Linen, generally, has referred to yarn made from flax fibers (a type of plant) but has also gradually involved to include cotton, hemp and many other plant fibers. A few hundred years ago, the term was used to describe anything made from these plant fibers, which included undergarments (such as underwear, lingerie and t-shirts.) This is why it is sometimes difficult to understand what books or documents from older eras are referring to, because today linen refers to mostly bath, table, bed and kitchen textiles. Linen seems to have been around since the human race can really remember, but the earliest linen 'industry' can be traced back to Egypt about 4000 years ago.

Taking care of your linen is paramount to ensure you get the longest life and best use from it. Some linen can be very expensive, and some linen not – but all ought to be taken care of well. Here are some tips.

Storage

Store linen in a cool, well-ventilated but dry place.  You can avoid mildew by simply ensuring that you always wash or dry clean your linen before storing. It's also a good idea to check up on your linen regularly to ensure there is no mildew, especially if it has been stored for a long time.

Washing

Use the right washing agents, and for the right type of linen. Detergents with bleaching agents are not to be used for colored or embroidered linen but only for white linen. Gentle detergents are best, and chlorine bleaches will damage the fibers of the linen. Also, if you are in an area with hard water, it's best to look at water softeners as they are a sound investment to ensure that all of your textiles and clothing last longer. Make sure you do not exceed the maximum temperature for washing your linen, or else there will be shrinkage.

Mixing lighter colored linen with darker colored linen in the wash is not a good idea as this may spoil both. Lastly, do not overload your washing machine as this could streak your textiles. As for embroidered linen : don't rub or wring or soak, but wash nicely (preferably by hand.)

Drying

Wringing out your linen before drying will cause damage. White linen dries best in the sun, to help keep the color. Don't overdry your linen either, as it will make the fibers brittle. In fact, it's good for the linen to remain a little damp to make ironing a lot easier.

Ironing

Make sure that the soleplate of the iron is always clean, as any dirt or deposits will cause spotting and damage to the linen. Embroidered linen is best ironed on the other side of the embroidery to ensure that there is no damage.

If you can't iron straight after washing, put the linen in a plastic bag and place it in a fridge or freezer for 6 to 24 hours. Keeping them damp prevents mildew formation from occuring.