6 Anti-Wrinkle Tips Linen Lovers Swear By

Linen is a true gift from nature: breathable, beautiful and softer over time. But despite the best properties of this fabric, we cannot ignore the obvious fact that it wrinkles very easily.

However, we’ve seen enough fashionistas wear this fabric virtually wrinkle-free to know that there must be some effective wrinkle-prevention tricks.

So we turned to one of our favorite fabric care experts for some tips of the trade.

Use liquid fabric softener

One of Wang’s top tips for preventing deep wrinkles in linen starts with the wash. Linen is a particular fabric that benefits from fabric softener, as this laundry additive softens and smooths the fibers.

Wang notes that when you condition linen fibers, they become less likely to hold wrinkles. Fabric softener will also help linen stay supple and wrinkle-free throughout the day. I

Choose a subtle setting

The settings used to wash linen also affect the number of wrinkles in linen and the depth of the wrinkles. Wang suggests choosing a gentle wash or a lower spin speed cycle, which will put less stress on the items.

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Quickly Remove Linens from Your Washer and Dryer

As soon as you hear the washer and dryer buzzing, stop what you’re doing and take action.

Clothes will usually be a little wrinkled when they come out of the dryer—and if you leave your linens out too long, wrinkles will start to set in. Wang recommends shaking wet clothes immediately to release wrinkles before hanging them up to dry or tossing them in the washing machine.

Likewise, don’t leave your linens in the dryer after the cycle is over. Take them out while they’re still warm, shake them out, and lay them flat, or better yet, hang them up. Leaving linens to cool in the dryer will cause wrinkles to form, says Wang.

Store linen on hangers

Unless you want to spend extra time ironing out creases, it’s best to hang your linens rather than storing them in drawers. If your clothes rail is getting a little full, it might be time to clean out your closet.

“Avoid packing hanging items too tightly in the closet,” says Wang. “Clothes should hang loosely, on both the sides and at the bottom, to avoid wrinkles.”

Sit down strategically

Once you’ve taken the right steps to start your day wrinkle-free, there are a few more steps you can take to maintain that status.

When Wang wears linen, she tries to pay more attention to how she sits. For example, sitting more upright on a stool rather than sitting back in a chair can help maintain the creases around her hips and back.

If you’re wearing a linen skirt or pants, run your hand up the back of the skirt before sitting down to make sure you don’t sit on any wrinkles.

Refresh your clothes mid-day

If you have an important meeting or event later in the day where you want to look your best, Wang says there are a few easy ways to remove wrinkles without rewashing your clothes.

While steaming or ironing works great for linen, she swears by tossing it in the dryer for a quick squeeze with a dryer sheet. Just check the care label to make sure your linen is safe to put in the dryer, and add a damp cloth to the cycle—the steam from the wet cloth will do the work of smoothing out wrinkles for you.

If you’re out and about, a wrinkle-removing spray is a handy tool. Just spray on the wrinkle and straighten the fabric.