Washing a linen shirt correctly is the single most important factor in the garment's long-term quality. The fabric that improves with correct care and degrades with incorrect care — certified Belgian linen — rewards a small amount of attention to the washing process with years of progressive improvement.

Temperature. Wash at 30–40 degrees Celsius on a gentle or delicate cycle. This range is warm enough to clean effectively and cool enough to prevent the shrinkage and colour degradation that higher temperatures cause over repeated washing. 60 degrees or higher will cause shrinkage, accelerate colour fading, and weaken the flax fibre over time. Cold wash (20 degrees) is acceptable but less effective at removing the natural oils and salts that accumulate with wear.

Detergent. Use a gentle liquid detergent — not a powder, which can leave residue in the linen weave. Avoid fabric softener entirely: it coats the flax fibre with a chemical layer that prevents the natural softening process that makes Belgian linen improve with washing. The softening of quality linen is the result of the fibre's structure, not of a chemical additive.

Spin speed. A moderate spin speed — 800–1000 RPM — is sufficient to remove water without the mechanical stress on the fibre that a high spin speed creates. Very high spin speeds can distort the weave of a quality linen garment over time.

Drying. Hang dry wherever possible. A linen shirt hung to dry retains its shape and softens more evenly than one dried in a tumble dryer. If using a tumble dryer, use the lowest heat setting and remove the shirt while still slightly damp — this prevents the over-drying that makes linen feel stiff and brittle.

Ironing. Iron while the shirt is still slightly damp from drying, or mist with water before ironing. A steam iron at medium to high heat produces a clean, crisp result. Or do not iron at all — the natural texture of linen in its unworn state is part of its character.

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