The Golden Rules of Handwoven CareFollow these across all fabrics
Handwoven fabrics are living textiles. Unlike machine-made garments, they carry the natural oils of the artisan's hands, the mineral-rich dyes of the region, and the organic tension of the loom. Treat them with the gentleness you would give to a delicate heirloom.
First Wash Colour Test: For dark or deeply dyed pieces — Ajrakh, Indigo, Gond Art — dip a corner in cold water for 2 minutes. If colour runs significantly, opt for dry cleaning for the first wash, then hand wash thereafter.
Step-by-Step Washing GuideThe right way to wash your handwoven piece
Fill with Cold Water
Fill a clean basin with cold water (≤30°C). Never use hot water for handwovens — it causes shrinkage and colour loss.
Add Mild Detergent
Add 1–2 teaspoons of pH-neutral liquid detergent. For silks, use baby shampoo or a dedicated silk wash. Stir gently.
Submerge & Soak
Turn the garment inside out. Submerge and gently swish for 2–3 minutes. Soak for no more than 5 minutes. Never scrub.
Rinse Thoroughly
Rinse 2–3 times in fresh cold water until all soap is removed. Incomplete rinsing dulls the fabric's lustre over time.
Remove Excess Water
Lay the garment flat on a clean dry towel. Roll the towel and press gently. Never wring or twist the fabric.
Dry in Shade
Hang on a padded hanger or dry flat in a well-ventilated shaded area. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
Iron While Damp
Iron on low heat with a press cloth between iron and fabric. Iron on the wrong side for prints and embroidery.
Fold & Store
Store folded in clean muslin or cotton cloth. Add neem leaves or a cedar block to deter insects naturally.
Eco Tip: For lightly worn garments, air them out for a few hours rather than washing every time. Handwoven fabrics breathe naturally and often only need washing after 3–4 wears unless visibly soiled.
Care by Fabric TypeEvery weave has its own story and needs
Find your fabric on the product label or in the product description page on our website. When in doubt, opt for dry cleaning for your first wash.
Chanderi Silk
Premium SilkThe royal fabric of Madhya Pradesh — sheer, gossamer, woven with real gold or silver zari. Chanderi demands the most delicate care of all your collection.
- ✓Dry clean for first wash — always safest
- ✓Hand wash in cold water with a capful of baby shampoo
- ✓Submerge and gently press — no rubbing at all
- ✓Dry flat on a clean white towel in shade
- ✓Iron on the reverse side with a dry cloth in between
- ✓Store in a cotton or muslin bag — never plastic
- ✓Use mild steam iron on lowest silk setting
- ✗Machine wash — even on delicate cycle
- ✗Wring or twist the wet fabric
- ✗Soak for more than 5 minutes
- ✗Use any bleach or brightening agent
- ✗Dry in direct sunlight — it yellows the silk
- ✗Iron directly on the right side of zari work
- ✗Spray perfume directly onto silk
Cotton (Handblock & Plain)
Easiest to WashBreathable, durable, and forgiving — handwoven cotton from Bagh, Bagru, Ajrakh and Kalamkari traditions. The most accessible fabric for regular care.
- ✓Hand wash or gentle machine cycle in a mesh bag
- ✓Cold or lukewarm water (30–40°C) works well
- ✓Mild detergent — liquid preferred over powder
- ✓First wash: add a tablespoon of salt to cold water to set dye
- ✓Iron while slightly damp at medium heat — cotton loves it
- ✓Dry flat or on a hanger in shade or gentle sun
- ✗Hot water washes — causes significant shrinkage in handwovens
- ✗Bleach or strong detergents on block-printed fabrics
- ✗Extended soaking (more than 15 minutes)
- ✗Tumble dry — it causes pilling in handwoven cotton
- ✗Wash separately — always wash dark colours alone first time
Maheshwari Silk
GI-Tagged HeritageWoven on the banks of the Narmada in Maheshwar, MP — lighter than Chanderi but richer in texture. A silk-cotton blend that balances elegance with wearability.
- ✓Dry clean recommended for GI-tagged pieces
- ✓Hand wash with silk-specific detergent if needed
- ✓Cold water only — silk threads shrink in warm water
- ✓Press out water gently — never wring
- ✓Dry on a muslin cloth in the shade
- ✓Store with silica gel packets to prevent moisture damage
- ✗Machine wash under any settings
- ✗Use enzyme-based detergents — they digest silk proteins
- ✗Store in plastic bags — silk needs to breathe
- ✗Fold on the same crease repeatedly — it weakens fibres
- ✗Hang heavily bordered sarees — drape weight distorts selvage
Modal & Tussar Silk
Natural FibreTussar is the wild silk of the forest, with a textured, earthy natural beauty. Modal is regenerated from beech wood — incredibly soft, drapes like water.
- ✓Hand wash in cool water with mild liquid soap
- ✓Modal can handle a gentle machine cycle in a mesh bag
- ✓Dry flat to maintain shape — Tussar distorts on hangers
- ✓Iron Tussar on medium — it softens beautifully with heat
- ✓Modal — low iron setting, it's heat-sensitive
- ✗Tussar is NOT machine washable — handwash only
- ✗Use hot iron on Modal — it melts synthetic blends
- ✗Hang Tussar sarees — the weight elongates the fabric
- ✗Bleach or brightening agents on natural-coloured Tussar
| Fabric | Wash Temp | Method | Dry Method | Iron Setting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chanderi Silk | Cold ≤25°C | Hand wash / Dry clean | Flat in shade | Low / Silk |
| Maheshwari Silk | Cold ≤25°C | Dry clean preferred | Flat in shade | Low / Silk |
| Cotton (Handblock) | 30–40°C | Hand wash | Shade / Gentle sun | Medium |
| Modal Silk | Cold ≤30°C | Hand wash | Flat in shade | Low |
| Tussar Silk | Cold ≤25°C | Hand wash only | Flat in shade | Medium |
| Linen | 30°C | Hand or gentle machine | Shade | Medium-High |
| Kota Doria | Cold ≤25°C | Hand wash only | Flat in shade | Low |
Ironing & DryingGet the perfect drape every time
Ironing Do's
- ✓ Always iron on the reverse (wrong) side
- ✓ Use a pressing cloth between iron and fabric
- ✓ Iron silks while slightly damp for best results
- ✓ Use a steam iron on low setting for stubborn creases
- ✓ Iron embroidery and zari work face-down on a towel
Drying Do's
- ✓ Dry flat on a clean dry towel for delicate silks
- ✓ Hang cotton on a padded or wide hanger
- ✓ Keep in a well-ventilated, shaded area
- ✓ Turn garments inside-out while drying
- ✓ Ensure fabric is fully dry before storing to prevent mildew
Never dry-iron any handwoven silk directly. The concentrated heat scorches silk and creates permanent shiny patches that cannot be removed. Always use a damp pressing cloth or gentle steam.
Storage TipsHow to keep your pieces beautiful between wears
Wrap in Muslin
Store each saree or garment individually wrapped in soft cotton muslin or a clean white cotton cloth. This protects against dust, moisture, and colour transfer between garments.
Use Natural Pest Repellents
Place dried neem leaves, lavender sachets, or cedar wood blocks in your wardrobe. These repel moths and silverfish naturally without harsh chemicals that damage fabric.
Refold Periodically
Every 2–3 months, take out your stored sarees and refold them differently. This prevents permanent crease lines forming at the same fold point, which weakens silk fibres over time.
Control Humidity
Add silica gel packets to your storage drawer. High humidity causes silk to yellow and cotton to develop mildew. Ideal storage humidity is 40–60% — avoid damp areas like basements.
Avoid Direct Light
Store in dark drawers or cloth bags. Prolonged exposure to light (even artificial) causes natural dyes to fade. Keep sarees in a drawer or covered wardrobe, not on open shelves.
Label Your Collection
Attach a small cloth tag to each piece noting the fabric type and date of last wash. This helps you track care intervals and ensures you always use the right washing method for each piece.
Heirloom Storage for Silk Sarees: Roll silk sarees loosely around a muslin-covered cardboard tube (acid-free), then wrap the whole roll in a cotton cloth. This is the museum-quality technique that preserves silk sarees for 50+ years without crease damage.
Seasonal Care CalendarIndia's seasons demand different care strategies
Monsoon (June – September)
- Air out stored silks every 2 weeks to prevent mildew
- Add extra silica gel packs to drawers during peak humidity
- Dry garments with a fan — natural drying takes longer in humidity
- Never store a slightly damp garment — mildew forms in 48 hrs
- Lavender sachets work especially well against monsoon insects
Summer (March – June)
- Wash cotton more frequently due to perspiration — always cold wash
- Do not dry silk in direct afternoon sun — it yellows rapidly
- Iron in the early morning when fabric retains some cool moisture
- Store silks in airtight cloth bags away from AC vents (very dry air)
- Check stored sarees for fading every month
Winter (November – February)
- Increase drying time — silks dry slowly in cool dry air
- Iron silks on slightly higher (but still low) setting in winter
- Bring stored silk sarees out and air them for 2–3 hours in mild sun
- Perfect season to re-examine your collection and repair fraying borders
- Store lighter summer sarees with extra protection from dryness
Pre-Festive Prep
- Air and lightly steam stored sarees 2 days before wearing
- Spot-treat any storage crease with a damp pressing cloth
- Apply an extremely diluted fabric conditioner rinse to restore drape
- Do not wash new pieces just before an event — let the fabric settle
- Hang the saree on a padded hanger overnight for creases to fall out
Care Label DecoderWhat those symbols actually mean
Every Loom Indica garment includes a care label with international symbols. Here's a guide to what each symbol means for your handwoven pieces.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAnswers to the most common care questions
Absolutely not — this is completely normal and expected for naturally dyed handwoven fabrics. Mineral dyes (used in Bagh, Ajrakh, Indigo Dabu) and some vegetable dyes have "excess dye" that releases in the first 1–2 washes. Wash the first time with 1 tablespoon of salt in cold water, then rinse with a small amount of white vinegar in the final rinse. Colour stabilises completely after 2–3 washes.
For plain handwoven cottons in a mesh laundry bag — yes, a delicate machine cycle (cold water, no spin) is acceptable. For any silk — Chanderi, Maheshwari, Tussar, Modal — absolutely never use a machine. The centrifugal force of even the gentlest spin cycle stretches and distorts silk threads permanently. Always hand wash silks.
Act immediately — the longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove. Do not rub. For food stains: blot with a clean white cloth to absorb the stain, then apply a tiny amount of baby shampoo diluted in cold water using a soft brush. Work from the outer edge inward. Rinse with cold water. For grease: apply a tiny amount of cornstarch, let sit for 30 minutes, brush off gently, then wash normally. For stubborn stains on silk, always go to a professional dry cleaner who specialises in silk.
Far less often than you might think. Handwoven silk sarees worn for 3–4 hours at a function don't need to be washed — air them out overnight on a padded hanger and store. Reserve washing for when the saree is visibly soiled or has absorbed sweat/perfume. Over-washing is one of the most common ways sarees lose their lustre and texture. Cotton kurtas worn for daily wear can be washed after each use.
First, isolate the affected piece immediately to prevent spreading to other garments. For small holes or fraying caused by insects, take the saree to a specialist silk weaver for invisible mending — many sarees can be beautifully restored. To prevent future damage: place dried neem leaves, camphor blocks, or lavender sachets in your wardrobe, ensure proper ventilation, and never store sarees that haven't been fully dried and cleaned. Insects are attracted to residual starch and body oils.
Not all dry cleaners understand handwoven fabrics. We recommend finding a dry cleaner who specifically mentions experience with silk sarees or bridal wear. Show them the fabric type and any zari work before leaving the piece. Ask them explicitly: "Do you use perchloro-ethylene solvent?" — this is safe for most silks. Avoid laundries that use steam machines for silk — the pressure can crush zari. Always inspect the saree before accepting it back.
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