How to care for your textiles

Every fabric ages differently. Cotton softens with washing; polyester holds its shape but can pill if abraded; wool needs cool water and patience; silk rewards careful handling with decades of use. This guide covers the care principles behind the most common fabric types, with specific advice for printed textiles like the pieces in our range.

Cotton and cotton blends

Cotton is forgiving. It tolerates warm water, tumble drying, and ironing without complaint. It does, however, shrink — typically 3-5% on the first wash if the garment was not pre-shrunk during manufacturing. Most quality garments are pre-shrunk, but it is worth checking the label.

Washing: Machine wash warm (30-40 C) or cold. Cotton handles detergent well; use a standard amount. Turn printed cotton garments inside-out to reduce abrasion on the print surface.

Drying: Tumble dry on low or medium. Remove promptly to reduce wrinkling. Line-drying is gentler and extends the life of any printed finish.

Ironing: Cotton irons well on a medium-high setting. Iron printed areas on the reverse side (inside-out) to protect the print.

Stain removal: Treat stains immediately. Cold water for protein stains (blood, egg, milk); warm water with detergent for oil-based stains. Avoid bleach on coloured or printed cotton.

Polyester and performance synthetics

Polyester is the backbone of printed apparel and home textiles because it accepts sublimation dyes permanently — the dye bonds at a molecular level with the fibre, which is why sublimation prints do not crack, peel, or fade the way surface prints on cotton can. The trade-off is that polyester does not breathe as well as natural fibres, and it can develop static and pilling over time.

Washing: Machine wash cold or warm (never hot — high temperatures can set wrinkles permanently into polyester). Use a gentle cycle for printed pieces. A mesh laundry bag protects delicate prints and prevents snagging.

Drying: Tumble dry low. Polyester dries quickly; over-drying generates static and can cause pilling. Remove as soon as the cycle ends. Air-drying is ideal.

Ironing: Low heat only. Polyester melts at high temperatures. Use a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric if ironing is necessary. Most polyester garments do not need ironing if removed from the dryer promptly.

Pilling: If pills develop (small fibre balls on the surface), use a fabric shaver or a fresh disposable razor drawn gently across the surface. Washing inside-out and using a laundry bag reduces pilling over time.

Wool and wool blends

Wool is naturally resilient — it resists odour, repels light moisture, and springs back from creasing. But it is vulnerable to heat, agitation, and alkaline detergents, all of which cause felting (the fibres lock together irreversibly, shrinking the garment).

Washing: Hand wash in cool water (below 30 C) with a wool-specific detergent or a pH-neutral liquid soap. Soak for 10 minutes, gently press (do not wring or twist), rinse in water of the same temperature. Some wool items are labelled machine-washable — use the wool or delicate cycle only.

Drying: Never tumble dry wool. Lay flat on a clean towel, reshape gently, and allow to air-dry away from direct heat or sunlight. Hanging wet wool stretches it out of shape.

Storage: Fold rather than hang. Store with cedar blocks or lavender sachets to deter moths. Ensure the garment is clean before long-term storage — moths are attracted to body oils and food residue, not to clean wool.

Silk and satin

Silk is strong but delicate on the surface. It does not tolerate rough handling, chlorine, or high heat. The reward for careful treatment is a fabric that keeps its lustre and drape for years.

Washing: Hand wash in cool water with a silk-specific detergent or a few drops of baby shampoo. Swirl gently; do not scrub. Rinse in cool water with a splash of white vinegar to restore pH balance and lustre.

Drying: Roll in a clean towel to press out moisture (do not wring). Lay flat or hang on a padded hanger away from direct sunlight. Silk dries quickly.

Ironing: Iron on the lowest setting while still slightly damp, on the reverse side. Never use steam directly on silk — water spots are difficult to remove.

Stain removal: Blot immediately with a dry cloth. Take silk items with stubborn stains to a dry cleaner; home stain treatments often leave water marks worse than the original stain.

Leather and faux leather

Leather footwear and accessories require different care from fabric textiles. The principles are: keep it clean, keep it conditioned, and keep it dry when not in use.

Cleaning: Wipe with a damp cloth after each wear to remove surface dirt. For deeper cleaning, use a leather-specific cleaner applied with a soft cloth. Do not submerge leather in water.

Conditioning: Apply a leather conditioner every 2-3 months (more often in dry climates). Conditioning prevents cracking and keeps the leather supple. For printed leather, test the conditioner on a small hidden area first to ensure it does not affect the print.

Drying: If leather gets wet, allow it to dry naturally at room temperature. Never use a hairdryer or place leather near a radiator — heat causes the fibres to stiffen and crack.

Storage: Store in a cool, dry place with shoe trees (for footwear) to maintain shape. Use dust bags for long-term storage. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture.

Faux leather: Clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. Faux leather does not need conditioning but benefits from being stored away from direct sunlight, which can cause the surface to crack over time.

Caring for printed textiles specifically

Printed textiles — whether sublimation-printed polyester or direct-to-garment printed cotton — benefit from a few extra precautions:

• Wash inside-out. This reduces friction on the printed surface during the wash cycle.
• Cold water preferred. Cold water is gentler on all print types. Hot water will not damage a sublimation print, but it may shorten the life of a DTG print over many washes.
• Avoid bleach and harsh stain removers. Chlorine bleach and oxygen-based stain removers can affect print colour. Spot-treat stains with a mild detergent instead.
• Skip fabric softener on printed items. Softener leaves a coating that can dull the appearance of prints over time. If you want softness, use a half-cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle instead.
• Air-dry when possible. Air drying is always the gentlest option. If tumble-drying, use the lowest heat setting and remove promptly.

When something goes wrong

If a Thread Domain product arrives with a print defect, or if the print degrades unusually within the first few washes despite following care instructions, email [email protected] with photographs. We stand behind our print quality and will replace defective items at no cost.