Caring For Your Hemp Clothing

You'll find that hemp clothing sheds dirt more readily than other materials and will look as good as new after every wash. If you should happen to stain your hemp clothing, you can use a stain remover before washing. Want an eco-friendly stain remover? Try this simple recipe:

Eco-Friendly Stain Remover:

2 parts hot water 1 part baking soda 1 part hydrogen peroxide

Directions:

Spot treat the stains and allow to soak overnight. Mix only as much as you need for immediate use as this stain remover does not keep long.

Hemp clothing can be machine washed in cold water and tumble dried. However, fine knits or hand-embroidered hemp clothing will benefit from more gentle care. Clothing made from fine hemp knit should be hand washed or machine washed on the gentle cycle in a garment bag. Don't wring it. Put the wet item in a towel and press the towel to get the excess moisture out and then lay flat on a drying rack.

For hemp linen clothes such as trousers, blouses, dress shirts, etc., machine wash in cool or room-temperature water on the delicate cycle. Machine drying is not recommended. Always separate your colors to prevent bleeding, just as you would with your other clothing items. If you want to use an eco friendly laundry detergent, here is a great recipe:

Eco-Friendly Powdered Laundry Detergent:

You will need: 1 bar of soap (not antibacterial) 1/2 cup of borax 1/2 cup of baking soda Grater Re-sealable container

Directions: 1. Grate bar of soap into container. 2. Pour in borax and baking soda. 3. Mix well. 4. Use 1 tbsp. for small or lightly soiled loads and 2 tbsp. for large or heavily soiled loads.

Hemp clothing is naturally crisp and responds well to ironing. However, it is often very wrinkled when it comes out of the wash. (This is partly due to the fact that no formaldehyde is used in hemp clothing. Formaldehyde is used in many traditional fabrics to help reduce wrinkling, but we'd rather deal with a few wrinkles than wear formaldehyde, thank you very much!) Laying out your hemp clothing to dry flat can help decrease wrinkling. You can also use a very low heat in the dryer until the hemp clothing item is only slightly damp and then hang and smooth out wrinkles to finish drying. Some people also find that ironing their hemp clothing while it's still slightly damp helps achieve a very crisp feel. No starch is required for a very polished look when you iron your hemp clothing. You'll want to iron hemp clothing inside out or use an ironing sheet to preserve the texture of the fabric and prevent shininess.

Hemp clothing will get softer with use and after each wash. You can also use a fabric softener if you want to achieve a soft feel quicker. Want a natural fabric softener? Try good old fashioned white vinegar. Just place half a cup in the softener receptacle of your washing machine. It will do a fine job. And no, your clothing won't come it smelling like vinegar, the scent evaporates away quickly.

Another benefit of hemp clothing is its natural tendency to repel moths. It can be safely stored under normal conditions. Slatted shelves are a good storage option, as they will allow air to circulate. However, avoid cedar lined chests and drying cupboards with heated pipes, as these can discolor your clothing. If your hemp clothing does become discolored, wash it as soon as possible and dry it in the sun to whiten it.

If possible, we recommend you use mild eco-friendly detergent and line drying for all your hemp clothes to help save on the electricity needed to power your dryer. In addition, as with all clothing in general, line drying will help extend its life and ensure it holds its shape longer. Hand washing is also a good idea if you want to conserve resources and extend the life of your hemp clothing even more.


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Adrian Desbarats started Fashion & Earth to provide eco consumers with eco friendly clothing at affordable prices. With their hassle free returns policy and, extremely popular Rewards Program you really have nothing to lose! Go ahead - check them out and experience the feeling of wearing hemp clothing