Cotton is a natural fiber and textile that is seen in almost everyone’s wardrobe. It’s breathable, soft and is the go-to choice when the weather gets warm. So it makes sense to learn how to properly take care of our beloved cotton pieces to make them last as long as possible and look great too. With these simple tips you’ll learn how to take care of your cotton in no time.
Washing
First things first, check the care label on your cotton item before you begin to wash it. Some items may need to be machine washed, hand washed, or sent to the dry cleaner.t Don’t know what the labels mean? Check out this guide.
To Hand wash or to machine wash?
Cotton can either be machine washed or hand washed.
How to hand wash
Fill a basin or any clean container with lukewarm or cool water and fully soak the garment. Add a few drops of a mild detergent
Once the drops are added, stir it in the water. Let the item soak to the detergents instructions and agitate the item so the detergent can get in the fabrics fibers. Normally a couple of minutes will do.
Rinse in cold water and dump the dirty water. Absorb the extra excess with a towel, but be careful not to wring the fabric, only blot to remove any excess moisture.
How to Machine wash
First things first, make sure that you can machine wash your cotton piece by checking the care label. If it says dry clean only that means it would be safer for your clothing to take it to a professional.
Wash your cotton on a gentle cycle in cold water.
Drying
To air Dry or to use a dryer?
Air Dry.
Cotton can be either air dried or machine dried on moderate-to-low heat. Cotton is prone to shrink if the heat is too high.
How to air dry
After washing, take out your piece and dry flat or lay it on a drying rack.
Ironing
To Iron or not to iron?
Cotton, similar to linen, is prone to wrinkles and creasing so you have to iron it often. To help reduce the frequency you have to iron, make sure to remove items from the dryer promptly to reduce any wrinkles from setting in.
Press dark colors on the wrong side of the fabric to prevent shine marks. The wrong side of fabric is normally the side that is duller than what is seen on the outside. The wrong side normally has the care labels and tags on it.
Cotton should be ironed on high heat while it’s still damp. The ironing temperature for cotton is normally 204 C/ 400 F. If the fabric is dry, spray it with a spray bottle or use the spray button on your iron to dampen the fabric and then use steam when necessary.
