Fabric Washing Guide

It is essential to wash fabrics before trying to make clothes. It is said that fabrics need to be distressed, which involves ironing with lots of steam or washing the fabric so that it can shrink. This important step will prevent us from having an unpleasant surprise when the making of your garment is finished. Decaying the fabric also allows you to remove certain finishes that were added during its production.

When you ask yourself: How should I wash my fabric? Then think about how you would like to wash your garment when it is finished. Very often, this will tell you the method to follow to wash your fabric.

You will notice that I often suggest washing in cold water, because it is more ecological.

Here is the procedure to follow when the fibers are natural.

Bamboo 

It is best to wash in cold water and dry at low temperature.

Hemp

It is best to wash in cold water and dry at low temperature.

Cotton

It is best to wash in cold water and lay clothes flat to dry. If you need to iron clothes, it is best to do so on the wrong side of them.

Wool

Wool is very finicky and it is best to wash wool clothes only if it is essential. Hand washing with a very mild detergent, in cold water is recommended. To spin the wool, wrap your garment in a towel, press gently to remove the water, and leave to dry in the open air, flat on the towel.

Linen

Linen is an easy-care fabric despite the fact that it creases. It is best to wash it with cold water. Hang clothes to dry or use the dryer on low heat. For ironing, you must use steam and a very high heat setting if you want a good result.

Silk

If you decide to wash silk, do so in cold water and gently wrap your garment in a towel to squeeze out the water; do not wring your garment, as silk is an extremely delicate fabric. To dry, simply hang your garment in the open air.

Here is the procedure to follow when the fibers are synthetic.

Acrylic

It is best to wash clothes in cold water and dry on low heat. When the clothes are dry, take them out of the dryer quickly so they don't get creases. You can iron your acrylic clothes, but you do it at a low temperature.

Lyocell (Tencel)

It is best to wash your clothes on a gentle cycle in cold water and dry flat, in the open air or in the dryer on low heat.

Modal

It is best to wash your clothes on a gentle cycle in cold water and dry flat, in the open air or in the dryer on low heat.

Viscose

Since viscose clothing is made from natural fibers that have been chemically modified, they are a little more finicky and require washing by hand or on a delicate cycle in cold water. We will even go so far as to turn the garment inside out when washing it. It would also be best to hang them up and air dry them.

Nylon

Clothes made of nylon are easily machine washable in cold water. To dry, lay them flat and air dry.

Polyester

Polyester clothing is easy to care for, as it can be machine washed and dried. On the other hand, if you want to keep your clothes for a long time, it is best to hang them up and dry them in the open air. The good news, polyester clothing is very wrinkle-free.