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Cotton
Cotton is durable, breathable and easy to care for, but prone to shrinking in heat and fading from sun and bleach.
At a glance
- Washing
- Machine, normal cycle
- Temperature
- 30–40 °C (whites up to 60 °C)
- Drying
- Line-dry or low heat
- Ironing
- Hot setting, slightly damp
- Bleaching
- Whites only; no bleach on colours
Washing
- Sort by colour: keep whites away from colours so nothing bleeds, especially the first few washes.
- Wash regular cotton at 30–40 °C; plain whites can go to 60 °C if the label allows.
- Wash prints, slogans and dark colours inside-out — less fading and abrasion.
- Don't overdose detergent — residue stiffens the fabric and speeds fading.
Preventing shrinkage
- Cotton shrinks most on its first hot wash — choose cool water.
- Avoid high dryer heat; line-dry or use a low setting instead.
- For pieces you care about, wash cold and air-dry — that keeps the fit longest.
Drying
- Line-dry or tumble on low, and take it out while still slightly damp.
- Dry darks and brights in the shade — direct sun fades the colour.
- Whites, on the other hand, are brightened naturally by the sun.
Ironing & wrinkles
- Iron on a hot setting while still slightly damp; spray dry cotton with water first.
- Taking it out of the machine promptly and shaking it out leaves far fewer wrinkles.
Stain removal
- Pre-treat stains before washing — dab on detergent or a stain remover and let it sit.
- White cotton can be bleached; on colours use an oxygen (chlorine-free) remover.
- Drying sets a stain, so make sure it's gone before you dry.
Common mistakes
- Hot washing and high dryer heat are the main causes of shrinking.
- Chlorine bleach on coloured cotton leaves permanent marks.