Good care keeps a piece looking new for years. Pick a fabric for its care card, run the first-wash test on anything dark or printed, and keep stain first aid handy for festive days.
General guidance. Fabrics, dyes and finishes vary, so always check the label on your piece first and follow it where it differs from this guide.
Pick your fabric
Choose the fabric of your piece to see how to wash, dry, iron and store it. Always check the label on your piece first: it knows the exact fabric, dye and finish.
- Cotton
- Linen
- Rayon / viscose
- Polyester, georgette and chiffon
- Crepe
- Pure silk
- Chanderi and cotton-silk
- Organza and net
- Velvet
- Embroidered
- Block print and natural dyes
Cotton
Mulmul, cambric, khadi, poplin
- Machine wash on a gentle cycle, or hand wash.
- Cold to 30°C; cold for dark and printed pieces.
- A mild detergent, turned inside out.
- Hang to dry in the shade, inside out.
- Strong sun fades colour over time.
- Hot iron, while it is still a little damp.
- Prints and dark colours on the reverse side.
Home washing is fine.
Fold and keep in a dry, airy cupboard. Cotton breathes, so a cotton bag or shelf is ideal.
- ShrinkingCan shrink a little in the first wash, more in hot water.
- Colour bleedingDeep colours may bleed the first few times.
Linen
Pure linen and linen blends
- Gentle cycle or hand wash.
- Cold to 30°C.
- A mild detergent, inside out; no bleach.
- Shake it out and hang in the shade.
- Smooth the seams with your hands while damp.
- Hot iron, while still damp, for crisp linen.
- Iron on the reverse to avoid a shine.
Good for a deep clean or a fussy piece.
Hang or roll rather than pressing sharp folds; linen creases where it is folded for long.
- ShrinkingMay shrink in warm water or a hot dryer.
- CrushingCreases easily; that is the nature of linen.
Rayon / viscose
Rayon, viscose, modal
- Hand wash in cold water: rayon is weak while wet.
- A mild liquid detergent; no long soaking.
- Inside out, swish gently, no scrubbing.
- Roll in a towel to remove water, then hang on a padded hanger in the shade.
- Never in a tumble dryer.
- Warm iron on the reverse side.
- A press cloth stops a shine.
Good for a deep clean or a fussy piece.
Hang or fold loosely; keep away from damp, which marks rayon.
- ShrinkingShrinks in warm water and the dryer.
- Colour bleedingBright colours may bleed at first.
Polyester, georgette and chiffon
Synthetic georgette, chiffon, satin
- Hand wash, or a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag.
- Cold to 30°C.
- A mild detergent; pure silk georgette and chiffon: care for them as silk.
- Hang in the shade; it dries quickly.
- Keep away from heaters and hot surfaces.
- Cool iron with a press cloth, or a light steam.
- Too much heat melts or shines synthetic fibres.
Good for a deep clean or a fussy piece.
Hang or fold with tissue; sheer fabrics catch on hooks and zips.
- SnaggingSheer weaves snag on jewellery, zips and rough nails.
- Heat shineA hot iron leaves shiny or melted marks.
Crepe
Crepe de chine, georgette crepe, moss crepe
- Hand wash in cold water, quickly.
- A mild detergent; do not soak.
- Many crepes shrink in water: check the label, dry clean if it says so.
- Dry flat in the shade, gently eased back into shape.
- Hanging wet crepe can stretch it.
- Cool iron on the reverse, with a press cloth.
- No water spray: it can pucker crepe.
Safest, especially with zari or work.
Fold loosely or hang on a padded hanger.
- ShrinkingCrepe can shrink a lot in water.
- CrushingWater and heat can pucker the texture.
Pure silk
Kanjivaram, Banarasi, Paithani, Tussar, mulberry
- Dry clean is safest, always for the first wash and for zari.
- A plain silk can be hand washed in cold water with a mild silk shampoo, quickly.
- Kanjivaram and Banarasi with zari: dry clean only.
- Roll in a towel, then dry flat or on a padded hanger in the shade.
- Never in direct sun: it fades and weakens silk.
- Low heat on the reverse, with a cotton press cloth.
- Never iron directly on zari.
Safest, especially with zari or work.
Wrap in a muslin or soft cotton cloth. No plastic: silk needs to breathe. Refold every few months.
- Colour bleedingDeep silk colours often bleed in water.
- Water spotsWater drops can leave marks; dab, never rub.
Chanderi and cotton-silk
Chanderi, Maheshwari, cotton-silk blends
- Dry clean, especially with zari borders or buttis.
- Plain pieces: a gentle cold hand wash, mild detergent.
- No soaking and no scrubbing.
- Dry flat or hang in the shade.
- Ease the fine weave back into shape while damp.
- Warm iron on the reverse, with a press cloth.
- Keep the iron off zari borders.
Safest, especially with zari or work.
Fold with tissue or muslin between layers; refold now and then.
- SnaggingThe fine, sheer weave snags and pulls easily.
- Colour bleedingDyed pieces may bleed at first.
Organza and net
Organza, tissue, net, tulle
- Hand wash in cold water, very gently, or dry clean.
- A mild detergent, no rubbing or wringing.
- Dry clean when it is embroidered or embellished.
- Hang in the shade, smoothed into shape.
- Keep away from heat.
- Cool iron with a press cloth, or a light steam from a distance.
- Too much heat crinkles or melts it.
Safest, especially with zari or work.
Store loosely with tissue so it is not crushed; never under heavy pieces.
- SnaggingSnags and tears on jewellery and rough edges.
- CrushingCreases and crushes if packed tightly.
Velvet
Silk velvet, micro velvet
- Do not wash at home; water can flatten and mark the pile.
- Brush off dust gently with a soft brush, along the pile.
- If it gets damp, hang it on a padded hanger in the shade.
- Never press it flat while wet.
- Never press the pile. Steam it from the reverse side with the iron not touching.
- Or hang it in a steamy bathroom for a while.
Do not wash at home.
Hang on a padded hanger with space around it; folds and weight crush velvet.
- CrushingThe pile crushes under weight and heat.
- Water spotsWater leaves marks on the pile.
Embroidered
Zari, sequins, mirror work, chikankari, thread work
- Dry clean zari, sequins, mirror and heavy work.
- Chikankari and thread work on cotton: a gentle cold hand wash, inside out, usually works; check the label.
- Never soak or scrub the work.
- Dry flat in the shade, inside out.
- Weight of water can pull the threads if hung.
- Iron on the reverse, over a folded towel, so the work is not flattened.
- Never iron on zari, sequins or mirrors.
Safest, especially with zari or work.
Fold with muslin or tissue between the layers so the work does not catch. Zari wrapped, away from moisture.
- SnaggingSequins, mirrors and loops catch on each other.
- Colour bleedingColoured threads can bleed onto the base fabric.
- TarnishZari darkens with moisture and perfume.
Block print and natural dyes
Bagru, dabu, ajrakh, kalamkari, indigo
- Hand wash in cold water, on its own, for the first few washes.
- A mild, gentle detergent; no long soaking.
- Some colour in the water is normal with natural dyes.
- Dry inside out in the shade.
- Sunlight fades natural dyes fastest.
- Hot iron on the reverse side (for cotton).
- Use a lower heat if the base is silk or rayon.
Good for a deep clean or a fussy piece.
Fold away from light. Natural dyes fade on the folds that face out, so refold.
- Colour bleedingNatural dyes bleed, mostly in the first washes.
- FadingFades in strong sun and with harsh detergent.
The first-wash test
- 1Find a hidden spot
An inside seam or the hem, where a mark would not show.
- 2Wet it
A few drops of cold water on that spot.
- 3Dab with white
Press a white cotton cloth or cotton bud on it for a few seconds.
- 4Look
Colour on the white cloth means the dye may bleed: wash it on its own, in cold water, or dry clean it.
For dark and printed colours
- Wash them separately, or with similar colours, for the first few washes.
- Use cold water: warm water loosens dye.
- Many people add a spoon of salt or a splash of white vinegar to the cold rinse water. These are general tips that can help some dyes; they are not guaranteed to stop bleeding.
- Do not leave a wet piece bundled up or soaking: dye moves where fabric touches.
Stain first aid
Tap a stain for gentle first steps. The sooner, the better: a fresh stain lifts far more easily than one that has dried or been ironed.
Haldi / turmeric
- 1
Scrape off any paste with a blunt knife; do not rub it in.
- 2
Rinse from the back under cold running water.
- 3
Dab a little mild liquid detergent on it and work gently with your fingers. Soap can turn haldi reddish for a moment; it rinses back.
- 4
Rinse and repeat. On white or light cotton, drying in the sun helps fade what is left.
Oil and ghee
- 1
Blot, do not rub: press a tissue on it to lift what you can.
- 2
Cover it with talc or cornflour and leave it for 30 minutes to soak up the oil, then brush it off.
- 3
Dab a drop of dishwashing liquid on it, work it in gently and leave for 10 minutes.
- 4
Rinse in water as warm as the label allows, and wash as usual.
Tea and coffee
- 1
Blot at once with a clean cloth.
- 2
Rinse from the back under cold water. Hot water can set a milky stain.
- 3
Dab a mild liquid detergent on it, leave for a few minutes, then rinse.
- 4
Repeat before it dries; a stain that has dried takes longer.
Lipstick and kajal
- 1
Lift off what you can with the edge of a card; do not smear it.
- 2
Blot with a tissue, from the outside in.
- 3
Dab with a little dishwashing liquid, or a makeup remover on a cotton pad, and blot again.
- 4
Rinse in cold water and wash as usual.
Mehendi
- 1
Let wet mehendi dry, then brush or scrape off the flakes.
- 2
Rinse from the back under cold water.
- 3
Dab a mild detergent on it and soak cotton pieces in cold soapy water for 30 minutes.
- 4
Fresh mehendi can leave a mark that fades over a few washes; act as early as you can.
Sweat
- 1
Rinse the underarms in cold water soon after wearing.
- 2
For cotton: soak for 30 minutes in cold water with a spoon of baking soda.
- 3
Wash as usual and dry in fresh air.
- 4
Do not iron over a sweat stain: heat sets it.
Candle wax
- 1
Let it harden; an ice cube in a bag over it helps.
- 2
Gently crack and lift off the flakes.
- 3
Lay brown paper or a paper towel over what is left and press with a warm iron (not hot) to lift it, moving to a clean spot of paper each time.
- 4
Treat any colour left with a mild detergent and rinse.
Test on a hidden area first. Try any detergent or remover on an inside seam before the stain.
For silk, zari and embroidery: do not treat it yourself. Blot gently and take it to a dry cleaner, and tell them what the stain is.
Storing festive wear
- Change the folds
- Refold sarees every two or three months along new lines. Silk and zari can crack or wear along a fold left too long.
- Wrap, do not seal
- Keep each piece in a muslin or soft cotton cloth. Plastic traps moisture; silk and zari need to breathe.
- Keep zari dry
- Moisture and perfume darken zari. Spray perfume before you dress, not on the zari, and keep festive wear away from damp walls.
- Air them out
- Every few months, air them for a few hours in the shade on a dry day, then fold them on new lines.
- Something to keep damp away
- A sachet of silica gel or dried neem leaves in the cupboard, wrapped so they do not touch the fabric. Keep naphthalene balls off silk and zari.
- Store it clean
- Old stains darken and set with time. Clean a piece before putting it away for the season.
Quick reference
| Fabric | Wash | Dry | Iron | Dry clean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Gentle machine or hand, up to 30°C | Line dry, in shade | Hot, on the reverse | Not needed |
| Linen | Gentle machine or hand, up to 30°C | Line dry, in shade | Hot, on the reverse | Optional |
| Rayon / viscose | Hand wash, cold | Hang, in shade | Medium, on the reverse | Optional |
| Polyester, georgette and chiffon | Gentle machine or hand, up to 30°C | Hang, in shade | Low, on the reverse | Optional |
| Crepe | Hand wash, cold | Flat, in shade | Low, on the reverse | Recommended |
| Pure silk | Hand wash, cold | Flat, in shade | Low, on the reverse | Recommended |
| Chanderi and cotton-silk | Hand wash, cold | Flat, in shade | Medium, on the reverse | Recommended |
| Organza and net | Hand wash, cold | Hang, in shade | Low, on the reverse | Recommended |
| Velvet | Do not wash | Hang, in shade | Steam only, from the reverse | Dry clean only |
| Embroidered | Hand wash, cold | Flat, in shade | Medium, on the reverse | Recommended |
| Block print and natural dyes | Hand wash, cold | Line dry, in shade | Hot, on the reverse | Optional |
Not sure about a piece?
Send us a photo of the piece and its label, and we will tell you what we would do.
From the Kalindi team
Handmade fabrics last for years with a little love. Here is how we care for ours.
Last updated 24 September 2026