Care Guide: How to wash and maintain Your African Fabric

At Kolinga, we take pride in creating handmade products using vibrant and 100% traditional African fabrics. These fabrics not only bring a touch of culture and beauty to your everyday life but also require proper care to ensure their longevity.

In this blog post, we will guide you through the essential steps to wash and maintain your African fabric treasures, so you can enjoy them for years to come.

1. Hand-washing Method:

If you want to do the dirty work yourself, hand-washing is often the safest option. Follow these steps for optimal results:

• Fill a basin or sink with lukewarm water and add a mild detergent suitable for delicate fabrics.
• Submerge the item in the soapy water and gently agitate it, taking care not to rub or twist vigorously.
• Allow the fabric to soak for a few minutes, ensuring the detergent penetrates the fibers.
• Rinse thoroughly with cool water until no soap residue remains.
• Gently squeeze out excess water without wringing, and reshape the item if necessary.
• Lay the fabric flat on a clean towel and roll it up to absorb additional moisture.
• Finally, air dry the item in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.

2. Machine washing Method:

Nowadays, we all use the machine washing method. Follow these guidelines:

• Turn the fabric or product inside out to protect the vibrant print or delicate details.
• Place the item in a mesh laundry bag to prevent it from getting tangled or stretched (don't forget to wash colours separately).
• Use a gentle cycle (like hand-wash cycling 30° or delicate wash cycling 30°) and cold water setting to minimize the risk of color fading or shrinking.
• Add a mild liquid detergent (without bleach) suitable for colorful or delicate fabrics.
• Once the cycle is complete (opt for a low spin), promptly remove the item from the machine.
• If needed, reshape the fabric while it is still damp and lay it flat to dry air-dry away from direct sunlight.

Once your item is dry, you may need to iron it to remove wrinkles or creases. Set the iron to the appropriate heat setting (medium) and use a pressing cloth to protect the print or delicate embellishments. When storing your treasures, keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent color fading or damage.

What about Stain Removal?

 To remove stains in general, hand-washing is highly recommended. In addition, depending on the type of task, there are particular techniques which, combined with hand-washing, give satisfactory results:

1. Wine stain:

Simply rub the stain with a cloth previously moistened in warm soapy water containing a few drops of lemons. Then rinse the outfit and wash.

2. Mud stain:

Rub a cloth previously soaked in soapy water mixed with white vinegar on the stain.

3. Blood stain:

First, immerse the part of the outfit containing the blood stain in the water and then wring it out. Then dab with a cloth moistened with 70° alcohol. Then rinse and wash.

 After washing, it is advisable to dry the items away from the sunlight, since this could damage the colours of the fabric. Also, clothes should be hung up to dry, not spread out.

Conclusion:

Taking proper care of your treasures ensures their longevity and allows you to enjoy their beauty for years to come. Whether you choose to hand-wash or machine wash, always follow the care instructions. 

Do not hesitate to contact us, should you have any other questions about how to wash your African fabric items.

*We recommend you to wash all our products inside out using the delicate wash cycling 30°.
*Powdered cleansers and detergents are not recommended on these fabrics.
*Never put your treasures in the dryer!

From KOLINGA with Love,

xxx