine how to wash the jacket. This is especially important if your jacket is actually a linen blend, such as a linen-cotton or linen-rayon blend. The label tells you what temperature to set your washing machine and whether or not you should dry the jacket in the dryer.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 January 2021.}
- If the garment doesn't have a care label, wash it on the gentlest setting with warm, not hot, water.
- The care label also tells you what heat to set your iron to if you plan on ironing the jacket.
2
Button or zip the jacket. The zipper can catch on other garments and buttons can get caught in your machine, so take a minute to fasten your linen jacket. Remember to check the pockets for loose items before you wash the jacket.^{[2]
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- Zipping or buttoning the jacket can also help it keep its shape while you wash it.
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3
Rub a few drops of liquid detergent onto a stain to pretreat it. If you notice a stain on the jacket, wet the fabric and rub liquid laundry detergent onto the stain until it suds. Set the jacket aside for 30 minutes so the detergent can break up the stain. Then, wash the jacket.^{[3]
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- If you wash the jacket before treating the stain, you may accidentally set the stain, which makes it harder to remove.
4
Fill your machine with lukewarm water and laundry detergent. Instead of tossing the jacket in and adding soap and water, put the soap into your machine and let it fill with water first. This allows the soap to dissolve so it won't leave permanent white stains on the linen fabric.^{[4]
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- If you have a front-loading washing machine, read the manual to determine if your machine has special care instructions for linen or if you should wash it by hand.
- You can use your favorite laundry detergent as long as it doesn't contain bleach, which can weaken the fibers.
- Fill the machine at least half full of water even if you're only washing 1 or 2 linen items. This allows the fabric to circulate in the machine.
5
Add the linen jacket to the machine. Once your machine is at least half full of soapy water, add the jacket along with any other linen items you'd like to wash. Ensure that you don't fill the machine more than half full of linen. This prevents the jacket from getting tangled and allows it to circulate in the soapy water.^{[5]
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- Don't wash non-linen items along with the linens because they might damage the linen fibers.
Tip: If you're washing a load of linen fabrics along with your jacket, separate them by white, dark, and colored fabrics. This prevents dye from bleeding, especially if the linen hasn't been washed before.
6
Skip the fabric softener, which weakens the fibers. Your linen jacket will become softer the more you wash it, so there's no need to use fabric softener. If you do use fabric softener, it will coat the fibers, which prevents the linen from wicking moisture and actually stops it from becoming soft.^{[6]
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7
Run the machine on a gentle cycle. Depending on your machine, you might need to select the delicate or handwash cycle. Using any of these gentle settings prevents the linen fibers from being stretched or pulled during the wash.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 January 2021.}
- Remember to check the care labels of other linen items that you want to wash along with the jacket. If they have different care instructions, you'll need to wash them separately.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing the Jacket by Hand

1
Check the care label to find what temperature water wash the jacket in. Always check the care label of any garment before you wash it. This tells you how hot or cool the water should be so the fabric doesn't shrink or weaken.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 January 2021.}
- Most linen fabrics can be washed in lukewarm water, but it's good to double-check, especially if your jacket is a linen-cotton or rayon-cotton blend.
2
Work a few drops of detergent onto stains to pretreat them. Check the jacket for any stains and rub liquid laundry detergent onto each stain you find. Keep rubbing the fabric until you see soap suds. Then, leave the jacket for 30 minutes before you wash it.^{[9]
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- Leaving the jacket to rest allows the soap to penetrate the stains so they'll wash out easily.
3
Fill a sink or basin with lukewarm water and 1 tsp (4.9 ml) of laundry detergent. Clean out a deep sink or set a large basin on your work surface. Run enough lukewarm water to fill your sink or basin about half full. Then, stir in 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of liquid laundry detergent so it dissolves.^{[10]
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- Use any type of laundry detergent as long as it doesn't contain bleach, which can damage the linen fibers.
4
Add the jacket and swish it in the water for 2 or 3 minutes. Place the linen jacket into the soapy water and submerge it. Use your hands to gently squeeze and move the jacket around so the soapy water loosens dirt. Depending on how dirty the linen jacket is, you may need to wash it for at least 3 minutes.^{[11]
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- Since you don't have to worry about zippers or buttons catching in a machine, there's no need to fasten the jacket before you wash it.
Tip: If your linen jacket is heavily soiled, soak it in the soapy water for up to 1 hour. Then, use your hands to gently squeeze and wash the jacket.
5
Drain the soapy water and fill the container with clean water. To rinse your jacket, drain the soapy water from the sink or slowly pour it out of the basin. Then, re-fill the sink or basin with fresh lukewarm water.^{[12]
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- Fill the sink or basin at least half full so the jacket can circulate easily.
6
Swish the jacket in the clean water to rinse the soap away. Use your hands to swirl the jacket around in the water to remove the soapy residue. Keep swishing the jacket until it's free of suds.^{[13]
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- If the jacket still feels soapy, you may need to drain the water and rinse the jacket again.
7
Squeeze the jacket gently to remove the water. Lift the jacket up so water drips into the sink or basin. Use your hands to gently squeeze the jacket without twisting the fabric. If you think you've removed most of the moisture, you can finish drying your jacket on a clothesline.^{[14]
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- If there's still a lot of water in the jacket, lay it flat on a clean towel. Then, lay another towel over the jacket and press down so it absorbs the moisture.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Drying Your Linen Jacket

1
Toss the jacket in the dryer on low if you'd like to speed up drying time. If you're short on time and need your jacket quickly, read the care label to see if you can dry it in the machine.^{[15]
X
Expert Source

Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 30 January 2021.} If you can, place it in the dryer and turn it to low or gentle heat. Remove the jacket while it's still wet and finish drying it on a clothesline.^{[16]
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- If the jacket doesn't have a care label, avoid drying it in the machine just to be on the safe side.
- Never use high heat to dry the jacket or you could weaken the linen fibers. You may even shrink the fabric if the linen hasn't been washed and dried before.
Tip: Place just the jacket in the dryer to tumble dry and set a timer for 5 minutes. Most of the moisture should be removed and you won't risk overdrying the linen.
2
Hang the linen jacket from a clothesline until it's dry. Get out a few clothespins and use them to attach the jacket's shoulders to your clothesline. Leave the jacket for a few hours or until it's dry.^{[17]
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- If you don't have a clothesline, hang the jacket on a hanger that has smooth support arms. Hang the jacket in a well-ventilated space so the jacket dries quickly.
3
Iron the jacket with high heat if you want to remove wrinkles. Heat your iron to the linen or cotton setting, which is high heat. Lay your damp linen jacket on an ironing board and press the hot iron over the fabric to smooth out creases or wrinkles.^{[18]
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- There's no need to spritz the fabric with water since it's still damp. If you're ironing completely dry linen, you may need to spray water onto the fabric to help release the wrinkles.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can you machine wash a linen jacket without damaging it?

Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist
Elias Weston is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington. Elias specializes in helping clients find cleaning services with instant booking and flexible pricing. Seatown Cleaners offers standard, deep, and move-in/out cleaning services using green products and cleaning techniques. Every cleaner is thoroughly vetted and every cleaning is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.

Elias Weston

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Usually, yes, but read the label just to make sure. You typically need to use the gentlest cycle available and you can't wash it alongside any clothes that are a different size, quality, or color.
Question

Can I use bleach with a white linen jacket?

Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist
Elias Weston is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington. Elias specializes in helping clients find cleaning services with instant booking and flexible pricing. Seatown Cleaners offers standard, deep, and move-in/out cleaning services using green products and cleaning techniques. Every cleaner is thoroughly vetted and every cleaning is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee.

Elias Weston

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

I wouldn't. Bleach is typically pretty bad for linen so I would avoid using it if you can.

Warnings

Always read the care label before washing a linen jacket and follow its specific instructions. Most linen jackets advise against dry cleaning, for instance.

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To protect the linen fibers, never wring or twist the damp jacket.

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