Linen is one of the toughest fabrics there is, and with a little care it will outlast almost everything else in your closet. Here is how we take care of ours.
Wash cool and gentle
Use cold or lukewarm water on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent. Hot water is what makes linen shrink, so skip it. Wash darker colors separately for the first few washes.
Skip the bleach and softener
Bleach weakens the fibers and can yellow white linen. Fabric softener coats the fibers and makes linen less absorbent. You do not need it anyway, because linen softens on its own with every wash.
Line dry if you can
Hang it on the line or over a drying rack and give it a good shake first. If you use the dryer, keep it on low and take pieces out while they are still a little damp.
Embrace the wrinkles, or press while damp
A few soft wrinkles are part of the charm. If you like it crisp, iron it inside out on medium heat while it is still slightly damp.
Store it so it can breathe
Fold or hang your linen somewhere dry with a little airflow. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture.
Do these few things and your favorite linen dress will look better in year ten than it did on day one