7 tips to properly care for your cotton clothing

Wash new clothing separately first

With new cotton clothing, always check the colourfastness first. Rub a wet, white cloth over an inconspicuous part of the fabric. If colour is left behind on the cloth, then the fabric is not colourfast. In that case, always wash this garment separately or together with similar shades.

Wash cotton with care

Most cotton clothing can be safely washed on the cotton programme of your washing machine. That programme rinses thoroughly and spins more powerfully, which gets your clothing properly clean.

Do you want to keep your clothing looking nice for longer? Then choose a mild cotton programme or a delicate programme with lower spin speeds. That is a bit gentler on the fibres and helps to preserve the fit and colour better.

Turn your clothing inside out before you wash. This protects the outside against friction, discolouration and wear. Also bear the following points in mind:

• Choose a spin speed that is not too high:
  • < 600 rpm for delicate or coloured cotton clothing.
  • 800-1000 rpm for shirts, polos, sweaters and the like.
  • 1200-1400 rpm for towels and bedding.

• Use a mild detergent and avoid fabric softener.
• Fill the drum half-full at most, so that your clothing can move freely.

Set the right temperature

Although cotton is quite resistant to higher temperatures, it is important to look at the specific garment. Not every cotton item can (or needs to) be washed at the same temperature. The ideal setting depends on the type of garment, the colour and how dirty it is. Therefore, always check the care label first. That is what counts. As a general guideline, you can follow the below:

• 30 °C
  Suitable for delicate or brightly coloured cotton clothing and for items that are lightly soiled. This keeps the colour looking nice for longer and prevents unnecessary wear.
• 40 °C
  The best temperature for shirts, polo shirts and sweaters. Freshly clean, safe for most colours and preserves the fit. The gold standard.
• 60 °C
  Only use if the care label allows it. Suitable for heavily soiled cotton clothing. Less advisable for delicate fabrics or coloured items.
• 90 °C
  This setting is mainly intended for underwear, socks and towels. Only use this programme if the label indicates it.

When in doubt, choose 30 or 40 °C. Take your clothing out of the drum immediately after the wash programme finishes and give it a shake. This prevents creases and keeps your clothing in top form for longer.

Pay attention to your colours

New brightly or darkly coloured cotton clothing often bleeds the first time. Therefore, wash these items separately or add a colour catcher sheet to the wash. This catches loose dye and prevents other garments from discolouring. These sheets are easily available at the supermarket.

Preferably wash coloured clothing inside out. This helps to limit colour fading. In addition, choose a detergent specially for coloured laundry. Do not let coloured cotton clothing dry in direct sunlight, as this can cause the colour to fade. A spot in the shade is better for preserving the colours.

Use a tumble dryer in moderation

A tumble dryer works excellently for saving time, but has the disadvantage that the garments come out creased and can shrink or discolour at excessively high temperatures. In addition, it causes more wear. If you do use the dryer, choose a low temperature or the special cotton setting.

A better solution is to hang up your laundry wet on a wide hanger, so that the shoulders are well supported. Crocheted or knitted cotton clothing is better dried flat to prevent it from stretching. Preferably hang clothing to dry in the shade (direct sunlight fades colours).

Lightly pull garments into shape before hanging them up; this reduces creases and makes ironing afterwards easier. Drying in the open air or in a utility room is moreover better for the environment and for your clothing.

Iron for a smooth finish

Cotton is one of the most pleasant fabrics to iron. A few tips to make it easier for yourself:

• Iron cotton while it is still slightly damp. For shirts, a plant sprayer works perfectly to soften stubborn creases.
• Use the cotton or steam setting of your iron.
• Iron dark or coloured cotton clothing on the inside to prevent shiny patches.
• Work from top to bottom (collar > sleeves/cuffs > front and back panel) and pull the fabric taut.
• A clean, tightly stretched cover over the ironing board makes the difference.

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Don’t store unwashed cotton clothing in your wardrobe