How to Wash Fleece Without Wrecking the Loft
Polyester fleece hates two things: high heat and fabric softener. Wash it cold with a mild detergent, skip the softener, and dry low or hang.
Fabric Care
Keep wool, silk, leather, technical and everyday fabrics looking their best for longer
Fabric care is what happens between washes: how you store, refresh, de-pill and protect a textile decides how long it lasts. A wool jumper kept folded rather than hung holds its shape for years; a technical jacket re-proofed on schedule keeps repelling water. Our guides cover each fibre family — natural, synthetic and technical — and explain how to read the ISO 3758 care symbols printed on every label.
12 articles
How to Wash Linen Without Shrinking It
Linen is stronger than cotton and softens with every wash. Wash it cool and gentle, skip the softener, air-dry, and iron it damp.
How to Wash Spandex Without Wrecking the Stretch
Wash spandex cool, skip the dryer and the hot iron, and never chlorine-bleach it. It's almost always a blend, so the care label governs. Heat is the enemy.
How to Wash Viscose Without Shrinking or Distorting It
Hand wash viscose in cool water, never wring, then dry it flat. It weakens when wet, so machine wash only if the label allows. The label always wins.
How to Wash Cashmere Without Ruining It
Hand washing is safest for cashmere: cool water, an enzyme-free wool wash, never wring. Some pieces machine-wash on a cold wool cycle if the label allows.
How to Get Smell Out of Clothes (Sweat, Musty, Smoke)
Get sweat, musty and smoke smells out of clothes with a vinegar or baking-soda soak, the right temperature, oxygen bleach and enzymes — and clean your machine.
How to Remove Pilling From Clothes (and Stop It Coming Back)
Pilling is loose fibres rubbed into balls. Remove pills with a fabric shaver, comb or stone — flat, light strokes — then prevent more with a cool, gentle wash.
How to Wash Cotton Without Shrinking or Fading It
Cotton can shrink with heat, moisture and agitation. Wash cool, dry low, sort by colour, and follow the care label to protect size and shade.
How to Wash Jeans Without Fading Them
Wash jeans inside out, cold, on a gentle cycle, then air-dry in the shade. Fading is normal; this source-backed routine slows it down.
How to Wash Polyester Without Damaging It
Polyester is durable but heat-sensitive and odour-prone. Wash cool, skip softener on performance synthetics, dry low or air-dry.
How to Wash Silk Without Ruining It
Wash silk only when the label allows it: cold water, silk-safe detergent, no wringing, and flat shade drying. Skip risky pieces.
How to Wash a Wool Sweater Without Shrinking It
Wool shrinks from heat, agitation and alkalinity. Wash cold on a wool cycle with a mild neutral detergent, low spin, and dry flat.
FAQ
What do the symbols on a care label mean?
Care labels follow the ISO 3758 / GINETEX standard: a tub means washing, a square means drying, an iron means ironing, a circle means professional cleaning, and a triangle means bleaching. A cross through any symbol means 'do not'.
How do you stop knitwear from pilling?
Wash inside out on a gentle cycle, avoid friction with rough fabrics like denim, and use a fabric shaver to remove pills. Lower spin speeds also reduce abrasion.
Should wool be hung or folded?
Fold wool. Hanging stretches the knit under its own weight and distorts the shoulders. Store clean and dry, ideally with cedar or lavender to deter moths.