Organic Cotton Is Susceptible To Shrinking In The Wash Because It Is A Natural Fabric That Is Not Treated With Environmentally Harmful Chemicals. We Think It’S A Small Price To Pay For All The Water It Saves When Compared To Regular Cotton. To Prevent Shrinkage, We Suggest The Following Garment Care Guidelines:
* Wash Inside Out And With Similar Colours.
Our First, Most Basic Garment Care Tip. This Prevents Colours From Other Garments Leaching Into That White Sustainable Sweater Or Eco-Friendly Knit You Love With All Your Heart. Washing The Garment Inside Out Also Helps Maintain Its Original Colour, While Preventing Graphic Prints Or Delicate Embroidery From Degrading During A Wash.
* Use A Small Amount Of Mild, Eco-Friendly Detergent.
Some Of The Harmful Chemicals That Should Be Avoided When Choosing A Detergent Include: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Phosphates, Optical Brighteners, Chlorine Bleach, Artificial Fragrances, 1,4-Dioxane And Dichlorobenzene. All These Can Lead To The Degradation Of A Beloved Sustainable Dress Or Ethical T-Shirt.
* Never Use Bleach.
Your Organic Cotton T-Shirts, Trousers, Sweaters And Knits Do Not Appreciate Bleach. Not Only Is Bleach Bad For Your Sustainable Clothes, It Is Also Harmful To Marine Life When It Flows From Your Sink All The Way To The Sea.
* Don’T Use Fabric Softener.
Garment Care Pro Tip: Organic Cotton Is Naturally Soft. In Fact, It Actively Softens With Every Wash, Meaning That Each Piece Of Sustainable Clothing Eventually Wins A Place In Your Heart. There’S Little Reason To Use Fabric Softener, Which Has Even Been Proven To Reduce The Beautiful Sheen Of Certain Organic Cotton Sweatshirts And Sustainable T-Shirts.
* Wash At 30 Degrees Or Less.
It Rarely Makes Sense To Wash Sustainable Clothing Made From Organic Cotton Above 30 Degrees. 20 Degrees Is Often More Than Enough To Remove Stains And Odours From Your Favourite Eco-Friendly Loungewear Or Sustainable Underwear. By Keeping Your Wash Temperatures Low You Save Energy, Stop Colours Running Easily And Prevent Eco-Friendly Fashion Pieces From Shrinking.
* Air Dry. If Possible, Flat Dry Rather Than Hang Dry.
Using A Tumble Dryer Should Only Ever Be A Last Resort, Especially When Air Drying Is Such An Effective Way Of Literally Breathing Fresh Air Into Your Fair Trade Dress Or Sustainable Sweater. Tumble Dryers Are Incredibly Energy Intensive And Expensive To Run As A Result. If You Happen To Have Access To Clean Open Areas We Also Advise Flat Drying Your Organic Cotton Garments. This Prevents Pegs Marking Or Indenting Clothing And Also Stops Items From Stretching On A Line. Don’T Worry If This Isn’T Possible. Using A Good Old Washing Line Is Still A Totally Acceptable Way To Dry Your Sustainable Clothing.
* Only Tumble Dry On A Low Heat.
If You Really Are Left With No Option But To Tumble Dry Your Sustainable Organic Cotton Garments, Ensure You Only Do It At A Low Temperature. Once Again, This Will Prevent Shrinkage. Some Dryers Even Have An “Air Cycle” Setting, Which Dries Sustainable Clothes With Minimal Or No Heating Involved. This Can Be A Good Option For Lightweight T-Shirts And Eco-Friendly Shorts That Do Not Require Much Drying.
* Can Be Ironed, But Be Sure To Do So At A Low To Medium Temperature.
Because Organic Cotton Is Not Treated With Environmentally Harmful Chemicals It Can Be Particularly Sensitive To High Temperatures, So It Should Always Be Ironed With Great Care. Our Garment Care Tip, Before You Begin Ironing, Is To Shake Your Organic Cotton Garments Out Thoroughly, So As To Remove Wrinkles Naturally. Try To Smooth Out Any Further Wrinkles With The Lowest Setting On Your Iron. Gradually Increase The Temperature To Tackle More Stubborn Creases, But Without Ever Surpassing A Medium Temperature Setting.