Care & Maintenance

Caring for Handcrafted Cotton

Preserving the prints, weaves, and natural dyes of your artisanal cotton linens — so the colours stay vibrant and the fabric stays crisp.

~5 min read Hand-block prints Natural dyes

Unlike jute, cotton is beautifully washable and gets softer with every wash. However, handcrafted cotton — especially pieces with natural dyes or hand-stamped patterns — requires a more mindful approach than standard linens. Treat it with care and it will reward you with decades of use.

Do this first

The First Wash: Setting the Colours

Artisanal cotton pieces — particularly those made with traditional block printing — often use rich natural dyes. It is entirely normal for these fabrics to release a little excess colour during their first encounter with water. The steps below prevent bleeding and locking the dyes in for the long term.

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Wash Separately

Always wash your handcrafted printed linens by themselves, or with identical colours, for the first 1–2 washes. This prevents any excess dye from transferring onto other fabrics in the machine.

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The Salt Soak

For heavily dyed items, soak the fabric in a bucket of cold water mixed with a handful of table salt for 30 minutes before washing. Salt acts as a natural mordant, helping lock the dyes into the cotton fibres so they stay vivid wash after wash.

Routine care

Every wash

Washing Guidelines

Avoid hot water and harsh chemicals. Hot water causes cotton to shrink and accelerates the fading of vibrant prints. Bleach and detergents with optical brighteners strip natural dyes and weaken fibres over time.

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Temperature Matters

Always use cold or lukewarm water. Hot water is the single fastest way to shrink cotton and fade hand-applied prints — avoid it entirely for handcrafted pieces.

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Keep It Gentle

In a washing machine, select the delicate or gentle cycle. Better yet, hand wash lighter or loosely woven pieces in a basin — the reduced agitation significantly extends their lifespan.

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Choose the Right Detergent

Use a mild, liquid, pH-neutral detergent. Avoid powder detergents, bleach, or anything labelled "brightening" — these strip natural dyes and slowly degrade artisan-dyed fibres.

Drying & ironing

After washing

Drying and Ironing

Cotton wrinkles naturally when washed. Regaining that crisp, elegant drape takes only a few minutes if you follow the right order.

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Air Dry — Skip the Tumble Dryer

Tumble dryers are the primary cause of cotton shrinkage and premature wear. Give your linens a firm shake after washing to release deep wrinkles, then hang to air dry. Always dry printed cotton in the shade — direct sunlight bleaches natural dyes remarkably fast.

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Iron While Still Slightly Damp

The residual moisture acts as natural steam, relaxing fibres effortlessly. Use a medium-to-high heat setting. For hand-block printed pieces, always iron on the reverse side to protect the motif and prevent dye transfer onto the iron's soleplate.

Stain treatment

Act quickly

Dealing with Stains

Unlike jute, cotton can handle targeted stain treatments — but speed still matters. Follow these five steps in order.

Never iron or dry a stained piece. Heat permanently bakes stains into cotton fibres. Always confirm the stain is gone before applying any heat.

1

Blot the spill. Immediately absorb as much liquid as possible with a clean, dry cloth. Do not rub — rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the cotton fibres. Press down firmly, lift, and repeat with a fresh section of cloth.
2

Pre-treat. Apply a gentle stain remover or a paste made of baking soda and water directly to the spot. Gently work it in with your fingers or a very soft brush.
3

Let it sit. Allow the pre-treatment to work for 15–20 minutes to break down the oils or pigments in the stain.
4

Wash normally. Launder the item in cold water as usual, using your mild pH-neutral detergent.
5

Inspect before drying. Check that the stain is completely gone before air drying or ironing. If a mark remains, repeat the pre-treatment — never apply heat until you are certain it has lifted.