How do I clean the fabric?
To keep your African print fabric vibrant and long-lasting, always wash it separately from other clothing, especially during the first wash as the colours may run.
i) Washing
Machine or hand wash in cold water using a mild detergent and hang to dry. Avoid dry cleaning since the dyes may bleed.
ii) Drying
For the best care, air dry instead of machine drying your your African print clothing to ensure they are safe from shrinkage or getting ripped apart to preserve the bold and beautiful designs.
How can soften my stiff clothing?
The prints are made by different vendors which gives fabric in diverse texture, for example, 1) wax fabric, 2) stiff cotton, or 3) soft cotton. After a few washes, the 1) and 2) soften over time but if you prefer to enhance the comfort and drape of your African print fabrics sooner, I recommend the tips below that do not use harsh chemicals.
First, do a fabric bleed test by dabbing the fabric wit with a wet white cloth and see if the colour transfers. If bleeding occurs, use cold water to soften, otherwise use warm water.
i) Use white vinegar
Mix 250ml of white vinegar and 4 litres of water then submerge the fabric and soak for minimum of an hour. You can also use concentrated vinegar and mix with more water. Rinse and air dry.
Alternatively, you can include white vinegar in the rinse cycle to reduce the stiffness.
ii) Use a fabric softener
Use a fabric softener with plant based ingredients in the wash cycle to relax the fibres and reduce stiffness. Simply add the fabric softener in the wash cycle (cold wash) and air dry when done washing. In Germany I recommend Vernel Weichspüler as it has 99% natural ingredients.
We hope that these tips are helpful - feel free to share any additional tips or questions that you might have in the comments section.