You asked, and we’ve got answers. Things You Should Know is dedicated to answering some of the most frequently asked questions we get here at tentree. Whether it’s about our products, sustainable practices or general advice, our experts and team members are ready to get you the info you need.
Here Are Your Top FAQs On Clothing Care:
How do I prevent my clothes from shrinking in the wash?
No one wants to pull their go-to piece out of the wash, only to find that it’s tight in all the wrong places (if you can pull it on, that is). The best way to prevent shrinkage is to wash your clothes in cold water. If you’re feeling really committed, hand washing in cold will basically guarantee no shrinkage. Make sure to hang dry after — drying can be a fast track to accidental clothing shrinkage, especially with natural fibres like cotton.
Another tip: make sure to read the label on your clothes. Clothing that’s hand wash only probably isn’t going to hold up well in the washing machine, no matter what temperature you set it to.
How do I prevent my clothes from pilling?
Let’s start with busting a common myth: pilling is not a fabric defect or fault. Yep, we’re for real.
But what causes pilling? A ‘pill’ is a small ball of fibres that forms over time on the face of a piece of fabric that’s caused by abrasion on the fabric surface. As you wear your favourite clothes over and over and over, loose fibres tend to move towards the surface of a fabric, where they’re vulnerable to friction. Any kind of rubbing causes those fibres to twist together to make small balls. The fibres that are still attached to the fabric get twisted with those loose fibres, which causes the pill to be stuck to the surface of the fabric.
Whether you’re going for a bike ride, walking to a local market, or cozying up on the couch for your newest Netflix binge, friction is unavoidable. Washing your clothes is also a huge factor in pilling, since washing machines agitate fabric and cause all kinds of materials to rub together.
But no need to freak out! Pilling doesn’t happen overnight and isn’t a quality issue, plus there are ways to prevent it.
Try washing your clothes in a garment washing bag in cold water—this prevents extra abrasion. Turning your product inside-out can also help protect the outward-facing fabric. We also recommend that you hang dry your clothes (bonus: it also reduces the risk of accidental shrinkage).
How do I prevent my hats from discolouring?
When you’re living life in motion, whether that’s grabbing a coffee on the go or jogging your favourite trail, sweating is natural. The thing is, sweat can lead to stains on your favourite hat over time. Washing your hat on the regular can help prevent (and potentially remove) sweat stains. Just keep in mind that allowing your hat to remain stained for a long time will decrease your chances of removing the stain.
While there’s the whole “throw your baseball cap in the dishwasher” trick, that only half works. Yes, the stains may come out, but it can cause the fabric to pucker and the hat to warp. We recommend that you hand wash your hats. If the idea of hand washing freaks you out, we’re with you! Trust us, it’s actually super easy.
Step 1: Fill up a kitchen sink/large bucket/bathtub with enough warm (not hot) water to submerge your hat entirely. Add a tablespoon(ish) of your favorite eco-friendly laundry detergent. Spray your hat with stain remover before you put it in the sink.
Step 2: Submerge your hat and swirl it around a couple times — this helps the soap penetrate the material of the hat.
Step 3: Leave it to soak for a few hours. That’s it!
Step 4: Come back after 2-4 hours (it’s up to you how long you want to leave it in) and drain the water, which will be pretty nasty colour at this point. Rinse your cap with cold water until it’s sud-free. Reshape your cap (gently) and allow it to air dry.
Ta-da! You now have a clean cap!
We wouldn’t recommend trying this method on felt hats, but synthetic and cotton hats are fair game.
Have other questions about tentree or our products? Feel free to check out our Help Centre. We have a ton of resources to help answer your questions, plus you can always reach out to our Customer Care Team.
