Editing Linen (section)

===Properties===
Linen fabric feels cool to touch, a phenomenon which indicates its higher conductivity (the same principle that makes metals feel "cold"). It is smooth, making the finished fabric lint-free, and gets softer the more it is washed. However, constant creasing in the same place in sharp folds will tend to break the linen threads. This wear can show up in collars, hems, and any area that is iron creased during laundering. Linen's poor elasticity means that it easily wrinkles.

Mildew, perspiration, and bleach can damage the fabric, but because it is not made from animal fibers ([[keratin]]) it is impervious to [[clothes moth]]s and [[Varied carpet beetle|carpet beetles]]. Linen is relatively easy to take care of, since it resists dirt and stains, has no lint or [[Pill (textile)|pilling]] tendency, and can be dry-cleaned, machine-washed, or steamed. It can withstand high temperatures, and has only moderate initial [[Shrinkage (fabric)|shrinkage]].<ref name="classifications" />

Linen should not be dried too much by tumble drying, and it is much easier to iron when damp. Linen wrinkles very easily, and thus some more formal garments require ironing often, in order to maintain perfect smoothness. Nevertheless, the tendency to wrinkle is often considered part of linen's particular "charm", and many modern linen garments are designed to be air-dried on a good clothes hanger and worn without the necessity of ironing.

A characteristic often associated with linen yarn is the presence of ''[[slub (textiles)|slubs]]'', or small, soft, irregular lumps, which occur randomly along its length. In the past, slubs were traditionally considered to be defects, and were associated with low-quality linen. However, in the case of many present-day linen fabrics, particularly in the decorative furnishing industry, slubs are considered as part of the aesthetic appeal of an expensive natural product. In addition, slubs do not compromise the integrity of the fabric, and therefore they are not viewed as a defect. However, the very finest linen has very consistent diameter threads, with no slubs at all.

Linen can [[Biodegradation|degrade]] in a few weeks when buried in soil. Linen is more biodegradable than cotton, making it an eco friendly fiber.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arnett |first1=George |title=How quickly do fashion materials biodegrade? |url=https://www.voguebusiness.com/sustainability/fashion-biodegradable-material-circularity-cotton |website=Vogue Business |date=29 November 2019 |publisher=Conde Nast |access-date=27 May 2020 }}</ref>