So you've purchased a beautiful textile - but how do you take care of it so it stays in pristine condition for years to come? Not to worry! This simple guide will give you the basic instructions on how to best preserve all your fabrics and textiles, whether its a dress, a cloth napkin, a table runner, or otherwise.
Generally, there are a few guidelines that apply to most textiles of similar fabrics.
- Cottons, rayons, and acrylics can be machine washed, with a low/medium dry - hot or warm water is fine for whites but cold water is better for colors
- Silks and other delicate fabrics should be hand washed
- Tie dye fabrics (and other bright colored fabrics like batik/blockprints, kitenge, and kantha sari) should be washed separately or with similar colors on cold and hung to dry
- Linens should be washed on cold and line dry; turn inside out and steam/iron to avoid creases
- Felt items can be washed cold but MUST BE AIR DRIED
- Wool items don't need washed as often but should be washed on a delicate or wool cycle and left to air dry
While many items can be dried, washing with cold water and line drying or laying flat to dry are the most eco-friendly options as they use the least energy.
Many textiles, especially garments, will have wash instructions on the label. Here's a helpful infographic from the American Cleaning Institute on how to understand the symbols you might see.
We've broken down our textiles by type (scarves, socks, dresses, tops, bottoms, robes, aprons, blankets, misc) and by our most popular brands if you're looking for specific wash instructions on an item you've purchased. An example of each item is linked as well for easy reference of what this textile might look like.
SCARVES
MINGA IMPORTS
(ACRYLIC)
Hand wash in warm water.
BATIK
(100% RAYON)
Machine wash and dry.
WORLD FINDS SILK
(100% SILK)
Hand wash in cold water and hang dry.
MARQUET
(50% SILK & 50% COTTON)
Hand wash in cold water and hang dry.
Red Binh Minh Silk and Cotton Shawl
TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES
(50% SILK & 50% LINEN)
Hand wash in cold water and hang dry.
Delightful Days Silk/Linen Scarf
SERRV BATIK
(100% ORGANZA SILK)
Hand wash in cold water and hang dry.
SOCKS
CONSCIOUS STEP SOCKS
(75.8% ORGANIC COTTON / 23% POLYAMIDE / 2% SPANDEX)
Machine wash warm, low dry. Do not iron.
Socks that Protect Australian Animals Gift Box
MAGGIES ORGANICS KNEE HIGHS
(75.8% ORGANIC COTTON / 22.2% NYLON / 2% SPANDEX)
Machine wash warm, medium dry.
Shine On Eggplant Knee High Socks
MAGGIES ORGANICS CREW SOCKS
(60% ORGANIC MERINO WOOL / 38% NYLON / 2% SPANDEX)
Machine wash warm, low dry.
MAGGIES ORGANICS FOOTIE SOCKS
(81.6% ORGANIC COTTON/16.4% NYLON/2% SPANDEX)
Machine wash cold with like colors, line dry.
DRESSES & ROMPERS
GLOBAL MAMAS BATIK PRINTS
(100% ORGANIC COTTON)
Machine wash cold with like colors, line dry.
Oaklynn Batik Marble Black Organic Cotton Dress
MATA TRADERS COTTONS
(95% ORGANIC COTTON / 5% SPANDEX; 50% COTTON / 50% LINEN BLENDS)
Machine wash cold with like colors, line dry.
Darjeeling Pocket Dress Amber Linen
MAGGIES ORGANICS RAGLANS
(96% ORGANIC COTTON SOFT RIB / 4% SPANDEX)
Machine wash warm, tumble dry low.
UNIQUE BATIK THAI DYES
(100% RAYON)
Wash separately in cold water, hang to dry.
TOPS
FAIR ANITA TEES
(100% ORGANIC COTTON)
Machine wash warm, low dry.
MAGGIES ORGANIC TANKS
(95% ORGANIC COTTON / 5% SPANDEX)
Machine wash warm, tumble dry low.
Organic Cotton Spring Tank in Sable
MAGGIES ORGANIC SWEATERS
(60% ORGANIC COTTON / 40% MODAL)
Machine wash cold, gentle cycle, lay flat to dry.
GLOBAL GIFTS GEAR
(80% COTTON / 20% POLYESTER)
Machine wash cold, tumble dry low.
Global Gifts Unisex Crew Sweatshirt
GANESH HIMAL FLEECE JACKETS
(100% ACRYLIC FLEECE)
Machine wash & dry.
Fleece Jacket with Hood: Black
UNIQUE BATIK THAI DYES
(100% RAYON)
Wash separately in cold water, hang to dry. Colors may run in the first few washes.
Unique Batik Mojave Thai Dye Tunic
PANTS & SKIRTS
MAGGIES ORGANIC LEGGINGS & SHORTS
(90% ORGANIC COTTON / 10% SPANDEX)
Machine wash warm, tumble dry low.
Blackout Organic Cotton Midcalf Leggings
MAGGIES ORGANIC FLEECE LEGGINGS
(97% ORGANIC COTTON FLEECED TERRRY / 3% SPANDEX)
Machine wash warm, tumble dry low or line dry.
UNIQUE BATIK THAI DYE PANTS
(100% COTTON)
Machine wash separately. Colors may run in the first few washes.
ROBES
TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES ROBES
(100% COTTON)
Cold wash, line dry, warm iron.
Rest & Relaxation Cotton Bathrobe
(RECYCLED SILK)
SERRV BLOCKPRINT KIMONOS
Handwash in cold water, line dry.
Blue Starburst Cotton Blockprint Kimono
BLANKETS
MAGGIES ORGANICS THROWS
(100% ORGANIC COTTON)
Machine wash warm, tumble dry low. NO BLEACH.
Organic Cotton Mulberry Throw Blanket
SERRV RETHREAD BLANKETS
(60% COTTON / 40% MIX OF POLYESTER, VISCOSE & RAYON)
Machine washable and dryable.
Cotton Rethread Rainbow Throw Blanket
KANTHA PATCHWORK THROW
(RECYCLED COTTON SARIS)
Wash cold, separately. Line dry.
Kantha Patchwork Square Throw 56x56
MINGA IMPORTS WOVEN ACRYLIC THROW
(ACRYLIC YARN)
Machine washable and dryable.
APRONS
GLOBAL MAMAS APRONS
(100% ORGANIC COTTON)
Machine wash cold with like colors, line dry.
CREATION HIVE KITENGE APRONS
(100% COTTON)
Machine wash cold with like colors. Low dry or line dry.
COTTON & FELT POTHOLDER
(WOOL INFUSED W/COTTON FABRIC)
Wash in cold water and lay flat to dry.
Cotton & Felt Floral Pot Holder
KANTHA COTTON SARI
(RECYCLED COTTON SARIS)
Machine wash cold, line dry.