• To get longer life out of your wardrobe, follow the manufacturer's care label instructions.
  
  
• Also, try turning your clothes inside out before washing. This minimizes abrasion on fabric surfaces and reduces wear
  
  
• Separate man-made fibers, like polyester, from natural fibers such as cotton before washing.
  
  
  
• Sort articles of clothing by colour, keeping whites, darks, brights and medium colours together. Lighter garments can pick up dyes from darker colours.
  
  
• Wash heavily soiled items separately from slightly soiled items. This will help prevent fading and keep colours brighter.
  
  
• Chlorine bleach can be used safely on cotton whites and colour safe bleach on dyed cottons.
  
  
• Cold rinse water saves energy and makes ironing easier.
  
  
• A general-purpose detergent may cause light spots to appear on a garment, especially on pastel-coloured cotton fabrics. Should spotting occur, soak the entire garment in a solution of four parts water and one part general-purpose detergent. This lightens the entire garment and evens out the colour.
  
  
• All garments that are not colourfast should be washed separately. In addition, to neutralize the colour and minimize fading, add ½ to 1 cup white vinegar when washing the garment for the first time. Continue to wash it separately until no colour bleeds in the wash water.
  
  
• Cotton takes much longer to dry than less absorbent fibers - use a higher heat setting for the dryer.
  
  
• All cotton clothing should be left in the dryer just long enough to remove wrinkles and moisture. If left in too long, the heat can actually "set" wrinkles, increase static cling and cause shrinkage.
  
  
• After removing cotton garments from the dryer, put them on hangers or fold immediately.

Cotton clothing can take the heat - use the highest setting on an iron