Linen fabric: It's soft, durable, and only gets better with age. Linen has been used and loved for thousands of years, and we predict it will continue to be a favorite fabric for a very long time. If you're curious about the benefits of linen or wondering what it is and how it's made, you've come to the right place. Keep reading to learn about all things linen, or simply skip ahead to the info you're most interested in.
What Is Linen?
Benefits of Linen
Benefits of Linen Sheets & Bedding
Linen in Other Areas of the House
How to Care for Linen

What Is Linen?

Linen is a strong, lightweight, and environmentally friendly fabric that comes from flax plants – which means it is technically a vegetable! To create the fabric we know as linen, the fibers are extracted from the flax plant, harvested, and stored for a long time. The fibers are then spun and woven to create a soft, beautiful, and sustainable textilefabric. Flax plants have been used worldwide to create fiber for over 6,000 years.

Benefits of Linen

Linen is a strong, durable, and absorbent fabric that is also soft and comfortable. This textile is 2x – 3x times stronger than cotton while still being incredibly lightweight. Linen is naturally porous, giving it a moisture-wicking ability and allowing it to dry faster than cotton. Linen is also antibacterial – because the fibers are woven so closely together, bacteria and germs have a hard time surviving in it. It conducts heat well, keeping you toasty in the winter and cool in the summer. Because each part of the flax plant is used to produce linen, it is a relatively low-waste material and environmentally friendly.

Benefits of Linen Sheets & Bedding

In addition to the benefits of linen detailed above, there are even more linen fabric sheet benefits you can enjoy while resting up. Linen can absorb up to 20% of its weight in moisture before feeling wet. Its moisture-wicking ability will keep you feeling fresh and cool even in the hottest summer months. Linen is also antistatic, making these sheets a great choice for homes in dry climates. Perhaps one of our favorite benefits is linen's very distinct softness. It is a luxury to crawl into linen bedding with a high thread count and unwind after a busy day.

Linen ages like a great wine – it just keeps getting better. Every time you wash linen sheets, they'll get a bit softer and more supple, allowing you to enjoy them for years. In fact, linen is known for lasting for decades. While linen sheets may seem like a splurge up-front, they'll easily outlast cotton and microfiber sheets.

Linen in Other Areas of the House

While taking a nap in a pile of linen bedding is an understated luxury, there are plenty of ways to use linen fabric in other rooms in the house. See a few of our favorite ways to use linen in any room.

Linen in Dining Rooms

Adding a linen tablecloth, runner, or napkins to your dining setup is a low-lift way to elevate a meal while staying unfussy. Even wrapping up fresh bread in a linen cloth can make an ordinary dinner feel special.

Linen in Kitchens

Because linen fabric is a durable and easy to clean textile, it's a great choice for upholstery. Linen dining chairs and bar stools can turn any moment into a treat: from an afternoon snack with the kids to a glass of wine with your partner.

Linen in Living Rooms

Linen sofas and accent chairs are great for living rooms in busy homes, because the fabric repels dirt. You can curl up on the sofa with your pup and not worry about dirty paws or shedding. If you already have living room furniture you love, simply swap out the pillows for linen throws. You'll get a lovely little dose of luxury without having to sacrifice what you already enjoy.

How to Care for Linen

You can effectively care for linen right from home without having to bring anything to the dry cleaner.

Linen Sheets & Loose Items

Simply throw linen fabric items in the washing machine, set the water to cold, and put it on a gentle cycle. Tumble-dry linen items on low heat. Linen can wrinkle easily. If you have linen tablecloths or napkins you want to iron, set the iron on a high heat seating and use a touch of spray starch. Your linen will be smooth and crispy in no time.

Linen Upholstery

You can clean linen upholstery by running a vacuum over it to pick up any loose dirt, crumbs, or pet hair. To clean a splotch, gently dab the fabric with lukewarm water and a soft cloth. Try not to rub or scrub splotches, because it can work the stain further into the fabric. If plain water doesn't work, you can use a mild detergent and a soft cloth to dab at the stain. If the stains are more serious, consult a professional.

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