How do you wash plant dyed fabrics? Can I machine wash your block print napkins? Do plant dyes wash out? We get these questions a lot from our customers, so we've decided to answer it all here.

Come along.

The Importance of Proper Care for Maintaining Plant-Dyed Textiles

Like anything valuable, plant dyed fabrics require some amount of care to make them last for years to come. You probably have a thing for sustainable clothing, which is likely why you chose our naturally dyed fabrics.

Whether it's a set of block print napkins, tablecloths, scarves, or dresses, all our textiles at Ichcha are plant dyed and sustainable. They are typically made of 100% organic cotton or a combination of cotton and silk. And they all require the same kind of maintenance.

Don't fret.

Washing our plant dyed fabrics is super easy. You can wash by hand or machine. Let's look at the steps at a glance.

How to Wash Plant Dyed Fabrics

• Hand or machine wash in cold water, gentle cycle
• Wash separately for the first few washes
• Use eco-friendly detergent or soap
• Wash like colors together
• Dry or hang flat under a shade
• Iron if necessary
• Do not bleach

Now, let's go into all of that in more detail.

Can I Wash Plant Dyed Textiles with Other Clothes?

It's best to wash plant dyed fabrics separately for the first few washes, as the excess dyes may easily come lose and stain other clothes. If you have several fabrics with the same dye color, feel free to wash them together.

After the first couple of washes, you can wash our naturally dyed textiles with your other garments.

What's the Best Detergent for Naturally Dyed Clothing?

While we don't recommend splurging on some expensive soap to wash our plant-dyed textiles, it's best to use mild/eco-friendly and pH-neutral detergents.

For two reasons:

1. The harsh chemicals in regular detergents can react with the minerals in the plant-based dye and change its color.
2. Most plant-based dyes are pH sensitive, so they may discolor in the presence of an acidic or alkaline ingredient. So you want to steer clear of ingredients like lemon juice, soda ash, baking powder, and calcium. The change may be subtle though, but with a pH-neutral detergent you'll have nothing to worry about.

Can I Machine Wash Naturally Dyed Clothes?

Feel free to wash naturally dyed clothing by hand or machine. Just be gentle. If you're machine washing, use cold water (around 20°C) and set it to gentle cycle.

Please, do not spot clean plant dyed fabrics. Perhaps you used your napkin to wipe oil spill, or your block print dress caught a food splash. Rinse the stained area in cold water immediately and gently dislodge the particles with your fingers. You can then soak the entire item in soapy water and wash after an hour.

Why Should You Not Spot-Clean Plant Dyed Fabrics?

If you apply soap or detergent directly to the stain and spot clean, that area might lose its color and vibrance. You don't want that.

How to Dry Plant-Dyed Fabrics

Avoid drying plant dyed fabrics under direct sunlight, as hot sun can gradually fade the colors. Air dry under a shade instead. This is one of the most essential tips for maintaining plant-dyed garments.

We don't recommend using a dryer as the high heat can make the color fade out more quickly and also damage the natural fibers.

You can dry plant dyed fabrics immediately after washing so they don't get a chance to wrinkle. But iron if necessary.

Do Plant Dyes Wash Out?

Yes, plant dyes can wash out without proper care. To ensure colorfastness in plant dyed fabrics, gentle wash in cool water (around 20°C), using mild detergent to prevent fading and color bleeding. Air dry in a shaded area.

Additional Care Tips for Naturally Dyed Textiles

Fun fact: Our naturally dyed fabrics do not need frequent washing. You can even use the napkins for several meals before washing to preserve their beauty and vibrance.

Less frequent washing helps to prevent fading in plant-dyed clothing.

With proper care, your plant dyed textiles will retain their elegance for years to come.