Can You Iron Linen? Yes — Here's Exactly How

jamie kang
2025-03-12T17:24:04+10:00

Yes, you can iron linen — at home, with the iron you already own. Here's everything you need to know about temperature, technique, and whether a steamer does it better.

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We answer the question: can you iron linen? Spoiler alert: yes, you can, and at home with the iron you already own. We'll share our best tips for ironing linen clothing and the traps to avoid to achieve the smoothest possible finish.

Linen's sophistication and prestige can make it seem like the fabric is very high maintenance, luckily the opposite is true. Linen clothing is simple to take care of at home, and you can swiftly smooth out its creases even on a day of back-to-back meetings.

Smooth can be good, like the silky feeling of your hair after you've just had it professionally blow-dried. A few bumps and creases are also welcome—especially the bumps that have us strolling down cute cobblestone streets somewhere on the Mediterranean.

Linen can do both smooth and wrinkled. It looks effortlessly elegant in its natural, slightly crinkled state and also after it has been ironed. So, you can choose what works best for you depending on the day and the occasion.

Even if you have a busy lifestyle, wrinkle-free linen is just a few minutes away if you read our blog and follow our advice on how to iron linen clothing.

Can you iron linen pants, shirts and dresses?

Linen clothing is that friend that's always hyping you up—telling you to say yes to life, adventure and the iron. Yes, linen trousers, shirts and dresses can be ironed without any fuss as easily at 6 in the morning as at 6 at night.

This premium fabric is stronger and longer than cotton, and at the same time, it can easily handle an iron. Here are the essentials to keep in mind when ironing linen clothing:

Turn your linen clothing inside out: protect the beauty of your linen pieces by turning them inside out before ironing. This just gives an extra element of protection and means that your iron will never directly touch the 'right' side of your linen.

Iron linens when damp: when linen's fibres are slightly damp, they become looser and more malleable, making them easier to smooth out—cutting your ironing time down. This is also a good time to shape any wrinkled areas with your hands by gently stretching the linen into the desired place.

Use a pressing cloth: you never want to place the iron directly on the linen, so always use a clean pressing cloth as the buffer in between.

Start with the most wrinkled areas first: iron those particularly stubborn creases first. These are usually on collars and cuffs for linen shirts and the waist area for linen pants.

Keep the iron moving: smooth, constant, short movements are best for ironing linen clothing so that it doesn't get too hot. This will help prevent any unwanted creases from forming or scorch marks.

What should the iron temperature be for linen?

High heat and steam are the secrets to achieving smooth linen pieces. This ancient fabric is very resilient and hard-wearing and requires the highest iron temperature of all the textiles, from natural to synthetic. It even needs a hotter iron than cotton.

It's tricky to say a temperature that will work across the board for all types of linen clothing, but it's important to check garment tags and care instructions before deciding. In general, pure linens are best ironed at 400F/200C and will give your beloved linens a crisp finish without too much effort.

If your clothing is not 100% linen and is blended with other fabrics, then the heat requirements will have to be lower. The recommended iron heat settings for cotton, wool, silk and synthetic fabrics are all significantly less than for linen, so make sure to adjust accordingly. If your iron lets you choose heat settings based on fabrics, then, for example, when ironing a linen-cotton blend, select the "cotton" setting on your iron.

Be careful with delicate pieces cut from lightweight fabric like a linen slip dress or anything with embellishments. You don't want to have regrets, so it's a good idea to start at a colder temperature and then work your way hotter if necessary. Reversing iron scorch marks isn't impossible, but there are a lot more fun things everyone would rather spend their time doing.

Before you rush and get your iron, make sure your linen pieces are completely stain-free because once you add heat, it can make stains set, making them really difficult to remove. For all the information, visit our blog on how to wash linen gently and effectively.

Is it better to steam or iron linen?

To win the struggle against wrinkles, what should you use: a steamer or an iron? You can use both; it just depends on your goals. Ironing is the better option if you're hoping for a completely wrinkle-free finish. It will deliver a crisper finish and is the most effective for smoothing linen tops and when you would like to look professional.

If you're thinking long-term, then the gentlest method is the steamer. This is because it allows you to smooth out the linen without ever having to press down directly onto the fabric's surface, letting it retain its natural beauty for longer. For those who don't have a steamer at home, the next best thing is to use an iron with the steamer setting on; it will make wrinkles disappear quickly.

There is a downside to using the steamer though, and that is it can be more difficult to be precise. Luckily, there is a simple solution. For ironing collars and button plackets, use the iron so you can reach tight corners easily, and then, if you'd like, smooth out the rest of the white linen shirt with a steamer.

Tips for steaming linen effectively

Steam when linen is damp: slightly damp linen clothing will steam easier and quicker because the fibres are a little less rigid, which makes them easier to smooth out. Don't go overboard — you can lightly spritz dry linen pieces with a spray water bottle before steaming if needed.

Use distilled water: just as you would with an iron, use distilled water to fill up your steamer rather than tap water. This will help prevent mineral build-up and ensure you get a consistent flow of steam from the steamer's nozzle.

Hang your linen while steaming: place linen dresses and other pieces on padded hangers so that you can steam all areas of the clothing effortlessly. You don't have to worry about any new creases being formed because the linen will be draped perfectly.

Hold the steamer upright: you don't want water to spill on your beautiful linen pieces so make sure to keep the steamer upright. For professional results, hold the steamer roughly 15 centimetres away from your linens, moving it in circle shapes to spread the steam evenly around the clothing.

Let the linen fully dry: before carefully putting away your steamed linens, make sure they're completely dry so that creases don't set and odours are avoided. It will help your linens stay flawlessly smooth.

Does linen shrink when ironed?

As long as you follow the correct steps, linen doesn't shrink when it's ironed, especially if it has been pre-shrunk and is of the highest quality. Make sure to turn your iron to the linen setting or set it lower than 400F, and your most beautiful pieces will be safe.

Top tip: iron your linens when they're damp to make them wrinkle-free quicker and at lower temperatures. Why? When linen's fibres get damp they relax, which makes them more malleable and allows you to flatten out the creases with the iron. Then, as the linen dries, it sets the smoothed-out wrinkles — easy!

Conclusion: can you iron linen clothing?

Archaeologists have found 30,000-year-old linens, and while they're not in pristine condition and we wouldn't take them to the Amalfi coast with us, they did survive. So linen isn't scared of an iron. You also don't have to be overly finicky; this natural fabric is highly resilient and can be ironed and washed weekly without any damage.

Here are the key secrets to ironing linen clothing perfectly:

Iron linen when it's damp: this is the major secret to accomplishing perfectly ironed linens. Water causes linen fibres to relax, which, in turn, makes them easier to iron.

Use both steam and heat: a steam iron is the most effective tool for linen clothing. It delivers both the high heat and steam that's required to make linen crisp and smooth.

A steamer is gentler than an iron: for delicate pieces like lightweight linen dresses, a steamer is a much softer approach that will still give you smooth results because it doesn't directly touch the fabric. Use it between ironing sessions for a gentler way to keep your favourites looking polished.

Check for stains first: heat sets stains permanently. Before ironing, make sure your pieces are clean — read our guide on how to wash linen if you need to treat anything first.

Soften while you iron: ironing also helps relax the flax fibres, which means it doubles as a softening method. Read more in our guide on how to soften linen for the full picture.

Steamers are must-haves for travel: these compact items are so handy when you're on the go. Simply pop one into your suitcase and bring it out for a few minutes whenever you need your linen pants and dresses to look smooth and camera-ready.