4 ways to soften linen clothes

ISome linen, even from quality brands, can be rough and itchy.  I've researched how to soften linen clothes and here are the methods I find most effective...

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Wash your linen

and wash it some more

1

The more often linen is laundered, the softer it becomes. It's okay to wash a few times before wearing or using linen. Some linen garments can shrink, so use the gentle cycle and air dry for your first washing.

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If the dryer doesn't cause shrinkage, continue use as it helps with softening linen. Consider adding dryer balls to help with softening the garments, shop them below.

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use white vinegar

2

There are a few different ways that white vinegar is used to soften linen.

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Add a 1/2 cup to your wash, or mix 1 cup of vinegar with one cup water to use instead of detergent.  For extra rough linen, let it soak in a gallon of water and one cup vinegar for 10 minutes to overnight.

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try baking soda

my favorite method

3

Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your usual wash. Do not add fabric softener. This will help soften linen. You can also add a cup of baking soda to a large bucket of water. Soak your linen from half an hour to overnight. 

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iron your linen

4

Ironing linen will help smooth the flax fibers, providing a softer feel. I find the best way to iron linen to soften it is to dampen the linen, and then using a pressing cloth, iron the linen and steam out the moisture.

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