Give long life to sustainable fabrics

In today’s world people are moving more towards using eco-friendly/sustainable products. But often the products wear out due to improper care. Here are some tips from

Mrinmayee Kundalia, CEO and Founder of Tuni Tales, on how to maintain sustainable fabrics.

Washing: Washing sustainable fabrics by hand in cold water separately ensure longevity and eliminate any risk of pilling.

For cushions with zippers, avoid bending the fabric while you wash. A flat lay wash is most suitable. This also ensures even spread of detergent and water.

For curtains, it is a good practice to use a dry roller to gather the top dust. This can be done once every fortnight. Once a year, professional dry cleaning is recommended. Curtains can be spot cleaned in case of any spillage, but do not use bleach.

Storage: Store these fabrics in a dry place, away from any mist or moisture is of utmost importance. A light muslin cover on them always helps.

To store table runners, rugs, quilts, any products that are long, it is a good idea to roll it instead of folding. Rolling ensures that the yarns lie comfortably eliminating any risk of wear and tear at the fold.

Ironing: Sustainable fabrics have an inherent texture and slubs due to the handcrafted yarn. Do not try to iron out the texture as it will reduce the strength of the yarn Instead iron these fabrics on a medium to low heat.

Read the fibre content on the product and adjust the iron to the suitable heat setting. For instance, cotton can be ironed at a higher temperature than silk. The right iron can help reducing damage.

Drying: Sun drying/air drying works for yarn dyed cottons but not always for fabric dyed cottons. Hence, be careful how you dry after washing them.