We all have a go-to jeans wash cycle in our laundry machines. We stick to it most of the time and learn what rinses out best at which temperature. But your cotton kurta, silk saree and favourite jeans may all end up in the same laundry basket one day. They won’t all benefit from the same wash, though. Too hot a temperature or drying method can leave one garment smaller, another faded and a third out of shape.

Knowing when to wash at home and when to hand over your clothes to dry cleaning makes caring for your clothing easier. This list breaks down 20 common fabrics and offers helpful washing, drying, and care tips for each.

Before You Start: Check the Care Label

Always read the garment’s care label first. Its instructions take into account more than just the main fabric. Linings, dyes, prints, trims, and even garment construction can affect what that finished piece can handle.

Tips apply only when washing at home is permitted by the garment label. Ask for an assessment at your nearest store if the label is damaged or missing before experimenting with cleaning methods on a delicate or valuable piece.

Second, many items below are fibres, while others are fabric constructions. Cotton is a fibre that is used on its own or blended with others; satin is a weave that can be made from silk, polyester or other materials. Fabrics using the same name do not always have identical care guidelines.

How to Wash, Dry and Care for…

1.Cotton

Look in your cupboard for everyday cotton T-shirts, kurtas, shirts and bedsheets. Cotton is easy to care for, but do pay attention to colourfastness and shrinkage.

Wash: Use cool water for coloured everyday fabrics, grouping together similar colours. Use only warmer temperatures if the label specifies it’s okay.

Dry: Line dry coloured garments in the shade, or tumble dry on the setting allowed. Avoid over-drying clothes.

Care: Iron out creases before drying, if necessary. Cotton can be ironed while still slightly damp. Use the temperature specified on the label, avoiding direct heat on printed designs.

2.Linen

Linen trousers, shirts and suits keep you comfortable in warm weather. But do expect some creasing – it’s part of linen’s charm.

Wash: Opt for a gentle washing program that allows clothes room to move. Skip overly packed loads and aggressive scrubbing.

Dry: Reshape and allow to air dry. If the label allows tumble drying, remove the garment before it’s completely dry to reduce wrinkles and shrinkage.

Care: For a crisper look, iron while still slightly damp. But you don’t have to be so meticulous – linen creases naturally.

3.Wool

Your favourite wool jumper requires a different washing approach than a cotton shirt. Heat and agitation can make wool garments shrink and felt.

Wash: Opt for a wool-specific laundry detergent. Hand wash, or select a wool program only if the garment label allows it.

Dry: Remove excess water gently, without wringing. Shape the garment and lay knitwear flat to dry in the shade. Only tumble dry when absolutely permitted.

Care: Fold wool jumpers and knitwear for storage. A wool blazer may require professional cleaning even if that wool jumper is safe to wash at home.

4.Cashmere

Cashmere knitwear is delicate, and it can lose its shape if agitated too much when wet.

Wash: If hand washing is allowed, wash in the recommended cool or lukewarm water, and choose a detergent made for cashmere. Move clothing gently in water – don’t rub.

Dry: Gently press out water with a towel. Reshape, and lay cashmere knitwear flat to dry. Never hang a wet sweater by its shoulders.

Care: Fold cashmere instead of hanging it, and use a cashmere comb to remove pills carefully. Do not pick them off with your nails or hands.

5.Silk

Silk blouses, scarves, sarees and saris can vary significantly in dye stability, finish and decoration. Treat luxurious fabrics with care.

Wash: Only hand wash silk when the label specifically allows it. Use cool water and a detergent designed for silk fabrics. Never soak silk for long periods of time, and avoid scrubbing or using chlorine bleach.

Dry: Place silk on a towel and blot with another clean towel. Don’t twist. Reshape the garment gently and allow it to air dry away from direct sunlight.

Care: Turn silk items inside out and iron on the reverse at low heat if you must. Know that zari work, embroidery, and prints may have different care recommendations than the fibre. Check for colourfastness before washing silk that isn’t distinctly labelled Dry Clean Only.

6. Viscose or Rayon

Viscose fabric is commonly used in loose-fitting kurtas and dresses. However, regular viscose is delicate and should be handled carefully when wet.

Wash: Read the garment label carefully. If the item is washable, select a cool temperature and treat it gently. Do not scrub, wring, or agitate viscose violently.

Dry: Handle the wet garment carefully, reshape it, and lay flat to dry unless instructed otherwise. Most viscose garments will need flat drying to prevent stretching out of shape.

Care: Never try to force a shrunken garment back to its original shape by aggressively stretching it. Many items made from viscose will need to be professionally cleaned.

7.Modal

Modal tops, underwear and nightwear are soft and breathable. Like viscose, modal is frequently blended with other fibres.

Wash: Machine wash modal clothes inside out on a gentle cycle with similar colours. When machine washing is allowed, put delicate trims into a laundry bag first.

Dry: Allow modal garments to air dry. Supportively reshape stretchy knitwear; tumble dry on low heat if allowed.

Care: Follow laundering instructions for any additional fibres in the fabric blend, paying close attention to the requirements for elastane and delicate laces. Never assume that every modal fabric will have the same wash code.

8.Lyocell

Lyocell fabrics appear on shirts, dresses, trousers, suits and soft jersey items.

Wash: Machine wash when allowed. Lyocell garments usually indicate a gentle cool wash. Avoid loads that bunch up and rub against each other.

Dry: Give the garment its shape, then allow it to air dry as directed. Do not assume that tumble drying is allowed.

Care: Iron if necessary on a low setting approved by the care label. Lyocell is often printed on tags as TENCEL – this is a brand name that applies to fabrics made from both lyocell and modal, not a universal care code.

9.Polyester

Polyester is everywhere – in tees you toss in the wash every week, and in delicate pleated dresses that travel to the dry cleaner. Understand what type of polyester garment you have before you start cleaning.

Wash: When machine washing is allowed, turn the garment inside out first. Follow the specified temperature and washing instructions on the label.

Dry: Allow polyester fabrics to air dry, or use the low tumble setting if it’s allowed.

Care: Avoid using high heat when ironing. Prints, pleats and elastane fibres often carry stricter care instructions than polyester.

10.Nylon

From breezy summer tops to tights and activewear, nylon is versatile but can be delicate.

Wash: Allow nylon to soak in a cool, gentle wash, if permitted. Keep delicate nylon away from other clothes with metal zippers or snaps that could catch and tear.

Dry: Allow nylon to air dry, reshaping any knitted pieces flat as needed.

Care: Never use high heat on nylon. You can iron if needed and if allowed by the care label, but use the lowest recommended setting.

You know how dry cleaners recommend you take your wedding dress to a tailor for special cleaning and storage? Delicate fabrics combined with linings, lace, or embellishments need individualized care. Learn more about wedding dress care tips to find out what to consider before cleaning and storing your bridal gown.

11.Acrylic

Acrylic is mostly found in jumpers, scarves, and other winter apparel.

Wash: Check the care label instructions, and turn acrylic inside out before washing on a gentle program.

Dry: After washing, reshape and lay acrylic flat to dry unless instructed otherwise. Avoid using high heat in the dryer.

Care: Heavy acrylic knitwear should be folded for storage. Acrylic can be ironed if allowed, but only on the recommended setting. High heat can ruin the fabric.

12. Elastane or Spandex Blends

Spandex helps your leggings and body-con dresses keep their shape. It is rarely the only fibre present, however – look for care instructions for the whole fabric.

Wash: Wash elastane-blend clothing by hand, or choose a gentle washing program. Never use chlorine bleach, and don’t wring out the garment to dry it.

Dry: Supportively reshape wet elastane clothing. Hang to dry away from direct heat sources instead of assuming the dryer is appropriate.

Care: Do not iron fabrics containing elastane unless the care label specifically says it’s okay. Certain types of performance fabrics and swimwear will have additional care instructions to follow.

13.Denim

Denim is a cotton twill weave fabric. Jeans also contain elastic fibres for stretch.

Wash: Turn jeans inside out before washing them in cold water with like colours. Wash new dark denim separately, as the dye can run.

Dry: Allow denim to air dry. Air drying helps preserve your jeans’ shape and colour.

Care: Wash denim when it gets dirty from sweat and wear, not on a set schedule. Stretch denim will need to be cared for by following its fabric blend and care label.

14.Satin

Satin is smooth and shiny, but that doesn’t tell you whether it’s made from silk, polyester, nylon, or another fibre.

Wash: First check the fibre makeup. Polyester satin can go in the washing machine on a gentle cycle; silk satin may require hand washing or professional care.

Dry: Allow satin to air dry out of direct sunlight. Do not wring satin garments.

Care: Keep satin away from snagging jewellery or hooks and closures. If you know how to iron satin safely (allowing for the fabric type and any print or embellishments), iron the reverse side at a low heat with a pressing cloth.

15.Chiffon

Dupatta, sarees and party dresses are often made from chiffon, a light sheer fabric.

Wash: Gently hand wash chiffon that is labelled washable. Take special care if the chiffon is silk or decorated.

Dry: Gently squeeze out water without twisting and shape chiffon while air drying.

Care: Avoid sharp bra clips or washing jewellery that could snag chiffon. Check any labels about the fibre as well as decoration before deciding to machine wash chiffon.

16.Georgette

Lightly textured georgette is great for draping, which makes it popular for sarees and party dresses.

Wash: Consult the label. Just because one georgette blouse is washable at home doesn’t mean you can throw every georgette item in the laundry basket.

Dry: Like chiffon, do not wring georgette. Allow it to dry, supporting the fabric gently and out of direct sunlight.

Care: Iron with low, permitted heat. Do not try to iron out the texture of the fabric – it should have some body.

17.Velvet

Velvet fabrics have a distinct look with a raised pile. They can be cotton, wool, polyester, silk or a blend.

Wash: Velvet that is labelled Dry Clean Only requires professional cleaning. If you want to wash velvet at home, check that the tag allows it and seek advice if you’re unsure about a jacket or delicate/silk velvet.

Dry: Check the label to see if tumble drying is allowed. Never twist velvet clothes or pin onto drying racks by the pile.

Care: Steer clear of steamers and ironing velvet directly onto the pile. Store properly so air can circulate and velvet’s pile doesn’t get crushed.

18.Lace

Lace is made from many types of fibre, and should always be protected from pulling and snagging.

Wash: Hand wash lace if the garment label tells you to. Otherwise, toss it in a mesh bag and wash it on the gentle cycle.

Dry: Lay lace items flat to dry instead of hanging them. Manipulate dried lace gently – don’t stretch it into position.

Care: Hooks and jewellery can catch and tear lace. If your lace is old, fragile or beaded, consider professional laundering.

19.Corduroy

Deep ridges give corduroy texture and warmth. However, that also means they trap lint.

Wash: Turn corduroy garments inside out before washing to protect them. Wash them separately from towels and other lint-producing fabrics.

Dry: Give washable corduroy its shape before drying. Allow it to air dry, or tumble dry if the label allows.

Care: You can brush corduroy along the ribs to keep it clean and separated. When ironing along the reverse, use light pressure to avoid flattening corduroy completely.

20.Fleece

Here we’re referring to fleece fabric rather than animal fleece. Think casual jackets, winter fleece pants and sweatshirts.

Wash: Turn fleece jackets and pants inside out before washing. Zip up all fasteners, and wash using a gentle detergent cycle as the label instructs. Don’t use fabric softener on performance fleece unless the manufacturer specifically states it’s okay.

Dry: Air dry fleece, or tumble dry using a low heat setting if allowed.

Care: Avoid ironing fleece directly. Don’t let it brush against coarse fabrics while wearing or washing to prevent pilling.

Fabric Care Mistakes to Avoid

Sorting everything by one washer setting: Sort your laundry by colour, care instructions, and weight of fabric. Delicate blouse fabric should never be washed with stiff denim on a rough cycle.

Using too much detergent: Measure detergent for the size of your load, the soil level and water hardness using the bottle instructions. Using more doesn’t make your laundry soap work harder.

Drying clothes in direct sunlight: Save strong sunlight for colour-fast garments. Dry delicates, jeans and winter clothes in a shaded but well-ventilated area. Allow more space between garments when humidity prevents them from drying efficiently.

Leaving clothes piled up while they’re still damp: Make sure clothes are thoroughly dry before folding and putting away. Pay special attention to seams, waistbands and thick folds – they may not feel damp to the touch, but could be harbouring moisture.

Applying every stain your grandma told you about to every stain: Stains differ just like fabric does. Gentle blotting is always a good idea – but don’t be afraid to ask your local Mr. Blue store for help when treating a stain. Also avoid applying bleach, acids, or abrasive homemade potions to delicate fabrics.

Give Each Garment the Right Care

Sorting laundry before tossing it all in the washing machine can help you avoid these common laundry mistakes. Check the label, take note of drying methods, and give delicates the attention they require.

You don’t have to understand all these fabrics yourself. If you’re unsure about how to properly wash your saree, blazer, or special occasion outfit, bring it to your nearest mr.blue store. We can help you assess it and recommend professional cleaning if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions