If you look after your garments correctly you can enjoy and keep your garments looking great for longer. The information below is a guide to the best ways to wash and care for your garments. For specific garment care follow the care instructions on your garment.
General Information:
- High heat temperatures are bad for all types of fabrics. We recommend warm or cold washing/drying cycles where you can.
- Tumble drying and direct sunlight tend to damage garments.
- Never experiment with tough stains. Take the garment for professional cleaning instead.
- Whiteners are preferable to bleach.
- Use a natural detergent for delicate fabrics.
- Use less detergent and let dissolve properly, distributing it evenly in order to avoid stains.
- Never dry coloured items in direct sunlight
- Most clothing with linings should be dry-cleaned. But make sure you read the care label as some garments with linings can be hand-washed or delicate machine-washed.
Washing your garments:
- Always have the clothes aired and dried before washing.
- Empty pockets, unfasten the buttons and lift the collar before washing.
- Do not overload the washing machine.
- Do not wash at a very hot temperature.
- For dark-coloured garments, the colours may bleed after the first few washes, therefore the garment should be washed alone or with similar colours.
- Use cold water where you can and do not leave garments soaking in it for a long time.
- When handwashing, allow soap or detergent to totally dissolve before adding the garment. Then rinse thoroughly after washing.
- When handwashing, do not rub – gently squeeze instead.
Drying your garments:
- Lay heavy garments flat so that they do not lose their shape.
- Do not expose your garments to direct sunlight or heavy winds, especially if they are coloured.
- If drying indoors, make sure the area is well-ventilated as this can cause moisture.
- Knitwear should be wrapped with a towel and laid on a flat surface, away from sun and heat.
- Some garments tend to lose their shape in the wash. Re-shape while damp and lay flat to dry.
Ironing your garments:
- Follow the ironing instructions on the care label.
- Iron at a low temperature
- Garments should be completely dry when ironing.
- For delicate garments, use a pressing cloth on the reverse when ironing.
Max wash tests each garment before individual garment care instructions are determined so we advise you to always read the care instructions on the individual garments before washing or drying.
Here are our general guidelines on specific fabrics:
Wool:
Wool garments will shrink if washed at a hot temperature and can lose shape if hung to dry. Some wool products can also be prone to pilling with a lot of wear and use but can stop after a period.
Silk:
- Most silk garments are best dry cleaned but please read the care labels as some silks are able to be carefully hand washed as follows:
- Use mild soap to handwash and rinse well.
- Do not soak or bleach the garment.
- Dry flat in the shade
- Do not tumble dry.
- Always use a cool iron with a pressing cloth on the reverse if required.
Max does offer some machine washable silk items, and this will be stated on the garment so please make sure to check the label.
Please note if ordering silk online - as our items are delivered in plastic, static can build up. Please follow our anti-static guide if you have a problem with static on your silk garments.
Cotton:
Cotton will shrink if washed in warm to hot water but can be ironed at a hot temperature. If the garment is coloured, it must be washed alone the first time. Cotton is a fresh and flexible material with a high resistance to rubbing but can also fade easily and tend to crease.
Linen:
Linen must always be hand washed, do not spin dry or tumble dry. Do not wash in warm to hot water, but linen can be ironed at a hot temperature. Linen is a fresh, smooth material but does crease easily and can fade with washing.
Lyocell, Tencel, Acetate, Rayon and Viscose:
To increase the longevity of the garment made with these fabrics, handwash in cold water with mild soap. Do not tumble dry. These materials are prone to shrinking when washed and hung out to dry but will go back to their original shape and length once pressed with an iron on low heat or warm ironed on the reverse to return to their original state, as this will help relax the natural fibres in the garment.
All of these fabrics are prone to creasing.
Polyester and Nylon:
Polyester and Nylon are sensitive to heat and must therefore be washed in cool water and ironed with no steam at a low temperature. Polyester and Nylon are crease-resistant and don’t fade.
Tips for avoiding static cling:
- Make sure your body is well moisturised before wearing garments that can be prone to static.
- Apply talcum powder to your body after moisturising.
- Use an anti-static sheet that is used in tumble dryers and rub this on the underside of the garment.
- Use an anti-static spray.
- Get a spritzer bottle and spray water lightly on the garment.
- Wear an anti-static slip under your garment.