How Often Should We Be Washing Cotton?
How To Wash: Step-by-Step Guide
Firstly, turn your garment inside out, as most of the dirt is on the inside, and this will help protect against discolouration!
Most cotton garments can be washed at a low temperature, which is favourable to avoid shrinkage, and is more energy efficient! Use a detergent that works on low temperatures, such as our Basil & Mandarin Leaf Eco Detergent. You might have noticed that we don't always advise you to follow the care label instructions on your garments, however for cotton garments the care label advice is usually quite accurate.
Cotton is a sturdy and durable fabric but it can still shrink (particularly organic cotton!), and washing in regular hot washes unnecessarily can still cause colours to fade and fabric to thin over time. Also, don't forget that different cotton blends can also react to heat in different ways, so if in doubt, stick with 30 degrees.
For items like cotton towels or bed linen however, a higher temperature is recommended to prevent bodily bacteria from lingering.
Our Signature Eco Wash Detergent is perfect for washing at low temperatures. It's non-biological, which is gentle, effective at stain removal, and free from toxins and harsh chemicals. It cleans and nourishes your garments again and again - perfect.
Top Tip: If you're looking for something even more gentle, our Eco Liquid Baby Detergent is perfect for little ones, and people with sensitive skin, as it's been specially formulated to be free from irritants.
Treating Stains
- Submerge the affected area into a bowl of warm water and add a capful of stain remover.
- Massage gently with your fingers, or our Natural Sea Sponge, and leave to soak for an hour.
- The stain should be lifted, but repeat this process until it has completely vanished, and then wash the garment as normal.
Drying and Storing Cotton Safely
We recommend air drying cotton garments, rather than machine drying, to reduce chances of shrinkage or excessive wrinkling. Towels, sheets and kitchen linens can be machine dried, as they are more durable and less likely to wrinkle.
Top Tip: Hanging cotton clothes to dry (or to finish drying after a machine dry) means they'll need little, or no, ironing!
Top Tip: To keep white cotton white, hang to dry in sunlight so the sun's UV rays can naturally bleach the fabric. However, hang coloured cotton out of direct sunlight to avoid colour fading!
Storing cotton on hangers is the best way to prevent wrinkling, especially for shirts and trousers - so we recommend you hang them in the wardrobe. Because cotton is so durable, it shouldn't misshape or warp from being sorted on hangers, like some wool garments might, for example. While moths love cashmere and silk more, they still like a nibble on cotton, so pop a Natural Moth Repellent Scent Bag in the wardrobe to protect them.
Just like that, your cotton garments are looking and feeling fabulous - and you've helped the environment too.
For more expert clothing care tips explore more of our blogs. For our whole range of detergents, mists, tools and accessories that are perfect for every type of fabric, explore our whole range.
