Can You Use Fabric Softener on Linen? Must Read

Before you use fabric softener on linen, read this blog to make sure whether fabric softener can be used to wash linen fabric.

It makes sense that you would want your bedding to be as comfortable as possible because you spend a lot of time in it. The good news is that linen sheets are just that. If however, you’re worried that your linen sheets aren’t going to be as soft as you prefer, the good news is that they will only get softer and softer over time.

Should you soften linen with fabric softener? On the linen products, fabric softener is neither necessary nor advised.

Read the following information to find out the reasons why we don’t recommend you to use fabric softener on linen.

Table of Contents

Can You Use Fabric Softener on Linen?

Linen is a beautiful, natural fabric that softens dramatically over time. Instead of using artificial fabric softeners, use nature instead. Never use bleach on linen, stay away from detergent with fabric softener added, and the majority of available fabric softeners don’t work on linen and can leave a residue.

No, not even for white linen. The worst enemy of linen is bleach, which can hasten the tearing or wear out of the fiber.

Reasons to Use Fabric Softener on Linen

Can You Use Fabric Softener on Linen? Must Read

It helps to reduce static electricity in your clothing
Your clothes will come out smelling like your grandma’s house (considered by some to be a good thing)
It makes your clothes softer and fluffier and reduces fabric stiffness
Arguably, it makes shirts easier to iron
Some also believe it makes clothes brighter

Reasons Not to Use Fabric Softener on Linen

The perfumes used in fabric softeners can irritate the skin (especially kids’)
Perfumes are also bad for people with eczema or asthma
Fabric softener reduces the absorbency of towels
It has a tendency to build up inside your washing machine, which is bad for the mechanics of the washer
It’s especially bad for front-loading machines, as it can destroy the rubber door seal
Fabric softener can damage certain types of fabric, including synthetic clothing (such as high-performance sports gear), linen, and silk
It can also make fabrics less flame retardant – which is why it’s not recommended for use with children’s sleepwear

How to Make Linen Fabric Softer?

There are several effective methods for softening linen items over time. Here are some tips on how to soften linen sheets:

Use Vinegar

White vinegar may be used to soften linen fabric in a few different ways:

Use vinegar. Towels, tablecloths, linen sheets, and napkins can all be softened with vinegar. In the rinse water when washing your linens, you can add a cup of vinegar. Your linens will feel soft after this helps to remove soap scum.
Half a cup of white vinegar should be added to the washing machine. One cup of water and one cup of white vinegar can be combined to make white vinegar, which can be used in place of detergent when washing clothes.
Mix vinegar with water. Add one cup of vinegar to one gallon of water and let the linen sheets soak in this mixture overnight. All you need to do the following day is toss them in the washing machine. In addition to softening your brand-new linen sheets, white vinegar will also eliminate any unattended odors from the detergent or washing powder.
Create your own fabric softener. Making a natural fabric softener by combining two cups of white vinegar with two cups of water in a spray bottle is another method to soften linen sheets. After washing your linens in warm water and/or allowing them to air dry on a low heat setting, mist them with this mixture.

Use Baking Soda

There is another efficient method if you’re wondering how to soften linen clothing. Baking soda is one of the easiest ways to soften your linen clothing and sheets. Due to its ability to help remove stains from the fabric, baking soda makes an excellent cleaner for linens. After washing your linens, it serves as a natural deodorizer and leaves them smelling fresh.

For at least 24 hours (and preferably up to 48 hours), soak linen sheets in a tub of the dissolved baking soda to soften them. You can either machine wash or hang dry the clothing after some time has passed.

Add baking soda to each wash cycle to soften the linens and keep the pH level of the rinse water constant.

Do Vigorous Washing

Does washing linen make it softer? In other words, the answer is yes; each wash makes your linen clothing and bedding softer. The amount of washings necessary to achieve the desired result, however, varies. Your linen’s softening process will vary depending on how each item was made.

With repeated washings, the additional lint that makes your linens scratchy will be removed. The fabric can either be hand-washed or washed in a washing machine. The fabric gets softer the more washes you do to it. On heavy linen fabrics, this technique does not work very well.

Use Dryer Balls

Dryer balls are yet another method for softening linen fabrics. Your quest for a fix for the issue of how to make linen soft will come to an end with the help of these inexpensive items, which are offered at most laundromats and online.

As dryer balls roll around in the machine, they hit clothing several times. While doing so generates heat, doing so repeatedly damages the fabric’s fibers. The quickest, most effective way to quickly soften and naturally dry your linens is with dryer balls.

Simply tossing in a couple of dryer balls to the machine with your linen sheets will not only help soften the fabric, but it will also help get the load dries up to 25% faster. To maximize the drying power of tennis balls, you should wet them before using them in the washer. It will ensure that the scratchy sensation from the lint is greatly diminished.

It is easy to soften different types of fabrics if you read our Fabric Soften Guide first.

5 Care Tips for Softening Your Linen Sheets

Here is how to look after your linen bedding to aid the softening process:

Your linen gets softer and more absorbent with each wash. No fabric softener is necessary.
Don’t overload your machine. Given that linen is so highly absorbent and that softening of linen is one of its special properties, the more water the better.
The pH level in the rinse water will be regulated by adding baking soda to each cycle of washing linen, which will soften the fabric.
Dryer balls not only hasten the drying process but also massage the linen fibers for superior softness.

If you decide to relax and let your linen take care of itself, give it a little more time, and you’ll soon be in for a treat.

Fabric Softener Alternatives

Fabric softener has some substitutes available. These are just a few of them.

Dryer sheets: To lower static electricity, you can place dryer sheets—gauze-like pieces of tissue paper—in the dryer. Along with softening your clothes, they also add a pleasant scent.
Anti-static sprays: The use of anti-static sprays stops your clothing from sticking. For added fragrance, some brands offer products.
Laundry detergent with fabric softener: Specifically to leave your clothes soft, modern washing detergents have been developed. This renders the addition of a separate fabric softener somewhat unnecessary.
Dryer balls: To reduce static and lint, you can throw dryer balls—small, gooey, spiky spheres—into the dryer. They are a wise substitute for fabric softeners, anti-static sprays, and dryer sheets because they last for a very long time.
Using less laundry detergent: It’s possible that you’re using too much laundry detergent if your clothes come out of the machine stiff and scratchy. Test different dosages to see what works best for you. Although the majority of loads aren’t that dirty and don’t need as much detergent as you might think, heavily soiled loads will always require a little more detergent than usual.
Use lower spin speeds: On the market, there are a lot of front-load washing machines with extremely strong spin speeds of more than 1000 RPM. However, you run the risk of stiffness if you forcibly wring the water out of your clothes. Your towels will dry more slowly if you spin them at 600 to 800 RPM, but they’ll be softer and fluffier when they’re done.

Conclusion: Can You Use Fabric Softener on Linen?

Fabric softeners, however, are not only unnecessary; they also risk harming your linens. That’s because fabric softeners and dryer sheets coat fabric fibers with a stubborn residue that builds up over time, making sheets and pillowcases more difficult to clean.

Fabric softeners have a lot of alternatives, most of which are very cost-effective and generally helpful.

FAQs

Will Fabric Softener Soften Linen?

Each time your linen is washed, it becomes softer and more absorbent – no fabric softener is necessary. Instead, we suggest that you stay away from using conventional fabric softeners because they might contain chemicals that leave a film on the linen after washing.

How Do You Keep Linen Soft After Washing?

Use baking soda or vinegar. You can mix 14 cups of vinegar or ½ cup of baking soda into the wash. Additionally, you can soak linen in water and vinegar.

Can You Use Liquid Fabric Softener on Linen Sheets?

Linen is a naturally soft fabric, so don’t use fabric softener as it can do more damage to the fibers in its effort to break them down. Additionally, you should stay away from bleach because it is too abrasive for linen and can harm the fabric.

Why is My Linen Hard After Washing?

Newly-purchased linen sheets can feel stiff due to chemical residues from the manufacturing process. Consequently, getting rid of these is the trick.

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