Do you know how to wash cotton, satin, hemp, denim and linen sustainably?
Are you unsure on how to carefully wash your satin blouse, so it just stays in the wash basket? Or have you still not got around to removing that stain out of your favourite pair of jeans?
To help with this, our sustainability manager, Heather, has put together some top tips on how to care for the most common types of clothing, in the most sustainable ways possible:
Cotton
One of the most used types of fabrics in the world, cotton can make everything from t-shirts and dresses, to underwear and sweatshirts.
Heather says: “Washing your cotton pieces with similar colours on a gentle, low cycle as opposed to higher temperatures tends to work best. Eco-friendly laundry detergents work especially well at lower temperatures. Try out our Fragrance Free Laundry Liquid – it’s an eco-win-win!”
Opt for organic cotton where possible, which is much more sustainable than conventional cotton, as it doesn’t include harmful pesticides and is not produced with the dangerous chemicals that conventional cotton uses.
Satin
Heather recommends handwashing satin garments with a couple of pumps of detergent in cold-lukewarm water and leaving to soak for half an hour.
Heather continues: “One way to risk spoiling your favourite satin garment is by placing it in the dryer. It’s best to avoid high heat as this will cause the garment to shrink and wrinkle.”
Heather advises hanging up your satin pieces to airdry, or simply laying them flat on a drying rack in their natural shape, and away from direct heat and sunlight to prevent damaging.
Hemp
Another natural fabric you can go for is hemp. Did you know hemp can create t-shirts, dresses, hoodies and more, using the fibres from the stalks of the Cannabis sativa plant?
Heather recommends hand washing your hemp garments in cold water – the more you wash, the softer the garment will get. Though you may not need to wash as much as you think as the fibres absorb moisture and are resistant to mould and mildew.
Denim
Originating from southern France and used for workwear during the 1920s in North America, denim is a durable and long-lasting fabric, but only if you take care of it properly.
Heather says: “Denim should be washed sparingly – it’s advised to only wash your denim items after every 10 wears.
“When washing denim, make sure to turn your garment inside out, wash on a cold cycle and hang outside when possible to airdry. It’s best not to wash in an overloaded wash as creasing can occur, and typically with a new pair of jeans the dye can run on to other clothing so this is something to be mindful of.”
If you have a pesky stain on your denim jeans that you can’t seem to get rid of, our Laundry & Stain Remover Bar is the perfect eco-friendly pre-treatment option. Simply wet the bar and gently work into the stain, leave for a few minutes and rinse – et voila!
Linen
Heather says: “Creases and wrinkles in linen are inevitable. One way to counteract this is by not overloading your wash and ironing your linen pieces whilst still damp. You can do this after washing, hanging in a steamy bathroom, or simply spritzing with lukewarm water.
“This way you avoid using unwanted chemical sprays and your linen is crease-free in the most natural way possible!”
Want to find out more? Read our blog on fast fashion alternatives here.
