If you've chosen an ILO garment it probably is because you apreciate the quality of organic cotton, and would like to make your clothes last for longer than mass-produced baby and children's fashion. We understand, that is also why we do it, and to help you get the absolute most of your ILO here are some good ways of caring for your organic cotton clothes.
#1. Wash only when absolutely necessary.
Often, dabbing with a wet cloth on a stain that is only on one area of your clothes is enough to give it another wear or two. And simply put, the less you wash an item of clothing, the more it will last.
#2. When you do wash, do it at 30C max and in a slow spin cycle.
Cold washing your organic cotton ensures it shrinks a max of 5% after the first wash and no more, and doesn't damage the fibres of your garment, keeping their natural strength.
#3. If your garment is stained.
Soak your garment in cold water with a non-bio detergent mixed in for about 2 hours, then wash as normal. If it's a small localized stain, dabbing gently with a soapy wet cloth can be enough.
#4. Drying your ILO.
Tumble drying is the worst thing you can do to your organic cotton clothes. The heat and the tumbling weaken the cotton fibers and will shorten the life of your item. Appart from it being a very energy-consuming way of drying clothes.
It is best to hang dry, simply shake to get rid of wrinkles and hang to dry as extended as possible.
#5. If you need to iron your ILO.
It is absolutely fine to iron your organic cotton clothing, make sure it's at a low heat and where possible inside out.
#6. What NOT to do.
Do not use bleach or any other shop bought stain-removing agents, bicarbonate soda is the top most you should use for stubborn stains, and patience.
Also, don't wring out, dry in full sun unless inside out or use bio detergents.
#7. When mending is the only way.
Sometimes cotton fabric unfortunately comes into contact with a surface that is so abrassive there is not way it will hold, like a pavement. After the knee has healed and you are ready to tackle the damage on the clothes, you can follow a little japanese method I like called Boro; in it you get another piece of jersey which can be from an old t-shirt or such, and place it in the back inside the hole, then you stitch backs and forths joining the two fabrics in all directions and making sure you particularly catch all the edges. You end up with visible stitches, so make sure you use a thread you like, either to camouflage or to contrast. I like to think of the visible mending like a scar, proof of having had an adventure and having come out the other side stronger.
Do you have any other top washing or caring for clothes tips? we'd love to hear them in the comments bellow!
Thank you for reading and here is wishing for many years of ILO wear!