How to Keep Cotton Fabric Looking New

Cotton is one of the most popular fabrics in the world. Regardless of whether an item is a blanket, 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 as Woolite.


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.

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.