How to Wash Your Linen Sheets So They Last

These super simple care instructions will help ensure our linen sheets last for years to come.

Just like your favorite pair of jeans, once you’ve invested in the perfect linen bedding set, you want to make sure it stands the test of time. Luckily, this is easy to achieve with linen. At Bed Threads our sheets are 100% French flax and, aside from making your bedroom look like it's plucked from a high-end magazine shoot, linen is easy to keep looking (and feeling) beautiful.

Known for its durability, linen is extremely soft – becoming softer with time and use. So, there’s no need to worry about using your sheets too much, or washing them too often. Much like a fine wine, linen sheets get better with time, and by following just a few careful care instructions, you can ensure that linen will work hard for your money.

How to wash linen sheets

When you receive your linen set, it’s best to give it a wash before sleeping on it. While our linen is pre-washed for softness, for hygiene purposes, we suggest washing it as soon as it arrives at your doorstep in a cool, gentle cycle using liquid detergent only.

It’s also important to ensure it's thoroughly rinsed in plenty of water to remove all traces of soap, detergent and residual soiling. This will prevent the formation of age spots which are caused by oxidation.

We also suggest avoiding bleach and fabric softeners, as this can strip the linen's beautiful natural fibres.

The wonderful thing about linen is it gets better with time, softening with every wash, and becoming more comfortable as time goes on. So, enjoy!

How to remove stains from linen

If you’re inclined to a sneaky glass of wine in bed (or two) and have accidentally stained your sheets, it’s best to try and remove these stains as soon as possible. You can do this by soaking your sheets or dabbing the stained area with cold water and baking soda.

How to dry linen

Ah, the old "Do I put in it in the dryer or hang it to air dry?" question. Thankfully, linen is actually one of the strongest natural fibres so it is safe to do either. However, our recommended method is air drying.

Because air drying is more gentle than tumble drying, it will help increase the chance of your linen lasting longer. A bonus is that by hanging your linen out to dry you won't be using extra electricity.

While tumble-drying isn't preferred because hot temperatures encourage the shrinkage process and can increase the friction, wear, and tear on the fabric, it might be your only option. We recommend avoiding using a hot setting and overloading the machine.

How to style a bed with linen

If you hate ironing (don’t we all?) linen is the perfect bedding for you. Linen is loved for its relaxed, creased texture, so there’s no ironing or steaming required. When it comes to styling your linen, layering is best. Add a few full-bodied pillows, a fitted sheet, and a duvet cover to complete the look.

At Bed Threads, you’re in charge, so you can create the bed (and sleep) of your dreams with our Build Your Own Bundle. There’s no need to tightly make the bed either, scatter your pillows, loosely throw your doona on, and you’re good to go. You can also follow these 8 simple steps to making your bed like an expert.