How to care for your clothes properly: washing, drying, storing

How long your favourite shirt stays looking good is largely decided in the washing machine and the wardrobe. With a few habits when washing, drying and storing, colour, shape and feel last much longer.

Washing: less is often more

Many pieces are washed more often than necessary. Jumpers, trousers and jackets usually aren't dirty after one wear. It's often enough to air them overnight. Shirts and underwear worn directly on the skin should of course be washed regularly.

• Temperature: 30 °C is usually enough for lightly soiled everyday clothing. Low temperatures are gentle on fibres and colours and reduce the risk of cotton shrinking.
• Turn inside out: this protects the surface, prints and dark colours.
• Sort by colour: lights with lights, darks with darks. New, strongly coloured pieces are best washed separately the first few times.
• Don't overload the drum: the laundry needs space to get clean. About a hand's width of space above the laundry is a good guide.
• Close zips: otherwise they can roughen other fabrics.

The right detergent

For coloured and dark clothing, a colour detergent without bleach is suitable; for whites, a heavy-duty detergent. Wool needs a special wool detergent. Dose according to how dirty the laundry is and the water hardness; the details are on the packaging. Too much detergent doesn't wash cleaner, it tends to stay in the fibres. You can leave out fabric softener for most pieces, and you should avoid it completely for sports and performance clothing.

Care by material

Organic cotton

Hard-wearing and easy-going. Usually washable at 30 to 40 °C. High temperatures and the tumble dryer can make cotton shrink, so it's better to dry it in the air.

TENCEL™ Lyocell and TENCEL™ Modal

Wash on a delicate cycle at a low temperature, turned inside out and with a low spin. Don't wring, but pull into shape and hang to dry.

Linen

Wash gently and hang up while still slightly damp, then it creases less. Linen gets softer with every wash. Ironing works best while the fabric is still a little damp.

Wool

Airing is often enough. If you need to wash: on the wool cycle or by hand in cold to lukewarm water with wool detergent. Don't rub, don't wring, no tumble dryer. Dry flat on a towel.

Recycled polyester and polyamide

Air sportswear after wearing and wash at a low temperature. A wash bag designed to catch fibre shedding is a useful addition for synthetic fabrics.

Drying: air instead of heat

The tumble dryer is convenient, but hard on the fibres. Heat and friction make fabrics age faster and can make them shrink. Hang T-shirts and shirts on a hanger and they'll dry almost smooth. Lay knitwear flat so it doesn't stretch. Strong colours dry best in the shade, because direct sun can fade them over time.

Treating stains gently

The sooner, the better. Dab fresh stains with cold water instead of rubbing. Hot water can set protein-based stains such as blood or milk. Ox-gall soap helps with many everyday stains. Test home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda or vinegar on an inconspicuous area first.

Storing properly

• Only store clean clothes. Traces of sweat and food attract moths.
• Fold knitwear, don't hang it. On a hanger, jumpers stretch lengthways.
• Sturdy hangers for blazers and jackets, so the shoulders keep their shape.
• Store in a dark, dry place. For seasonal clothing, breathable cotton bags are better than plastic.
• Prevent moths with cedarwood or lavender and by airing the wardrobe regularly.

Small damage such as a loose button or an open seam can usually be repaired quickly. That way your favourite piece stays in use for longer. We explain the care symbols on the label on the Care instructions page. You can read how different materials feel in the article on how fabrics feel.

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