How to Keep Cotton Fabric Looking New

Cotton is one of the most popular fabrics in the world. Regardless of whether an item is ablanket, sheet, or clothing, it is likely that its material includes at least a portion of cotton. After all, the fabric is easy to manufacture and take care of. Some people, however, may notice that their cotton fabrics begin to age as they wash them. Even newer items may experience common problems, such as fading color or wrinkling, after only a short time. Thankfully, by following some basic steps with each wash, anyone can ensure that cotton fabric remains looking new for years to come.

 

Prevent Fading Color

A common problem that cotton fabric owners experience is fading. An easy way to avoid this problem is to buy pre-washed cotton fabric. The manufacture washes this fabric before sending it to the seller, so the color has time to set, which helps it to last.

To keep color from fading, users should wash the item in cold water. Hot water increases the chance of the dye running, leading to a fading color. After a few washes, the color should be fully set, but owners should continue to wash cotton fabric in cold water to ensure that its brightness remains.

Additionally, laundry detergent can have an effect on the fabric's color. To keep color bright and vibrant, use a gentle laundry detergent, such asWoolite.

 

Remove Spots and Stains

Speed is key when dealing with spots or stains; users should soak cotton fabric as soon as they notice any discoloration. An unaddressed spot sets in and becomes a stain, and removing stains from cotton fabric is often difficult. The process of removing a spot depends on the source, as the process varies depending on the cause.

Type of Spot	Common Sources	Treatment
Dye Stains	Plants Acidic foods Coffee and tea Ink	Rinse in cold water immediately Wash before the spot has a chance to set
Protein Stains	Vomit Sweat Blood	Use an alkaline-based stain remover to treat the spot Wash before the spot has a chance to set
Combination Stains	Sauces Makeup Crayons	Rinse out any leftover substance Gently rub detergent on the spot Apply a stain-remover to pre-treat the spot Wash before the spot has a chance to set

Once the owner has washed the cotton fabric, he or she should hang it up to dry. Once it is dry, the spot should be gone. If not, repeat the process until the spot has disappeared.

 

Avoid Wrinkling

Nothing affects the look of cotton fabric quite like wrinkling. While this is a problem that an iron can solve, there are still some basic precautions that a person can take to avoid severe wrinkling. The first step is to remove the fabric from the washer as soon as possible and hang it up to dry. The longer the fabric stays in the washer, the more wrinkles develop. If the person dries the fabric in a dryer, he or she should remove it as soon as the cycle ends to prevent wrinkling.

If wrinkles have developed, an easy way to smooth them out is to throw the fabric in the dryer with a damp rag. This creates the same effect as a steamer. Lastly, the owner should avoid cramming clothes into an overcrowded closet or drawer, as this can wrinkle cotton fabric.

 

Fix Pilling

Cotton fabric experiences pilling when it rubs up against other fabrics, such as in the washer, dryer, or closet. This creates tiny little balls of lint that gather on the fabric. An effective way to handle pilling is to run a fabric shaver over the material until the issue is gone.

Placing fabric in a garment bag, washing on the gentle cycle, and not overloading the washing machine are precautions that prevent pilling before it starts.

Keeping cotton fabric looking as good as new is easy with the right materials. When shopping for these items, start by searching for keywords, such as "stain remover," from any eBay search window. You can narrow your search results by a certain brand or type. You can also refine your results by searching for specific keywords, such as "cotton stain remover." This would show stain removers made specifically for cotton fabrics. Cotton is an easy material to maintain, and with just a few basic precautions, it is not hard to keep the appearance of the fabric looking bright and vibrant. Doing so ensures that whenever you use the fabric, it looks as new as the day you bought it.