How to Wash Different Fabrics

There is no single correct wash setting — there is a correct setting per fibre. Cotton tolerates heat and mechanical action; elastane and viscose do not; pile fabrics such as welsoft and fleece are ruined by exactly the thing people reach for to make them softer, namely fabric softener.

How should each fabric be washed?

Why does softener ruin pile fabrics?

Fabric softener works by depositing a waxy film on the fibre. On a smooth cotton knit that reads as softness. On welsoft, polar fleece and sherpa it mats the pile together, removing exactly the loft the fabric was bought for, and it also destroys the wicking finish on activewear. This is the most common care mistake in the whole category.

Why turn pile and printed goods inside out?

Abrasion in the drum happens on the outer surface. Washing inside out protects pile height, printed graphics and dark shades, and it measurably reduces pilling on brushed fabrics.

Is shrinkage a fabric issue or a washing issue?

A properly relaxed and compacted cotton knit should stay within 3-5% shrinkage. If a garment loses a full size in the first wash, the fabric was not compacted, and no washing instruction will fix it. Ask for the shrinkage tolerance in writing before you cut.

How should it be dried?

Heat is the enemy of every synthetic. Polyester pile fabrics dry fast enough on a line that a tumble dryer is unnecessary, and heat permanently flattens the pile. Knitted cotton should be dried flat where possible to avoid distortion at the shoulders.