A naturally remarkable fibre, cotton is ultra-breathable, durable, and soft on the skin, making it an ideal material for clothing, bedding and towels. And when cared for properly, cotton items can live on for decades. Read on ahead to take the best care of yours.
Clothing care is an important part of the conscious fashion journey.
Inexpensive fashion has reduced the incentive to handle a piece with care, let alone repair or mend that garment, but we know that this approach is wreaking havoc on our planet.
So instead of valuing clothes at their face value — the price tag — a truly sustainable approach to fashion involves shifting our mindset to caring for all of the clothing we’ve brought into our lives. (This applies even to the clothing that we no longer want — it’s important to be mindful of how you’re discarding unwanted garments too!)
Taking some level of responsibility for each and every garment extends their life, keeps our clothing out of the landfill, and helps us develop a deeper appreciation — and therefore, greater contentment overall — with our clothing.
Step 1: Check the Care Label
While the below are best practices for our items, and cotton items generally, each piece can vary based on its exact fabric composition and construction, so it's best to check and item's care label to be sure!
Step 2: Stain Treatment
We've been there—you just spilled wine, sauce, oil, you name it, on your shirt. Avoid stains on your cotton clothing from lasting by treating them immediately, lightly dabbing the area with cold water or with a solvent suitable for cotton fabrics. Avoid direct heat as that will set the stain. Avoid bleach, especially when dealing with coloured clothes, and opt for a non-toxic alternative.
Step 3: Washing
Washing your cotton garments and bedding in cold water will put less stress on the planet, your utility bill, and the fibres of your cotton items. Wash your cotton clothes with like colours and inside out to best preserve their hues and the garment's outer surface. For everyday laundry, we recommend using just 1/2 to 2/3 of the detergent amount suggested on the packaging, Opt for a natural or non-toxic detergent.
Step 4: Drying
Air drying is the best way to prolong the life of your garment. Air drying will reduce the chance of shrinkage and put less stress on the garment's fibres than high temperatures will, allowing it to stay in better shape for longer. It also reduces your energy consumption and environmental footprint—so it's truly a win, win.
Step 5: Iron & Steam
Using steam will help to smooth the fibres of cotton garments. Soft knitted clothes, like T-shirts and sweatshirts, can be gently steamed to remove wrinkles after washing or wearing. Rigid and woven fabrics, like shirting, trousers or bedding, can be steamed or ironed using the damp or steam setting on the iron.