Fabric Care
Cotton
Cotton is one of the easiest fabrics to care for. It can be machine washed in warm water, and tumble dried on low. Severe temperature changes will lead to shrinking. Many colored cottons are non-colorfast, so wash them separately when new. It's also best to continue washing dark and light-colored items separately. Permanent-press cottons should be squeezed only lightly during washing, and rinsed thoroughly. To avoid crumpling and the need to iron - don't spin. Cotton knits tend to stretch sideways and shorten when washed, but can be gently pulled back into shape after washing.
Linen
Linen garments can be washed in gentle detergent without bleach. Ideally, they should be rinsed first in warm water and afterwards in cold water. Do not twist your garments after rinsing. They should be dried horizontally by laying flat on a clean non-colored towel and ironed through damp cloth. Note: If hand washing, launder stains when fresh and avoid excessive rubbing since it can change the structure of the fabric. Hand washing softens the feel of the linen, which is sometimes preferred.
Wool
Proper care for wool begins with following the label directions. In general, wool should be allowed to rest between wearings, to retain its shape. It should never be compressed or stored on hangers, which will stretch it. Brushing wool will remove surface soil and stains before they are ground in, and a slightly damp cloth will remove deeper stains. Special non-alkaline wool washing products should be used. Wool should be dried flat at room temperature, not exposed directly to heat.
Cashmere
Woven garments made of cashmere must be dry cleaned, but knitted articles may be hand washed.
Silk
Fabric care for silk usually includes dry cleaning, however, hand washing is possible if mild soap and lukewarm water is used. Spot cleaning tends to leave rings and should be avoided. After washing, hang briefly to remove excess water and press or roll between towels. Lay flat on a clean, non-colored towel to dry. Iron shirts and blouses on the inside - it prevents the fabric from getting a glossy look if the iron is a bit too hot.
Bamboo
Bamboo fabrics can be machine washed and dried much as you would cotton, with a few exceptions. Depending on if the garment is a blended fabric, clothes can be washed in cold or warm water and tumble or line-dried. To avoid damaging the fabric, many manufacturers recommend washing on the delicate cycle without fabric softener or bleach. Products that are made from 100 percent organic bamboo fabric tend to dry twice as fast as other fabrics, so less dryer or hanging time is needed. Expect some shrinking. As with cotton, severe temperature changes lead to more shrinking.
Lyocell (Tencel®)
Lyocell garments may be either machine washable and dryable or dry cleanable. Please refer to the label on your garment for specific instructions. Washable lyocell has the strength and ease of care of other easy-care fabrics. Machine wash and dry at low temperature. Remove from dryer as soon as the garment is dry. If ironing is required, use a moderately warm iron.
Modal®
Modal® garments should be hand-washed in warm water using gentle soap without bleach. They should be dried flat at room temperature or in the shade. A cool iron can be used if necessary. Dry cleaning is not recommended.
Spandex (Lycra®)
Garments containing spandex should be hand or machine-washed in lukewarm water. Never use chlorine bleach on any fabric containing Lycrareg;. Either drip dry or machine dry your garments using low temperature settings.
