Cotton Care Guide: Washes, Temperatures and Avoiding Shrinkage

Cotton is the most widely worn natural fabric and one of the most forgiving to care for — but it still has failure modes. Shrinkage, colour fade and permanent wrinkles are all caused by avoidable washing decisions.

Why cotton shrinks and how to prevent it

Cotton fibres naturally contract when exposed to heat and agitation. Pre-shrinkage during manufacturing reduces this but doesn't eliminate it. Washing in hot water (above 40°C) and tumble drying on high heat will shrink cotton garments — sometimes by 5–10% in a single wash. The solution is simple: wash cotton at 30°C or 40°C for most garments, and remove from the dryer while still slightly damp to finish air drying. White and heavily soiled cotton can tolerate 60°C, but coloured cotton at that temperature will fade noticeably over time.

Colour fade and how to slow it

Cotton dyes are susceptible to fading from UV light, hot water and alkaline detergents. Wash dark and bright cotton garments inside-out. Use a detergent formulated for colours, which contains fewer optical brighteners and bleaching agents. Line drying in direct sunlight will fade cotton significantly faster than tumble drying or drying in the shade. For dark cottons especially, air dry indoors or in shade.

Ironing cotton correctly

Cotton is one of the few fabrics that genuinely benefits from a hot iron. Iron at the highest setting, with steam if available, while the fabric is still slightly damp — this relaxes fibres effectively and produces a clean result. Ironing dry cotton requires more passes and more pressure. Spray a light mist of water if the garment has fully dried before you can iron it.