Cotton Care

Stains

Tending to stains immediately after the fact can greatly increase the chance of full stain removal.

For coloured foods, spot clean stains immediately by rinsing under warm water, then gently rub a laundry bar or other non-coloured soap into the stain and rinse. Repeat, this time creating some friction with a fingernail or by rubbing the stained areas together or by using a gentle and clean bristle brush.

If the stains covered more than a small area, consider laundering the garment as normal after spot cleaning.

Oil and grease stains can first be treated by laying the garment flat and piling talcum powder over the affected area. Leave for several hours to allow oils to be soaked up out of the material. Shake off talcum powder. If dirty marks remain after oil is removed, wash with a laundry bar and warm water as above.

Detergents

We recommend using a gentle, eco friendly liquid detergent for washing cotton garments or trying soap berries as a 100% natural alternative.

It's never ideal to bleach cotton as it damages the fibres, however in the case of brightening whites, an oxygen bleach can be used to give white cotton garments a new lease on life. Always follow the instructions on the label and wear gloves.

Our number one secret weapon for stains and even washing garments while travelling or camping is this laundry bar.

Washing

Washing on cold and with like-colours is the number one way to preserve the life of your clothes. While hand-washing is certainly possible, and even gentler, placing organic cotton garments (especially those skivvies) into a delicates bag before turning on the washing machine can have a similar effect.

Try not to overwash cotton garments, instead try airing out certain items in a well ventilated space (even outside) for another wear or two. Sniff test recommended.

Drying

We highly recommend drying your cotton clothes on a line, rail or on hangers. While our cotton is pre-shrunk, cotton is naturally prone to further shrinkage of up to 8% over time. So follow these tips to avoid that happening.

Once clothes come out of the washing machine, gently shake out and pull them into shape diagonally at the seams, especially if they appear twisted or shrunken. Doing this while wet allows the fibres to relax back into their original shape and prevents shrinking from happening during the drying process. Then hang to dry as normal, or for delicate knitwear, dry flat for best results.

Ironing + Steaming

Cotton garments can withstand ironing and steaming. We recommend moving promptly over the material and using plenty of steam rather than increased heat. Don't hold a hot iron or steamer in one place for extended periods to prevent fibres burning or marking. For printed garments, we always recommend ironing these inside out.

Storing

Believe it or not, the way a garment is stored can impact its longevity. We recommend folding or rolling t-shirts and skivvies so they can easily be seen looking into a drawer. Shirting, trousers and skirts should be hung on hangers. Delicate knitwear is ideally folded and stored wrapped in tissue paper in a seperate box, or even a Tupperware container to protect from damage - like snags or hungry moths.

Being careful with cotton.