How to Care for your Handwoven Goods for Years of Enjoyment
Your handwoven items will give you many years of enjoyment with proper care. Many items I have already washed and dried in hot water and heat to get all the shrinkage out so you don’t have any surprises. However, I recommend future washing as listed below. Never use bleach as this will break down the fibers.
Cotton items; machine wash with warm to cool water and machine dry using low to medium heat depending on your drier. For Cotton Dishtowels I also recommend not using fabric softeners as this retards absorbency.
Wool items; need extra care to make sure they don’t shrink and felt. Hand washing or soaking blankets and scarves with little agitation is best. I use Eucalan no rinse wash. Squeeze, do not twist or wring out the water. Roll in a towel to soak up the excess water; Dry Flat. Wool items may also be machine washed on the wool setting in cold water and laid flat to dry. Scarves and Blankets with fringe; I recommend hand washing with little agitation to prevent the fringe from felting.
Linin items; machine wash with warm to cool water and machine dry using low to medium heat depending on your drier. Ironing/pressing dry while still damp will give a lustrous shine.
Cotton and Linen blends; machine wash with warm to cool water and machine dry using low to medium heat depending on your drier. For cotton/linen dishtowels do not use fabric softeners as this retards absorbency.
Silk items should be hand washed with a mild hair shampoo as silk is a protein fiber and rinsed in clean water. Squeeze do not twist or wring out the water, then roll in a towel to soak up the excess water. Dry flat and iron/press while still damp on the silk setting.
Tencil/ Rayon; machine wash with warm to cool water and machine dry using low to medium heat depending on your drier.
Synthetics; machine wash with warm to cool water and machine dry using low to medium heat. A high heat dryer can damage or melt the fibers.