Fabric care guide.

A reference for washing, drying, storing, and packing each fabric. Find yours below, or use the jump bar.

How you wash, dry, store, and pack a garment shapes how it fits, feels, and holds up.

Read the care label before you wash anything, especially wool, silk, leather, and anything lined, coated, or embellished.

And when in doubt? Wash cold, gentle cycle, skip the high heat, and air dry.

Still deciding what to buy? Shop smarter covers what to check before you do.

How to care for each fabric.

Cotton, organic cotton, and recycled cotton

Cotton is usually easy to wash, but it can shrink, wrinkle, fade, or stretch depending on the fabric construction and drying method.

Best care practices

Wash cold or warm.
Wash dark colors inside out.
Use a normal or gentle cycle depending on the garment.
Air dry when possible to reduce shrinkage.
Tumble dry low if the label allows.
Remove promptly from the dryer to reduce wrinkles.

Watch out for

Cotton knits stretch if hung up wet.

Recycled cotton may be slightly less strong than virgin cotton, so lower heat and gentler washing can help it last longer.

Linen, hemp, and ramie

Linen, hemp, and ramie are breathable plant fibers that are usually durable but wrinkle easily and may shrink with high heat.

Best care practices

Wash cold or lukewarm.
Use a gentle cycle.
Avoid overcrowding the washer.
Air dry or tumble dry low if allowed.
Steam or iron while slightly damp for a smoother look.

Watch out for

Structured linen, hemp, or ramie garments with lining may need professional cleaning.

Wool, merino, cashmere, alpaca, and mohair

Animal-hair fibers usually need gentle washing, flat drying, and folded storage to prevent shrinking, felting, stretching, or pilling.

Best care practices

Air out between wears.
Spot clean when possible.
Hand wash cold or use a wool cycle if the label allows.
Use wool-safe detergent.
Do not wring or twist.
Roll in a towel to remove excess water.
Lay flat to dry.
Store folded, not hung.

Watch out for

Heat, agitation, and friction can shrink or felt wool fibers. Cashmere and soft wool blends may pill in high-friction areas. Mohair can shed or mat if washed too aggressively.

Structured wool coats, blazers, and suits usually need professional cleaning.

Silk

Silk is delicate and prone to water marks, staining, and heat damage, so hand washing or professional cleaning may be needed.

Best care practices

Hand wash cold only if washable.
Use silk-safe or delicate detergent.
Do not soak for long.
Do not wring.
Roll in a towel to remove water.
Air dry away from direct sunlight.
Steam or iron on low from the reverse side.

Watch out for

Deodorant, perfume, and oil mark it. Structured, lined, printed, pleated, or dark silk is often dry clean only.

Down and feather

Down and feather insulation need careful washing and thorough drying to prevent clumping, odor, or loss of loft.

Best care practices

Wash only when needed.
Follow the care label closely.
Use down-specific detergent if washing at home.
Use a gentle cycle.
Rinse thoroughly.
Tumble dry low with dryer balls to restore loft.
Make sure it is fully dry before storing.

Watch out for

Damp down clumps, smells, and stops insulating, so dry it completely. Delicate shells or leather trim may need a professional.

Leather and suede

Leather and suede should usually be spot cleaned, protected from moisture, and professionally cleaned when needed.

Best care practices

Spot clean gently.
Use leather or suede-specific products.
Keep away from direct heat.
Air dry naturally if damp.
Store in a breathable garment bag.
Consider professional cleaning for major stains.

Watch out for

Suede stains easily and can be difficult to clean. Leather trims on otherwise washable garments can make the entire item harder to care for.

Viscose / rayon and bamboo viscose

Viscose and rayon are soft and drapey, but they can shrink, wrinkle, or weaken when wet.

Best care practices

Hand wash cold or use a delicate cycle if washable.
Use mild detergent.
Avoid twisting or wringing.
Lay flat or hang carefully to dry.
Steam to release wrinkles.

Watch out for

Some viscose is dry clean only, and the wrong wash can shrink it a lot.

Modal, lyocell, and TENCEL™

Modal, lyocell, and TENCEL™ are usually softer and easier to care for than viscose, but cold washing and gentle drying help preserve shape.

Best care practices

Wash cold.
Use a gentle cycle.
Turn inside out.
Use mild detergent.
Air dry or tumble dry low if allowed.
Steam to remove wrinkles.

Watch out for

They can wrinkle, shrink slightly, or water-spot, depending on the finish.

Acetate, triacetate, and cupro

Acetate, triacetate, and cupro are silky semi-synthetic fibers often used in linings and occasionwear, and may require delicate care.

Best care practices

Dry clean if recommended.
Hand wash cold only if allowed.
Avoid wringing.
Air dry.
Steam gently.
Avoid high heat.

Watch out for

Heat can make acetate lose shape or turn shiny, and lined pieces often need dry cleaning.

Polyester and recycled polyester

Polyester is durable and easy to wash, but it can hold odor, pill, shed microfibers, and be damaged by high heat.

Best care practices

Wash cold or warm.
Turn inside out.
Use mild detergent.
Avoid fabric softener for activewear.
Air dry or tumble dry low.
Wash sweaty activewear soon after wearing.

Watch out for

High heat can set stains and odors and damage finishes. Fleece and brushed polyester shed more, so wash them gently.

Nylon / polyamide and recycled nylon

Nylon is strong and smooth, but high heat can damage it, so cool washing and air drying are usually best.

Best care practices

Wash cold.
Use a gentle cycle for delicate items.
Air dry when possible.
Keep away from high heat.
Rinse swimwear after chlorine or saltwater exposure.
Wash lingerie and tights in a mesh bag.

Watch out for

Nylon can snag, melt, or lose shape under high heat.

Acrylic

Acrylic is easy to wash but can pill, stretch, shed, and lose shape, especially with heat or friction.

Best care practices

Wash cold.
Use a gentle cycle.
Turn inside out.
Lay flat to dry for knits.
Use a fabric shaver carefully for pills.

Watch out for

Knits stretch out if hung.

Elastane / spandex / Lycra®

Stretch fibers help garments move with your body, but heat, bleach, and fabric softener can break them down over time.

Best care practices

Wash cold.
Avoid bleach.
Avoid fabric softener.
Air dry when possible.
Keep away from high heat.
Rinse swimwear after chlorine or saltwater.

Watch out for

If leggings, jeans, socks, or swimwear start sagging, the elastane is breaking down.

Polyurethane, faux leather, and coated fabrics

Polyurethane, faux leather, and coated fabrics should usually be wiped clean and kept away from high heat to prevent peeling or cracking.

Best care practices

Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Use mild soap if needed.
Air dry.
Store away from heat and direct sun.
Hang structured faux leather garments carefully.

Watch out for

Don't machine wash it unless the label says you can.

How to make clothes last longer.

Wash less often when appropriate

Underwear, socks, workout clothes, baby clothes, and anything sweaty or stained need a wash after each wear. Jeans, sweaters, jackets, coats, and wool can go several wears between washes.

Airing garments out between wears can reduce washing and help them last longer.

Wash cold

Cold water is gentler on most fabrics and can reduce shrinking, fading, and energy use.

Save warm water for heavily soiled items, towels, and bedding.

Use the right detergent

Mild detergent for everyday clothing
Wool detergent for wool and cashmere
Silk or delicate detergent for silk and delicate pieces
Sport detergent for odor-prone activewear
Fragrance-free detergent for sensitive skin or baby clothes

Too much detergent builds up, stiffens clothes, and traps odor.

Avoid fabric softener when possible

Softener coats fibers, which is especially bad for activewear, towels, water-repellent fabrics, elastane blends, and moisture-wicking fabrics.

Turn garments inside out

Turning clothes inside out helps reduce friction, fading, pilling, and surface wear.

This is especially useful for dark colors, printed garments, denim, activewear, embellished items, and soft knits.

Use mesh laundry bags

Mesh bags help protect delicate items from stretching, snagging, and friction.

Use them for lingerie, tights, swimwear, and delicate knits.

Air dry when possible

Air drying is gentler than machine drying and keeps shape, color, and stretch. Dry wool, cashmere, alpaca, heavy knits, and stretchy pieces flat; hang shirts, dresses, lightweight cotton, and linen.

Avoid direct sunlight for dark or bright colors, which may fade.

Treat stains quickly

The sooner you treat a stain, the better.

Blot, do not rub.
Use cold water first for many stains.
Avoid heat until the stain is removed.
Test stain removers in a hidden area.
Do not aggressively scrub delicate fabrics.

Storage tips.

Store clean

Sweat, body oils, food, and stains can attract pests and become harder to remove over time.

Fold heavy knits

Sweaters, cashmere, wool, alpaca, and heavy knits should usually be folded instead of hung.

Use proper hangers

Use structured hangers for coats and jackets. Avoid thin wire hangers for heavy or structured clothing.

Protect from moths

Moths are attracted to animal fibers like wool, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, and silk.

Use breathable storage bags.
Avoid damp storage areas.
Use cedar, lavender, or moth deterrents.
Check stored garments periodically.

Avoid plastic dry-cleaning bags for long-term storage

Plastic dry-cleaning bags can trap moisture and may cause yellowing or odor over time.

Use breathable garment bags instead.

Packing and travel tips.

Roll casual clothes

Rolling can reduce wrinkles and save space for T-shirts, knits, casual pants, and activewear.

Fold structured garments

Fold structured garments carefully along seams. Use tissue paper or packing cubes to reduce creasing.

Use garment bags for special pieces

Use garment bags for suits, silk dresses, formalwear, coats, and delicate items.

Pack wrinkle-prone fabrics carefully

Linen, cotton poplin, rayon, viscose, and silk can wrinkle easily.

Pack them last or on top.
Use tissue paper between folds.
Hang them as soon as you arrive.
Use a steamer if safe for the fabric.

Separate shoes and liquids

Use shoe bags and keep toiletries sealed. Leaks and dirt can permanently damage delicate fabrics.

Bring a small care kit

A stain pen, lint roller, small sewing kit, safety pins, travel steamer, and mesh laundry bag cover most mishaps.

Microfiber-shedding care tips.

Here's the part people miss: shedding isn't only about the fiber. It's also about how often, and how aggressively, you wash the thing.

Synthetic garments such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and elastane may shed tiny fibers during washing and wear.

To shed less: wash less often, cold and gentle, in full loads, and air dry. A microfiber-catching bag or filter helps with fleece and activewear, and keeping synthetic garments in use longer helps too.

Final takeaway.

The best garment isn't the one with the best fabric on paper.

It's the one you'll actually wear, care for, and keep.

Care is part of fabric literacy. Once you know how to look after a garment, you make better calls before you buy, and the clothes you already own last a whole lot longer.