Care
Washing muslin is easy. It gets better every time.
No dry cleaning, no special detergent, no hand-washing. Muslin is one of the few fabrics that improves with laundering, and looking after it comes down to two short lists.
Do
Machine wash cold
Delicate cycle, with like colours
Hang air dry
Best results, out of direct sun
Or tumble dry low
Add wool dryer balls for softness
Give it room
Wash alone, never with denim or heavy items
Never
Bleach
Mild liquid detergent only
Fabric softener or dryer sheets
They coat the fibres and close the weave
Iron
The soft crinkle is the look
Dry clean
Solvents stiffen the weave
“Soft as puppy ears.”
Looking after the weave
An open weave is the point. It's also the thing to watch.
Muslin's gaps are what let heat escape, and what a ring, a nail or a pet claw can catch. A snag isn't damage, and it's easy to keep them rare.
Before the wash
Rings and nails off
Most snags happen in the laundry, not the bed. Take off rings and check zips on anything sharing the drum.
In the wash
Skip the mesh bag
A bag bunches the fabric and creates friction points. A gentle cycle with room to move is kinder than a bag.
On the bed
Mind the paws
Cats and dogs love muslin. If yours sleeps on the bed, keep claws trimmed and expect the odd pulled thread.
Pulled a thread? Don't cut it. Ease the fabric flat with your fingers from both sides and the yarn will usually settle back into the weave.
Common questions
The rest of what people ask
Will it shrink?
Every piece is pre-washed before it ships, so movement after the first wash is minimal. Wash cold and dry low and it will hold its size.
How often should I wash it?
Fitted sheets and pillowcases weekly. The blanket every few weeks, or whenever it needs it. Muslin doesn't hold odour the way dense weaves do.
Can I wash it with other bedding?
Sheets and cases, yes. Give the blanket its own load where you can. It's oversized, and it washes better with space around it.
It arrived crinkled. Is that right?
Yes. The soft crinkle is what a loose plain weave does, and it's why you never need to iron. It relaxes further on the bed.
What about stains?
Treat the spot with a little mild detergent and cold water before the wash, and work it in gently with your fingers. No bleach, no scrubbing brush.
Does it really get softer?
Softness is the single most common thing our reviewers mention, and it keeps improving. Every wash relaxes the weave a little more.