Soft, warm, and cozy: flannel is the ultimate fall fabric! But when not washed properly, it can stiffen, shrink, or even pill. Follow these steps to keep your flannel shirts, sheets, and more as soft and comfy as possible!
Warm Water
Hot water can cause your flannels to fade over time and begin to pill. Always wash your flannel fabrics in warm or cool water instead, which will keep them soft, clean, and bright!
Gentle Cycle
The agitation cycle causes excess friction when washing your clothes, and this can cause pulling on the loose fibers in flannels and pilling. Using a gentle cycle or hand washing will reduce the stress on your clothes.
Mild Detergent
Harsh chemicals in traditional detergents and bleach cause flannels to fade quickly and stiffen the fabric. To avoid this, it’s best to use a gentle detergent free of enzymes, phosphates, and chlorine like Dropps Laundry Detergent Pods!
Add in a Fabric Softener
Liquid fabric softeners coat your fabric in an icky film that makes them feel soft at first, but clogs the fibers, causing the fabric to stiffen over time and trap in dirt and smells. Dropps Fabric Softener Pods are mineral-based; tiny natural minerals flow through the fibers instead of settling on top, leaving your clothes soft and comfortable after every wash.
Low Heat
High heat is your flannel’s number one enemy. Most flannels are composed of wool or cotton fibers, which are prone to shrinking when exposed to heat. Use the low heat setting on your dryer with your flannel fabrics, or better yet, air dry them! If they are a little stiff after air drying (or if you just like snuggling up under a fresh-out-of-the-dryer-flannel blanket), fluff them on low heat for about 5 minutes.
Happy Washing!