How to Wash and Care for Linen and Muslin Baby Clothes

Natural fibres get better with age if you treat them well. Linen and cotton muslin soften with every wash, and with a little care they'll last through one baby and on to the next.

Washing

• Wash before the first wear. It removes any finishing from manufacturing and starts the softening.
• Cold or warm water (30–40°C) is enough for everyday washes. Save hot washes for heavy soiling.
• Gentle cycle, and don't overload the machine. Fabrics need room to move.
• Mild, fragrance-free detergent. Skip fabric softener: it coats fibres and makes them less absorbent and less breathable.
• Wash like colours together. For the first few washes, wash dyed and hand block-printed pieces separately or with similar colours.

Drying

• Line drying is best. It's gentlest on fibres and prevents shrinking. Dry coloured pieces in the shade to keep colours bright.
• If you use a dryer, choose low heat and take pieces out while very slightly damp.
• Shake and smooth linen while damp and it will dry with soft, natural creases rather than hard wrinkles.

Ironing (optional)

Muslin is meant to look crinkled, so no ironing needed. Linen creases, and that relaxed look is part of its charm. If you prefer it smooth, iron while slightly damp on a medium-hot setting, inside out for printed pieces.

Stains

• Act quickly: rinse from the back of the fabric with cold water. Hot water can set protein stains like milk, formula and spit-up.
• Milk and food: soak in cold water, then wash as usual.
• Diaper leaks: rinse cold, then wash warm with your usual detergent.
• Sunshine is a gentle natural stain fader for undyed cotton and linen. Dry stained pieces in direct sun.
• Avoid chlorine bleach. It weakens natural fibres and can yellow them.

Hand block-printed pieces

Block prints use real dyes pressed by hand, so treat them a little more gently: wash cold, inside out, with similar colours, and dry in the shade. The colours will mellow softly over time, which is part of the beauty. Read more in What is hand block printing?

Storing and passing down

• Wash and dry fully before storing.
• Store folded in a cotton bag or box, not plastic, so fibres can breathe.
• Add a cedar block or lavender sachet to keep moths away from wool and cashmere.

Find your next favourite in our linen and cotton collections.