Fabric care guide | BritPicks24

The short version

Wash less, wash cooler, and dry flat or on a line in the shade. Most damage to good basics comes from the dryer, not from wearing them. Sunlight fades dark colours faster than washing does, so dry darks inside out and out of direct light.

Cotton jersey (tees and long sleeves)

Do	Wash at 30 °C inside out with similar colours. Line dry in the shade. A warm iron if you like.
Avoid	Tumble drying hot, which shrinks the length and loosens the collar. Bleach on coloured tees.
Expect	Shrinks 3–4% on the first warm wash (we cut long for it). Black fades slowly to charcoal.

Merino and lambswool

Do	Air it between wears – wool rarely needs washing. Hand wash cold or use a true wool cycle at 30 °C with wool wash. Roll in a towel, dry flat.
Avoid	Hot water, agitation and the dryer: together they felt wool permanently. Hanging wet knits.
Expect	Pills where it rubs for the first few weeks; a wool comb removes it. Moths like it – store clean and folded.

Alpaca and mohair blends

Do	Hand wash cold, rarely. Dry flat. Brush lightly when dry to lift the surface.
Avoid	Velcro, rough bag straps and the dryer.
Expect	Sheds fine fibres for the first few wears. Very warm for its weight.

Cotton knit and cotton-wool blends

Do	Gentle cycle at 30 °C. Always dry flat.
Avoid	Hanging it to dry: cotton knit is heavy when wet and stretches by several centimetres.
Expect	Grows slightly at elbows and seat over a long day and recovers in the wash.

Cotton-linen and cotton poplin shirts

Do	Wash at 30–40 °C. Dry on a hanger and iron while slightly damp if you want it smooth.
Avoid	Wringing, which sets deep creases.
Expect	Linen blends crease quickly and soften with every wash. Pale poplin is slightly sheer.

Viscose and lyocell

Do	Cold, gentle cycle or hand wash. Dry on a hanger.
Avoid	Warm water and wringing – both fibres are weaker when wet. Spot cleaning, which leaves water marks.
Expect	Drapes beautifully; can shrink if washed warm.

Canvas, corduroy and twill

Do	Wash cold and not often, inside out. Line dry.
Avoid	Frequent hot washing, which fades and stiffens them faster.
Expect	Canvas starts stiff and breaks in over months. Corduroy wears pale along the wales at elbows and cuffs.

Pilling, briefly

Pills are short fibres working loose and rolling into balls where fabric rubs. Every soft, fine fibre does it to some degree; it is not a fault and it is not covered by the guarantee. Remove them with a wool comb or fabric shaver, gently, on a flat surface. It slows down noticeably after the first month of wear.

Storage

Fold knits rather than hanging them, which pulls the shoulders out of shape. Store wool clean – moths go for skin oils and food traces – and a cedar block in the drawer helps.

Size & fit guide