Fabric Care

Fabric Care

Cotton

Cotton is made from the fluffy fibers of the cotton plant. Most are preshrunk, so "you really can't mess them up," says Chris Allsbrooks, a textile analyst at the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute in Laurel, Maryland.

How to Wash:

  • Machine-wash in cold or warm with all-purpose detergent.
  • Separate whites and darks. (Don't throw your jeans in with a white T-shirt, as the indigo dye might run and leave the T-shirt looking gray.)
  • Wash cotton sheets in hot water.

How to Dry

  • Preshrunk cotton can go in the dryer. For regular and organic cotton that hasn't been preshrunk, use a low-heat setting. Otherwise, it could shrink by 10 percent.
  • Or, line-dry in the shade. (Sun yellows it.)

 

Silk/Satin

This durable, luxurious fabric is made from protein fibers produced by silkworms. It's treated with sizing and may have dyes that bleed.

How to Wash

  • Dry-clean if that's what's indicated in the care instructions.
  • Test for colorfastness. Dip a cotton swab in detergent and hold it on an inconspicuous area for two minutes to see if the color bleeds.
  • Turn the garment inside out and submerge it in a sink or basin of cool water and some mild detergent. Then gently move it around so it's saturated.
  • Rinse with cold water.

How to Dry

  • Don't wring out the excess water, which can stretch the fabric. Instead, press on it gently with your fingers.
  • Lay it on a clean, dry towel to air-dry.

Mesh

  • Mesh can be machine washed and we recommend doing so on a warm setting using an all-purpose detergent. It's great to use a fabric softener as well.
  • If you want to tumble dry your mesh dress, this should be done on a low temperature setting. Remove the fabric before it is fully dry to reduce the static cling.

Chiffon

  1. If you cannot take your chiffon garment to a dry-cleaners, it's possible to hand wash.
  2. Rub very gently using a mild detergent, making sure not to wring the fabric as it can lose its shape.
  3. Lay flat to dry rather than hanging to prevent stretching. Remember to be very gentle with this delicate fabric.