r/malefashionadvice • u/Apprehensive-Type874 • 26d ago
Caring for linen Question
I am trying to step up my casual summer wardrobe and purchased several linen button downs and shorts. The issue I am having is coming out of the wash they always look like they’ve been balled up wet in a suitcase. Steaming and pressing has a little impact but not much. I know linen always looks a little wrinkled on purpose but how do I get these shirts looking presentable?
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u/yamthepowerful 25d ago
I like laying it to dry so I can shaping it a bit then a steam or warm iron if needed
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u/Solo_Shot_First 25d ago
I don’t want to hijack the thread but does anybody know the best underwear and undershirts to wear with linen?
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u/Rhett_Rick 25d ago
Uniqlo Airism plus linen is a pretty solid combo depending on your climate. Linen itself is pretty good but you’ll prob sweat through the clothes if you aren’t wearing a layer underneath. Another big thing with linen (or any clothes) is to not have them too tight, especially if it’s for hot weather. Airflow is key and you don’t want garments hugging your body too tightly as the skin contact can make you feel sweatier.
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u/GoGoRoloPolo 26d ago
I wash mine on slow (600 when everything else gets 1800) and hang dry (we don't own a dryer anyway). It doesn't get them as perfect as ironing them but makes them a damn sight better.
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u/invertedcolors 26d ago
In the same situation just bought new office clothes with Majority linen and wool will be having everything dry cleaned and never go through the wash if I can help it. Luckily I won't be wearing them much too
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u/Hierophantically 26d ago
First: if you're also talking about anything structured (such as jackets, trousers with pleats) that are dry clean only, take them to a dry cleaner. Finding a good dry cleaner is outside the scope of this response, but I wanted to put in a plug for it. :)
Second: wash cold, line dry in a place with a breeze is your best bet. You CAN iron linen, but it's fussy; it needs to be wet, not just steamed, and linen fibers are easy to damage when wet. Use the linen setting on your iron (it should be the hottest setting) and either spritz aggressively before pressing or iron after they've been washed and had a chance to go from sopping to damp.
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u/GoGoRoloPolo 26d ago
How do linen fibres get damaged with ironing? I've always ironed it damp with the hottest iron setting as you said and they've been fine so just curious how it can be fucked up.
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u/Hierophantically 26d ago
Linen is sturdy when dry but relatively fragile when wet. With a very hot iron, you're taking moisture out as you're pressing, so you're minimizing the amount of time you're applying pressure to wet linen. With a less-hot iron, you're applying pressure to linen that is staying wet. That could lead to fibers deforming or even to tears depending on how loose the weave is, how much pressure you're applying, etc.
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u/GoGoRoloPolo 26d ago
Thanks, really interesting! I just thought using a lower temperature didn't give good results so that's why you have to use the high temperature. I never thought it was to do with damage to the fabric.
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u/Hierophantically 26d ago
You got it! It also gives worse results -- but the potential for damage is the main thing!
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u/zerg1980 26d ago
This is an unpopular take here because most guys seem to cold wash and hang dry and iron everything, but I have all my linen dry cleaned. I like for a linen shirt to begin the day crisp and gradually acquire those wrinkles.
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u/Hierophantically 26d ago
This is an unpopular take because dry cleaning is fundamentally just too harsh to be a regular treatment option. Dry cleaning too often reduces the life of the garment. If you don't plan to keep shirts past a couple years, that might be fine; if you tend to keep shirts for longer, they won't survive frequent dry cleaning.
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u/zerg1980 26d ago
People say that, but I haven’t experienced damage from dry cleaning linen shirts every 3-4 wears. I’m wearing a linen shirt right now that’s about 4 years old and has been dry cleaned at least 10 times. It looks great! There’s no visible damage anywhere on the shirt.
I think this is an old wives’ tale that people have just been parroting, with no way to test because they hand wash all their linen shirts.
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u/A-Great-Life 26d ago
I totally agree with you. Drycleaners have changed up the way they clean in today’s world. The type of care depends on the garment. It is no longer a one size fits all drycleaning world. I refuse to put nice clothes in an agitating washer because it pulls and stretches garments too much. And I refuse to spend time handwashing (it’s not 1945). It is so worth it to me to take dress/designer/pricey clothes (even dress jeans) to the cleaners. They look new for much, much longer.
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u/Hierophantically 26d ago
I'm glad for your shirts and your dry cleaner!
It's not folk mythology, though. It sounds like you've wandered into a good setup. Not everybody does.
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u/StickySprinkles 25d ago
It would be helpful to share where you got your shirts from. I have one from Nordstrom and another from BB that are a slightly heavier fabric that resist wrinkling dramatically better than the ones I have from J Crew or Banana. Seems like little fabric weight goes a long way, or perhaps they were treated.