I agree what Jurgen Giess said that When you iron the linen, you flatten the fine fibres.
Regarding to iron linen clothes like linen dress, linen shirts and linen pants, sharing some related information. Linen should not be dried on high heat which causes fibers to shrink together and break. Instead, air dry on a padded hanger to prevent creases or tumble only briefly in a dryer set on a low heat temperature. Some people prefer a crisp look, others a more relaxed, rumpled linen. If you choose a crisp look, follow these tips for ironing linen clothes.
1) At least five or ten minutes before ironing linen clothes, give them a good spritz with plain cool water. Pay particular attention to shirt collars, cuffs, pocket flaps, and button plackets. Roll the garment loosely and let the moisture penetrate the linen fibers.
2) Set the steam iron on the cotton/linen setting or high heat. Be sure the iron's faceplate and water tank are clean and that the tank is filled with water.
3) If your ironing board cover is wearing thin or has heavy staining, use an old terry cloth towel under the linen. This will pad the surface, protect any buttons on the garment, and give you a clean finish.
4) Padding is particularly important if there is embroidery on the linen. Always iron on the wrong side and iron the embroidered area first.
5) Start with the heavier areas of the shirt or pants first (collars, cuffs, waistbands) and use a bit more water if necessary to get a smooth finish.
6) Keep the iron moving constantly and smoothly to prevent scorching. Staying too long in one spot can bring a disaster.
7) As you iron, gently stretch the garment to square corners and even edges. While the fabric is damp and hot, you can reshape crumpled areas.
8) Press linen clothes on the wrong side or use a pressing cloth to prevent shiny spots. This is particularly important with darker colors.
9) Use spray-on starch or fabric sizing for areas like collars and cuffs that you want particularly crisp. The starch also helps to protect the linen from stains.
10) When ironing is complete, hang the garment in an uncrowded space to dry completely. Wait at least ten to fifteen minutes before putting on the freshly ironed piece to allow the fibers to cool and relax. Wearing linen while damp will cause excess creasing.
The fine fibres at the surface of linen stand up like the bristles on a brush. Light coming into the fibres gets trapped. When you iron the linen, you flatten the fine fibres. Incoming light no longer gets trapped in the spaces between the fibres and instead is reflected (bounced back) like on a mirror. That is why linen looks shiny after ironing. To prevent this, use a damp cloth on top of your linen when ironing. This will flatten (iron) the linen material but not compress the fine fibres. Good look.
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