Linen is sourced from flax straw, a natural fibre that is highly absorbent. This means that sustainable trousers, shirts and tops made from it are prone to heavy creasing in the wash. Give linen garments lots of space to move around in your washing machine’s drum and you’ll lessen the risk of creasing. Wrinkles aside, this might just be our favourite sustainable fabric to make summer fashion pieces with, such is its ability to breathe and dry quickly, just in case you get caught in a summer rain shower. You will probably need to wash linen clothes more than those made from wool or TENCEL™ Lyocell, because they are not as naturally odour-resistant or anti-bacterial. That said, we still encourage hand washing, spot cleaning and natural airing as alternatives to full machine washes.
- Hand wash or machine wash at low temperatures using a program for delicates.
Linen is a fabric that was being worn by people in hot climes long before washing machines and tumble dryers existed. Perhaps it is for this reason that sustainable clothes made from linen fibres do not react well to high temperature washes and intensive spin cycles. Our main garment care tip is for you to be gentle to your eco-friendly linen trousers, shorts and skirts, and they will be gentle in return.
- Fabric softener is unnecessary.
Just as with organic cotton, linen is a natural fabric which does not benefit from the use of fabric softener. Save your softener for the eco-friendly clothes in your sustainable wardrobe that need it!
- Wash as part of a half load to prevent unnecessary creasing.
Linen trousers do not like to have their style cramped. The more pieces of sustainable clothing you pack into the drum of your washing machine, the more likely those pieces will rub, crease and wrinkle. While that doesn’t matter for eco-friendly socks or sustainable underwear, you don’t want it happening to that treasured linen dress or shirt you planned to wear this weekend. Give your sustainable linen garments space and they’ll look better, for longer.
- Only use mild and eco-friendly soap/detergent.
Linen is both strong and sensitive. Only wash it using mild, eco-friendly soap/detergent and you will find that it maintains all of its hallmark properties for longer. This is because many heavy-duty detergents feature corrosive synthetic chemicals that natural fabrics like linen are not a big fan of. So just because your sustainable linen clothes are strong, you should endeavour to treat them with care.
- To prevent creasing, remove clothes from the washing machine as soon as a cycle ends.
Ever left a load of damp washing lingering at the bottom of the drum for hours or even days? We know we have. This is not ideal for sustainable clothes made from linen, which crease if left crushed beneath a heap of sodden clothing.
When a fabric is made from natural straw, which is in its element drifting in a breeze, it makes sense that eco-friendly clothing made from it prefers to be air dried on a line. Our garment care tip is, if possible, to ensure that your sustainable trousers, ethical tops and bottoms air dry out of direct sunlight, which can sometimes cause linen garments to fade. Also give garments a good shake before putting them out to dry, as this will reduce creasing and wrinkles.
It is always best to dry linen garments naturally. This is because shrinkage can occur when they are tumble dried. If you do tumble dry linen garments, remove them from the machine when they’re still slightly humid to avoid the linen becoming stiff. Hang them or lie them flat to finish the drying process.
- For best results, iron or steam linen garments while they are still damp.
Linen is not known for its flexibility, which means it is prone to wrinkles and creases. However, this often adds to its charm. If wrinkles have really gotten out of hand, our top garment care tip is: steam or iron sustainable clothes while they are still a little damp. If the garment has fully dried out but you still wish to iron it, give it a little spray of water to dampen it once more. Be gentle when ironing, otherwise you may damage linen fibres.
- More structured garments (sustainable jackets) or pieces prone to wrinkles can benefit from dry cleaning.
Dry cleaning processes can sometimes suit linen garments, because they rely on solvents instead of intensive water usage and spin cycles. These specialist solvents are designed to protect the weave of your linen jackets or trousers. However, we only advise taking your garments to the dry cleaners when absolutely necessary. Many of the solvents used in dry cleaning processes are not eco-friendly, although there are “wet process” dry cleaners and CO2 dry cleaners that may be more eco-friendly options if they exist in your neighbourhood.
- Store your linen garments in a cool, dry place. Avoid plastic bags, cardboard boxes and cedar chests.
The best cool, dry place to store your sustainable linen garments is in your cupboard, preferably hanging on a wooden hanger. Avoid wire or plastic hangers which can deform clothing over time. A great garment care tip to remember is to make sure your eco-friendly clothes hang freely, so they maintain their shape and don’t crease.
4. Wool
Wool is a very durable and odour-resistant fabric which doesn't need to be machine washed as often as other materials. The best way to wash a wool garment is to spot clean it by hand, using plain water, before allowing it to air. When such sustainable clothes do need to be machine washed, we advise following some of the garment care tips below.
- Turn inside out and place in a mesh bag.
A good general garment care rule of thumb for washing all your sustainable clothes is to wash them inside out, and the same applies to clothes made of our mulesing-free wool. It is also strongly advised that you wash sustainable wool knits and sweaters in a mesh laundry bag, as it will add further protection, meaning that less pilling will occur.
- Don’t use fabric softener.
A sheep’s coat is already soft enough for them to wear it 24/7, so there’s no need for you to go soaking it in fabric softener, just because now it’s a sustainable knit or eco-friendly cardigan. Generally speaking, natural fabrics like wool do not appreciate coming into contact with synthetic chemicals. Keep this in mind as you go about caring for your newly assembled sustainable wardrobe of eco-friendly outfits.
- Use a ‘wool’ or ‘delicates’ wash program. Double check that these programs use only cold water and low spin settings.
Wool settings exist on your washing machine for a reason. They ensure that temperatures remain low and that your favourite sustainable knits, sweaters and eco-friendly cardigans are not subjected to violent spin cycles, which can lead to unwanted pilling, shrinkage or loss of a garment’s shape. If your washing machine happens not to have a wool setting, our garment care tip for you is to only treat your eco knitwear to ‘delicates’ wash programs, or at the very least a low temperature ‘eco’ setting.
- Avoid creasing by removing a garment from the washing machine as soon as possible.
Try your best not to leave eco-friendly wool garments lingering in your washing machine’s drum. You will regret the unnecessary creases and wrinkles it will cause, which may take longer than you think to remove from that beloved sustainable knit you like to wear regularly.
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When the wash cycle ends, try to remove as much water as you can from the garment, but without wringing it out. Instead, press or squeeze out as much water as you can to avoid the garment becoming misshapen.
This garment care tip is a delicate process that may not be worthwhile for lightweight pieces of sustainable clothing, but is certainly advisable for those more absorbent, cosy knits and eco sweaters.
- Spot clean stains gently with a specially designed clothes brush. Do not vigorously scrub the garment.
Choose a brush whose bristles are made of boar or horse hair. These may not come cheap, but will keep your mulesing-free wool jacket in tip-top condition for longer than a brush with harsh synthetic bristles. A natural bristle should last longer too!
- If possible, dry wool garments by lying them on a flat surface (don’t hang dry) with a towel beneath.
But where am I gonna find a clean, flat, dry place to dry my clean eco-friendly knit, we hear you ask? One of the best ways to accomplish this is to take a clothes stand or drying rack and to lie your eco garment across it. This way, gentle currents of air can dry your sustainable knit on both sides, while avoiding the stretching and warping that comes with hang drying.
- Avoid drying garments in direct sunlight.
Resist the temptation to accelerate the drying process by using a radiator or direct sunlight. Exposure to either may lead to an ethical knit fading or becoming misshapen. No one wants that!
- Wool garments usually don’t need to be ironed.
The only exception to this rule can come with some Merino wool garments, which on occasion benefit from a very light iron. The best results come when you apply a fine water spray to your garment before ironing. Alternatively you can use your iron’s steam function, while ensuring that the iron remains on a low or medium temperature setting.
5. Regular Viscose & LENZING™ ECOVERO™ Viscose
Regular viscose fibres and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose fibers are delicate and very absorbent. These properties should be kept in mind when washing and drying the sustainable clothes in our range that are made from this lightweight fabric, which is a dream to wear in warm weather.
- Hand washing with cold water is recommended.
Viscose fabric can weaken and break down when it comes into contact with water, so if you do need to wash it, always ensure you hand wash in cold water. Failure to do so could mean that your beautiful sustainable jumpsuit or eco-friendly dress loses its glossy sheen, or worse still, shrinks.
- To remove stains: gently apply a mild detergent. Leave for a few minutes and then rinse clear with cold water.
As part of the garment care hand washing process, apply a small amount of mild detergent (without chlorine or other harmful synthetic chemicals) to the stain and wash the sustainable fashion piece as usual.
- If you choose to machine wash, select a delicate or “hand wash” cycle. Turn clothing inside out and wash in a mesh bag.
Although we recommend that you avoid washing your viscose eco-friendly trousers and skirts in the washing machine, we understand that sometimes there just aren’t enough minutes in the day to independently hand wash sustainable clothes. That is why, our garment care tip is to use the gentlest and lowest temperature settings, as well as turning clothes inside out (and using a purpose-made mesh washing bag) you should provide all the protection these delicate and yet stunning eco clothes require.
Being put through a wash is stressful enough for eco clothing made from viscose fibres. The last thing your sustainable dress or eco-friendly jumpsuit then needs is to be subjected to a tumble dryer. Give them a break, and use more natural drying processes instead.
- If possible, dry viscose garments by lying them on a flat surface.
The best way we’ve found to dry our favourite viscose garments is to take a clothes stand or drying rack and to lie your eco garment across it, rather than hanging it from a line. This way, gentle currents of air can dry your sustainable garment on both sides, while avoiding the stretching and warping that comes with hang drying. Try to resist the temptation to accelerate the drying process by using radiators or exposing your slow fashion clothing to direct sunlight.
- The best way to remove wrinkles from viscose fabric is to use a steamer or to hover your iron over a sustainable dress or trouser whilst using the steam setting.
If wrinkles refuse to budge, only iron clothes directly while a garment is inside out and the item is still wet. Use ‘silk’, ‘rayon’ or ‘low’ settings. If your sustainable garment has dried out completely, give it a light spray of water or steam it lightly with your iron’s steam setting.
6. Recover™, Recycled Fabrics, Recycled Fabric Blends
The key to preserving sustainable clothes made from recycled fabrics is to wash them as little as possible, which also helps save energy and keeps environmentally harmful microfibres out of precious ecosystems. However, when there’s nothing left to do other than to give your recycled knits, sweaters and t-shirts a wash, here’s what you should be doing.
- Hand wash with cold water.
Synthetic fabrics that have been recycled using a mechanical recycling process – to create new sustainable fashion styles – tend to be a little weaker than virgin synthetics. This means that the utmost care should be made to ensure they are not subjected to undue damage during the washing process. By washing such eco-friendly garments by hand, you prevent fibres breaking during a rigorous washing machine cycle. This garment care tip also prevents clothes from shedding pesky microfibres, which can do damage to precious eco-systems.
- If you choose to machine wash, be sure to use cold water, low spin programs and short wash cycles.
By abiding by these three washing machine rules, you will ensure that your favourite sustainable jacket, eco-friendly sweater or ethical knit remain in tip top condition. This is because low temperatures and less violent spin cycles create less friction and fewer temperature extremes that sustainable garments have to endure.
- Wash as part of a full load, but without any sharp or hard objects.
Sharp or hard objects can include anything that could catch, rip or tear your beloved sustainable sweater or eco-friendly knit. Such objects can include shoes, soccer shin pads, zips and velcro. You get the idea! By washing recycled fabric garments in full wash loads you prevent clothes from tumbling and crashing into each other, movements which can also lead to the unwanted deterioration of your new or used eco-friendly outfits.
- Use a clothing bag to capture microfibres.
Clothing bags are a great option for when you are washing any sustainable clothing, but especially those pieces from your sustainable wardrobe, crafted from recycled synthetic fabrics like Recover™. They act to prevent the microfibres that are shed by your sustainable clothes from flowing off in your washing machine’s waste water, before they make their way into natural waterways, become airborne, or are ingested by wildlife. Just throw your sustainable garments in the clothing bag and wash as normal. Such bags also act as an added layer of protection for your sustainable clothes during a wash.
- To remove a stain, spot wash the affected area with mild soap and a sponge.
As is the case with most pieces of eco-friendly clothing we produce, it’s advisable to spot clean stains and marks rather than washing the entire sustainable garment. This not only saves water and energy, but it also bolsters the longevity of pieces made from recycled fabrics.
Tumble drying synthetic clothing of any kind is never a good idea. Once again, the process can lead to the unnecessary release of thousands of harmful microfibres, but it is also largely a waste of energy, with recycled synthetic fabrics being fast drying. Air dry your favourite eco-friendly t-shirt, sustainable shirt or ethical knit, either indoors or outdoors, and you will be amazed at how quickly it dries. Just make sure you don’t put such garments on a radiator or expose them to direct sunlight.
- Do not use fabric softener.
As garment care experts,we are not the biggest fans of fabric softener. Too often it leaves a residue on your sustainable clothes (this is what gives the illusion of softness) but that same residue can act to lock in nasty stains and smells. No one wants that, least of all when it’s their favourite eco-friendly outfit!
- Dry your shirts on clothes hangers to reduce wrinkles.
Another top garment care tip for the drying of shirts and blouses made from recycled fabrics, like Recover™, is to put them directly on their hangers, where they can be left to dry. This prevents wrinkles and stops you having to subject your favourite sustainable shirts to the dreaded ironing board.
- Iron at low temperatures and avoid steam settings.
It is pretty rare to ever need to iron a sustainable shirt, sweater or knit made from recycled synthetic fabric, but if you find yourself being forced to, ensure you avoid steam settings and only use the lowest temperature settings available.
7. ECONYL® & SEAQUAL® Fabrics
As a substitute for washing, try airing garments made from these recycled synthetics as often as possible. This applies particularly to many of our sustainable swimwear pieces that are crafted from ECONYL® and SEAQUAL® fibres, which are quite happy being naturally cleansed by sun and salt water.
- Replace machine washes with spot cleaning and airing.
As is the case with most sustainable clothing from TWOTHIRDS, one of the main keys to good garment care and longevity is to wash eco-friendly clothing as little as possible. The same applies to eco clothing made from ECONYL® and SEAQUAL® fibres, which will always appreciate being spot cleaned to remove stains, and aired to remove odours, rather than being put through the stresses and strains of a machine wash. By washing such recycled fibres less, you also lessen the risk of them releasing microfibres into waterways.
- Machine wash with other synthetic fabrics or garments.
Garments made from recycled synthetic fibres like ECONYL® and SEAQUAL® can be prone to damage during wash cycles. To limit such negative impacts, our garment care advice is to separate your wash loads, to ensure you keep recycled synthetics away from other more abrasive fabrics. It’s also recommended to keep things like zips, velcro and buckles well away from your sustainable swimwear and sustainable activewear, as they can cause rips, tears, and overall fabric degradation.
- Use a wash bag that catches microfibres.
Another way to ensure further protection for your sustainable beach towels and eco-friendly swimwear is to wash them in a specially designed microfibre catching wash bag. These bags prevent microfibres entering ecosystems and also add an extra layer of protection for sustainable swimwear made from ECONYL® and SEAQUAL® fibres.
- Wash at a maximum of 30-40 degrees.
There’s almost never a need to wash any TWOTHIRDS clothing above 40 degrees. To be honest, most of our sustainable clothing will wash just fine at 30 degrees or even as low as 20 degrees. This is absolutely the case with sustainable fashion garments made from recycled synthetic fibres.
- Don’t use fabric softener. It can damage materials found in ECONYL® and SEAQUAL® such as elastane.
All our sustainable boardshorts, ethical bikinis and eco-friendly swimsuits are already soft enough without being smothered by fabric softeners and their waxy coatings. Whatismore, ECONYL® and SEAQUAL® fabrics feature recycled materials like elastane, which can actually be damaged over time by some fabric softeners.
- Air dry. Do not tumble dry.
One of the beauties of sustainable fashion garments made from ECONYL® and SEAQUAL® fabrics is that they dry quickly. This means that there’s almost never a time you would want to condemn your sustainable swimwear to the rigours of a tumble dryer. Do your sustainable clothes a favour; hang them out to dry in the fresh air, or better still: air dry them on a flat surface.
8. SeaCell™ Clothes
SeaCell™ is a variety of lyocell. Some of its fibres are derived from sustainably sourced wood pulp, while others come from a true climate hero: seaweed! This makes for particularly strong and durable pieces of sustainable clothing, but whose natural fibres still require additional care and attention. Here are our SeaCell™ garment care tips!
- Can be machine washed at 30 degrees or lower.
Because SeaCell™ is in many cases more durable than the likes of cotton and linen, sustainable sweatshirts and other such eco-friendly garments can be machine washed without too much worry of them shrinking or degrading. However, we still advise you to wash your SeaCell™ garments on low temperature and slow spin settings. This way, your sustainable t-shirts and other eco-friendly garments will be even more likely to last a lifetime.
- Do not use bleach, fabric softener, or other harsh chemicals.
A slow fashion fabric as sustainable as SeaCell™ never enjoys being brought into contact with chemicals of any kind. This means shielding your favourite sustainable dresses and sustainable jumpsuits from bleach, which could discolour them, fabric softener, which will coat it in a waxy film, or any other harsh chemicals.
While sustainable knits and other garments made from SeaCell™ fibres are quite resistant to washing, they can be more susceptible to damage caused by tumble dryers. Our preferred method for drying, as garment care experts, is therefore air drying your favourite sustainable clothes crafted from this innovative fabric. If you are left with no option but to tumble dry your sustainable sweaters or trousers, we advise using a gentle ‘air dry’ setting or your machine’s equivalent.
- Iron using a ‘cotton’ setting.
Because SeaCell™ fibres are so resistant to wrinkles it is rare to ever need to iron your sustainable trousers or eco-friendly t-shirts. In the case that you do, use a low temperature setting and try to make as little contact with the garment as possible by hovering the iron above it.
