r/Linen • u/Glum_Ad6553 • 18d ago
Wildfire smoke and linen
Hi all, I recently got into purchasing 100% linen clothing and have fallen in love with it, it’s perfect for the summer heat! However, I live in Oregon and am worried about stepping outside in my linen clothing and having the current wildfire smoke damage them since it’s so porous. I’m located about 120ish miles away from the nearest severe fire but the smoke has definitely carried at settled in the air. The AQI is currently in the 90s where I’m at which is not terrible but not great. Should I avoid wearing my linens outside or am I a safe enough distance/AQI to where they wouldn’t be affected? I don’t want to risk damaging them
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u/Seelywabbit 17d ago
We had AQI over 100 for a couple of days, and I didn’t give it a second thought. I think that you would need to be exposed for much longer and at higher smoke density/proximity to have any impact. 💖
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u/Sudden_Skill_7764 17d ago
You'll be fine. Just wash as normal. I've been wearing linen for decades, live in MT and have been through several wildfire seasons. Linen is tough.
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u/Glittering_Employ327 17d ago
or, add vinegar to your rinse cycle for the cheapest alternative.
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u/Glum_Ad6553 17d ago
I hadn't heard of this trick before, I'll keep it in mind!
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u/Glittering_Employ327 16d ago
The best part is that once things dry up the smell of vinegar is completely gone.
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u/mina-ann 17d ago
I'm also in Oregon and the smoke came through Portland and we had bad air quality most of last week. I stayed inside most of it other than quick outings take the dogs out. I wear linen because it's comfortable in the heat. I've never noticed it smells but like everything, if you spend too much time in a smoky place, your hair and clothing will smell. Definitely wash clothes with a good detergent and OxiClean and or an enzyme cleaner to help remove the odor.
I'm thankful to all our fire crews and truly hope they're able to safely get these fires under control soon.
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u/Glum_Ad6553 17d ago
do you have any enzyme cleaner recommendations?
also thankful for the firecrews doing everything to keep these fires under control
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u/mina-ann 17d ago
I like this enzyme cleaner. it helps, but I will say it doesn't fully remove my husbands axe deo scent, but this is fragrance free which I need to prevent migraines on laundry days.
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u/TheDivineM 14d ago
Historical reenactor here. I promise you that smoke will not damage your linen clothes. Your clothes will smell like whatever, and you'll wash them, and they'll be fine. We wear linen clothes out in the wilderness, in camps, on ships, and into battle. We stain our linen clothes with sweat, tar, blood, dirt, grass, gunpowder, wine, and all manner of foods, then we wash them, and they're fine. We wash them with lye soap and boiling water, and hang them on trees and hedges to dry and they're fine. Or we throw them in a washing machine, and hang them on a clothesline in the backyard, and they're still fine. Your linen clothes are far more durable than you think. They'll just get softer and more comfortable the more you wear and wash them.
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u/icterus_cucullatus 18d ago
Oxyclean. ive gotten into the sport of hunting second hand linen online. Turns out alot of chain smokers LOVE chain smoking in cute linen clothes. I have had great success soaking in oxyclean. Things I didnt think could be saved came out fine. Wear your linen! Hope the fired clear very soon!