Fabric Care 101: How to Wash, Dry, and Iron Your Fabrics
When it comes to caring for your fabrics it is best to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer/retailer. If no instructions have been provided, however, you can consult the list of fabrics below for some general care instructions. Remember, when you are working with a new material, always test a small swatch of the fabric first.
Cotton Lawn
PRE-WASH: Yes. Prewash and dry it the same way you plan on caring for it.
WASH: Machine wash cotton lawn fabrics in cold water on delicate cycle
DRY: Tumble dry on low or air dry
IRON: Press on low preferably with a pressing cloth
SHRINKAGE: Minimal
Cotton Poplin:
PRE-WASH: Yes. Prewash and dry it the same way you plan on caring for it.
WASH: Poplin can be machine washed up to 60℃ (hot), but it is best washed at 40℃ (warm). If you plan on washing your finished garment on hot make sure to pre-wash it on hot first.
DRY: Tumble dry on low or air dry
IRON: Press on medium heat
SHRINKAGE: Up to 5%
Cotton Sateen
PRE-WASH: Yes. Prewash and dry it the same way you plan on caring for it.
WASH: Machine wash in cold or cool water
DRY: Hang to dry or dry flat. Cotton sateen can be tumble dried, but it may lose some of its sheen in the process.
IRON: If needed, steam or iron on reverse side of fabric. Ironing cotton sateen may help bring back the sheen lost in the washing/drying process.
SHRINKAGE: Minimal
Double Gauze
PRE-WASH: Yes. Prewash and dry it the same way you plan on caring for it.
WASH: Machine wash in either cold or warm water, preferably on the delicate cycle
DRY: Lay flat to dry or tumble dry on low. If tumble drying, remove it promptly from the dryer and lay it flat for 10-15 minutes to help reduce the need for pressing.
IRON: If you're double gauze is naturally very crinkly, limit the amount of ironing and selectively use a steamer on the areas (hem, collars etc.) that need pressing. If you have a naturally flat double gauze use a medium hot iron with lots of steam.
SHRINKAGE: Can shrink up to 15% depending on the fabric
Cotton French Terry
PRE-WASH: Yes. Prewash and dry it the same way you plan on caring for it.
WASH: French terry can be machine washed in warm water (40℃), but it's best to wash it on cold. To help preserve the fabric and prevent pilling, wash your french terry garments inside out and on the gentle cycle (low spin)
DRY: Can be tumble dried on medium. For optimal results, longevity, and to reduce pilling, lay flat to dry.
IRON: Iron on medium heat with steam
SHRINKAGE: 5-10%
Linen
PRE-WASH: Yes. Prewash and dry it the same way you plan on caring for it.
WASH: Machine wash at 30℃ to 40℃ on a gentle cycle
DRY: Tumble dry on low. For best results, remove your linen garment from the dryer while still slightly damp and lay flat or hang to finish drying
IRON: Iron on medium to high heat while linen is damp or use steam setting to dampen the linen first. Iron inside out to avoid creating a shine on the linen.
SHRINKAGE: 3% to 4%
Viscose and Tencel
PRE-WASH: Yes. Prewash and dry it the same way you plan on caring for it.
WASH: Wash garment inside out in cold water on gentle cycle
DRY: Do not tumble dry. Hang or lay flat to dry
IRON: Iron on back side while still damp using the silk or rayon setting
SHRINKAGE: 3-5%, but can be more if washed in hot water
Wool
PRE-WASH: If you plan on dry cleaning your garment or just spot cleaning, then you do not need to pre-wash the fabric. If you plan on hand washing your finished garment, soak the wool in cool water for up to 30 minutes, hang to dry and press with a steam to pre-shrink it before cutting.
WASH: For wool items with a lining such as coats and blazers spot cleaning is best. Wool items can be hand washed in cold water with gentle detergent. Allow wool clothing to soak in cool soapy water without agitating it for up to 30 minutes and rinse throughly. Squeeze water out of garment, but do not wring it.
In some cases wool garments can be machine washed. Make sure you use cold water and your machine is set to the wool, gentle, or delicate cycle. Turn clothes inside out and when washing smaller, more delicate wool items it is best to place them in a mesh bag.
Before washing your wool fabric, whether by hand or in a machine, always make sure to test a swatch beforehand to see how it reacts.
DRY: Lay flat to dry
IRON: Iron with steam on cool/wool setting. Using a pressing cloth.
SHRINKAGE: Hot water and agitation will shrink wool considerably.