How to wash cotton to maintain its properties and quality

Properties of cotton – what are the characteristics of this material?

Cotton is a natural material obtained from cotton bushes. The largest cotton plantations are located in India, China, the United States and Brazil, from where the crops of the plant are delivered to spinning mills around the world. Cotton manufacturers distinguish five basic types of material:

• Cretonne, most often used to make clothes and bedding;
• Satin, used for making bed linen and bathrobes;
• Voile, most often used to create curtains;
• Gabardine, from which skirts, coats and jackets are made;
• Linen-like fabric used for the production of light clothing and bedding.

Another type of fabric is organic cotton, obtained from fully ecological crops. According to manufacturers, clothes, bedspreads , bedding and towels made of this type of material are much more durable and resistant to stretching, shrinking or pilling.

The most important properties of cotton include softness, lightness and breathability of the fabric. Cotton clothes are extremely pleasant to the touch, and additionally this material is suitable for people struggling with allergies. It is worth emphasizing that cotton is resistant to heat, so it can be used to make bedding and towels that require washing at a higher temperature.

What's more, cotton fabric is susceptible to dyeing, which is why this material is used to produce clothes or bedding with colourful prints. In addition, cotton is easy to clean and resistant to any mechanical damage. It is worth knowing that a huge advantage of this fabric is the ease of removing stains, thanks to which cotton can be used to create durable tablecloths or kitchen towels.

Washing cotton – what you need to know?

Many people wonder how to wash cotton so that it does not lose its properties and serves for many months or even years. First of all, remember to review the labels in clothes, bedding and towels, and adjust the washing machine settings to the manufacturer's recommendations. In addition, remember to segregate fabrics by colour and type of material. At the same time, it is recommended to wash clothes separately, according to their category. It is worth separating thin cotton T-shirts from thicker trousers or elegant shirts.

Does cotton stretch with washing and wearing?

When washing cotton clothing, there is no need to worry about the material stretching due to water absorption. While cotton clothing may change shape when stretching wet fabric for a long time, the material should return to its original appearance with standard washing and drying. It is worth emphasizing that cotton clothing may stretch slightly when worn, but when looking for flexible clothing that fits the body, cotton with added elastane will be a better choice.

At what degrees should I wash cotton?

The temperature at which cotton is washed depends primarily on the type of product, its colour, and any decorations. Although some sources say that cotton can be washed at up to 90 degrees Celsius, washing a printed T-shirt at such a temperature may result in its destruction. To make everyday washing easier for you, we have presented the general rules for caring for cotton clothing, bedding, and towels below.

How to wash cotton clothes?

Cotton clothes in light colours without prints or decorations can be washed at 90 degrees. In the case of T-shirts with numerous, glued decorations, hand washing is recommended so that the rhinestones or other elements do not fall off during standard washing in the washing machine. Coloured cotton clothes should be washed at a temperature not higher than 60 degrees, which could affect the shade of the clothes. Interestingly, intense shades can be fixed and protected from fading by adding a small amount of vinegar to the last rinse.

How to wash cotton bed linen?

Cotton bedding should be washed at temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius. However, the manufacturer's recommendations should be checked each time, as some materials may require washing at a lower temperature due to different types of weave. To prevent the bedding from creasing too much, you can skip the spin cycle and after washing, spread the material out to dry on a wide dryer. To make the bedding pleasant to the touch, you can pour a delicate fabric softener into the washing machine. Washing hotel bedding multiple times does not damage the texture of the bedding, because these beddings are very durable.

How to wash cotton towels?

Cotton towels should be washed at a temperature of 40-60 degrees. In order for the fabrics to retain their softness, it is not recommended to use fabric softener, which penetrates the cotton fibres and makes the towels rough. Similar rules apply to washing soft cotton bathrobes. If the fabrics are not pleasant to the touch, the next time you wash, it is worth pouring a glass of baking soda instead of powder, and half a glass of vinegar instead of fabric softener. This mixture will restore the original softness of the materials.

Ironing and Drying Cotton – What’s the Best Way to Do It?

Cotton clothing and other products can be dried in a tumble dryer, but remember to dry at a low temperature. Too high a temperature could cause the fabric to shrink. When drying on a standard clothes dryer, remember to shake the fabric thoroughly, which will prevent the material from shrinking and make ironing easier.

To straighten out creases in clothing and bedding, remember to set the iron to the optimum temperature. For cotton, it is 150-180 degrees. Also, remember that when ironing dark clothes, it is recommended to turn them inside out, which will prevent the colour from fading.

Washing and caring for cotton – summary

Cotton is a valued fabric, mainly due to its high durability, breathability and the possibility of use by people prone to allergies. However, to be sure that the material is of good quality, you should choose products from proven manufacturers who sew clothes, bedding and towels from the best fibres. In addition, it is worth following the rules of washing, drying and ironing when using products every day, which has a huge impact on their durability.