At The Thread Theory, we want your pieces to look beautiful for as long as possible. Follow this guide to get the most out of every garment — and to protect the fabrics you love.
Before You Do Anything — Good Habits That Protect Every Garment
A few simple habits before you even start washing will extend the life of your clothes significantly.
Sort your laundry properly
- Separate whites from light colours, and light colours from darks — dark dyes including deep red, navy, and black can bleed onto lighter fabrics
- Wash brand new clothes separately for the first few washes
- Keep delicate fabrics like eyelet, sequins, and beads separate from heavier items like jeans
- Never wash towels with clothes — the rough texture causes friction and pilling
Prep each garment before washing
- Always turn clothes inside out — this reduces friction on the outer surface, prevents pilling, and protects colour
- Fasten all zips, hooks, snaps, and velcro — unfastened hardware snags other fabrics and causes pulls
- Tie sashes and strings to prevent tangles
- Remove pins and empty all pockets
- Never soak clothes — prolonged soaking weakens fibres over time
Apply perfumes, deodorants, and moisturisers before getting dressed Chemicals in these products can stain fabric and are difficult to remove once they set. Letting them dry on your skin first significantly reduces the risk of fabric damage.
Washing: The Basics That Apply to Everything
Always use cold water (20°C) Warm or hot water weakens fabric fibres, causes colours to fade faster, and can cause shrinkage — particularly in natural fabrics like cotton. Never exceed 30°C.
Choose a gentle detergent Always opt for mild fragrance, non-fragrance, or baby-safe detergents. Avoid "2-in-1" detergents that combine stain removal and washing — their stronger chemical formula is more abrasive and can weaken fabrics over time. Never use fabric softener on our garments.
Treat stains separately before washing Act as quickly as possible — blot liquids immediately to prevent spreading. Treat the stain before putting the garment in the machine. Never put a stained garment in the dryer as heat sets stains permanently into the fabric.
Machine wash settings
- Use a short wash cycle — the less time clothes are spun around, the longer they last
- Select a low spin speed (400 RPM) — slower spin reduces creasing and is gentler on fabric
- Always place delicate garments in a mesh laundry bag
No dryer Heat damages most fabrics, causes shrinkage, and sets stains. Air dry on a clothesline or drying rack instead. The dryer is best reserved for towels and heavy non-printed items — even then, repeated runs may cause shrinkage.
Fabric-Specific Care
Satin
Satin is smooth and lustrous but snags easily. Before wearing, avoid jewellery or bags with sharp or metal edges that could hook onto the fabric.
- Turn inside out and machine wash at 20°C on a gentle cycle (400 RPM spin)
- Place in a mesh laundry bag
- Ensure all zips and hooks are fastened — these cause thread runs
- No soaking. No dryer.
- Treat stains before washing with a gentle detergent only
Polyester
One of the more forgiving fabrics, but still benefits from gentle care to maintain its shape and finish.
- Turn inside out and machine wash at 20°C on a gentle cycle (400 RPM spin)
- Place in a mesh laundry bag
- No soaking. No dryer.
- Gentle detergent only
Denim
Denim is hardwearing but over-washing fades the colour and breaks down fibres prematurely. Denim dye — particularly in darker washes — is not fully colourfast and can bleed onto other fabrics. Always wash denim separately from light-coloured garments to avoid permanent dye transfer.
- Wash as infrequently as possible — denim can be worn multiple times before it needs a wash
- Wash separately from light-coloured garments
- Turn inside out and machine wash at 20°C on a gentle cycle (400 RPM spin)
- No soaking. No dryer.
- Gentle detergent only
Cotton, Linen, Tencel & Eyelet
These breathable natural and semi-natural fabrics respond best to hand washing, which helps them retain their shape. Cotton eyelet is particularly prone to shrinkage — because cotton fibres are natural and absorbent, heat causes them to contract permanently. Cold water and air drying are essential for these pieces.
- Hand washing is strongly preferred
- If machine washing: place in a mesh laundry bag, gentle cycle at 20°C, low spin (400 RPM)
- Avoid hot water and the dryer entirely — cotton eyelet will shrink and cannot be restored
- No soaking. Gentle detergent only
- Avoid mixing with heavy items like jeans
Printed & Multi-Coloured Fabrics
The dyes used in printed and multi-coloured garments can run when exposed to water or agitation.
- Do not soak
- Do not machine wash
- Hand wash gently, turned inside out
- Iron inside out on low heat
Lace & Crochet
Lace and crochet are highly delicate — machine washing risks tearing the material and soaking causes significant shrinkage.
- Do not soak
- Do not machine wash
- Hand wash gently with mild detergent
- Iron on low heat over a folded handkerchief, or use a steam iron
Chiffon, Silk & Other Thin Materials
These fabrics are prone to tearing under machine washing conditions.
- Do not machine wash
- Hand wash gently
- Iron on low heat over a folded handkerchief, or use a steam iron
Pleated Fabrics
Ironing destroys pleats permanently — never iron directly over them.
- Do not iron the pleats
- After washing, hang by the waist and allow to air dry — gravity naturally restores the pleats
Sequined Garments
Sequins are delicate and can detach or scratch other fabrics easily.
- Hand wash gently and separately with mild detergent only
- Dab to remove stains — do not rub
- No soaking. No wringing. No tumble drying.
- Avoid pairing with accessories that could catch on sequins when dressing
- Note: some excess sequin flakes at source are normal and not a defect — these can be dusted off easily
White Garments
White fabrics naturally lose brightness over repeated washes. To restore whiteness: dilute approximately 120ml of white vinegar in 3.8 litres of water. Soak briefly, then rinse thoroughly. Do not over-apply. Hang to dry in sunlight.
Ironing & Steaming
- Always iron on low heat
- For delicate fabrics, place a folded handkerchief or thin cloth between the iron and the garment
- A steam iron is the safest and most recommended option for most fabrics
- Never iron directly over sequins, beads, or pleats
For questions about a specific garment or fabric, feel free to reach out to us at enquiry@TheThreadTheory.com