Care for your basics, they'll care for you
A few small habits can make your clothes last years longer. Here's how we care for ours.
Wash cold
Max 30°C, gentle cycle, with like colours.
Gentle cycle
Protects fabric structure and extends garment life.
Air dry
Avoid direct sunlight. Skip the tumble dryer when you can.
Iron low
Low heat. Avoid prints. Steam when the fabric allows.
Caring for the product in the right way is the single most effective way to reduce our collective carbon footprint — by increasing the lifetime of every piece you own.
Every fabric has its quirks. Here's what each one needs.
| Fabric | Wash | Dry | Iron | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Fleece | Cold, inside out | Low tumble or air | Low, outside only | Don't iron brushed inner |
| Cotton Modal Spandex | Cold, inside out | Air dry flat | Very low heat | Wash with similar weights |
| Cotton Spandex | Cold, gentle | Air dry | Low heat | Skip fabric softener |
| Heavy Cotton | Cold, gentle | Air dry, reshape | Medium heat | Tumble dry low is fine |
| Polar Fleece | Cold, zip up | Low tumble or air | Very low, if needed | Sheds lint first few washes |
| Polyester Spandex | Cold, gentle | Hang dry | Low heat, steam | Never bleach |
| Ribbed Cotton Modal | Cold, inside out | Air dry flat | Very low heat | Reshape while damp |
| Terry Cotton Spandex | Cold, gentle | Air dry | Low heat | No fabric softener |
| Textured Slub Cotton Modal | Cold, inside out | Air dry flat | Very low heat | Slub texture is natural |
Make them last
Small habits that make a big difference over the long run.
01
Turn inside out
Reduces friction on the outer fabric, keeps colours deep, and protects prints from cracking over time.
02
Don't overfill the washer
Clothes need room to move. Overloaded machines cause more friction, poorer cleaning, and faster wear.
03
Skip softener on stretch fabrics
Fabric softener coats elastic fibres and breaks them down over time. Stretch fabrics don't need it.
04
Fold knitwear, don't hang
Gravity permanently stretches the shoulders of hung knits. Fold and stack them instead.
05
Wash similar weights together
Heavy fabrics like jeans or fleece can pill lighter tees through friction. Group by weight when you can.
06
Reshape while damp
Smooth and reshape knits and tees while still damp. The fabric sets into shape as it dries.
Special cases
Some of our fabrics need a closer look.
Cotton modal fabrics
Modal gives our cotton blends their signature silky softness. Always wash cold, inside out, on gentle cycle. Skip fabric softener — it dulls the soft hand over time. Wash with similar-weight garments to preserve the smooth surface texture.
Polar fleece
Polar fleece sheds lint heavily in its first 2–3 washes — wash it separately the first few times. Zip up any zippers before washing to prevent snags. If ironing is ever needed, use the very lowest heat setting — synthetic fibres can melt.
Tote bags
Our totes are natural cotton canvas. The dyed colours may bleed onto white panels if rubbed with water or chemicals. Spot clean stains with a damp cloth — gently dab, don't rub or soak. Skip the washing machine; it distorts shape and weakens stitching.
Watch: care, explained
Quick tips to make your clothes last longer.
How to read care label symbols
Care Notes
Washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and dry cleaning symbols, explained in 20 seconds.
Why do T-shirts shrink in the wash?
Care Notes
Heat and tumbling let fibres relax and pull back. Wash cool, skip the hot dryer, and choose pre-shrunk fabric. All Better Basics fabrics are pre-shrunk.
Why do white T-shirts turn yellow?
Care Notes
Body oils, too much detergent and heat. Wash whites often, use less detergent, wash cool and line dry.
Should you fold or hang your T-shirts?
Care Notes
Fold your knits, hang your wovens.
How to stop clothes smelling musty in the monsoon
Care Notes
Why damp clothes smell, and how to dry them fast in the monsoon.