Cotton Care 101: How to Wash, Dry, and Preserve Your Nap Story Nightwear

We all know that, when it comes to nightwear, comfort is an indisputable attribute it must have. And cotton is the king of comfort. After all, it has all the qualities you would want in your ideal sleepwear- soft and lightweight, while being gentle on even the most sensitive skin.

And that is precisely why Nap Story carefully designs each and every piece of its 100% cotton nightwear in a manner wherein you never have to compromise on comfort.

And that is not all. At Nap Story, one of our core values is providing our customers with more than just another aesthetically pleasing and comfortable night suit. We want to bring you pieces that last you through the years, and not end up in a dump like the fast-fashion items in trend today.  And while cotton is a resilient fabric, it does need the occasional love and care to keep it looking and feeling fresh, soft and brand-new.

That is why we have created this guide to help you with everything you need to know for washing, drying, and maintaining your Nap Story cotton nightwear for the long run.

Why Cotton Needs Special Care

When you think of cotton, what adjectives come to mind? The most common would be light-weight, hypoallergenic and versatile. However, like all natural fabrics, cotton is also likely to be damaged by rough handling and harsh detergents.  Let us break washing your Napstory cotton nightsuit down the correct way step-by-step.

1. Sort by Colour:
   The number one thing to be kept in mind before even putting your nightwear into a washing machine is to segregate them by colours. Keep all the light colours separate from the darker ones. In this way, you will ensure that the colours do not bleed and your nightwear will remain as pristine as ever.

1. Use Cold or Lukewarm Water:
   
   The next thing that is often overlooked is the temperature of the water you use to wash your clothes in. While hot water can cause your nightwear to shrink, lose shape, and overall degrade the fabric’s integrity, using very cold water is not very effective either at killing bacteria and removing stains. 
   
   Pro Tip: Turn your night suits inside out before you put them in for washing. This will help in protecting the sleepwear and ensure it lasts you for ages.
2. Mild Detergent Only:
   Instead of harsh, chemical-laden detergents, use a gentle alternative that prevents the stripping of fabric while protecting sensitive skin. 

Another strict no-no is bleach. You might think that it is the perfect answer to getting your white nightwear perfectly and squeaky clean, but the chemicals, over time, wear the fabric down, drastically reducing your sleepwear’s life.

4. Hand Wash or Gentle Machine Cycle:
   In today’s fast-paced life, with everyone rushing around to get things done, it is so easy to give in to the temptation to put all your clothes into the washing machine. But the constant agitation of a fast spin cycle can be highly detrimental to your cotton sleepwear,  leading to faster wear and tear.

On the other hand, handwashing is gentle on the fabric and protects it from excessive lint and fibre shedding, ensuring a longer life cycle for your cotton clothes. But in case you have to use a machine, use it in a delicate setting that offers lower spin.

Drying Without Damage—What to Avoid

Now once you are done washing your cotton nightwear, the next step would be to dry them. While on surface it might seem like an easy enough task there are certain mistakes you need to avoid to make sure to maintain your nightwear’s integrity.

1. Say no to wringing out your cotton nightwear as this can lead to the shape of the nightwear getting distorted. Instead lay the cloth flat on a clean towel and opt for gently squeezing out the water.
   
   
2. Say yes to air drying:  Again, while it is very tempting to put your clothes in a dryer to get them to dry quickly, this might limit the longevity of your clothes. Another good tip to remember would be to hang your clothes to dry in the shade, and not in direct sunlight to avoid colour fading.

Ironing and Storing Cotton Nightwear

Now onto the last part of this journey, which is what to do once the night suit is clean and dry- that is ironing and storing them. Follow the below listed tip when doing so to get the best for you buck.

1. While natural fabrics like cotton do wrinkle easily, they can also be relatively easy to iron. To make sure the night suit is wrinkle-free, try to iron it whilst still slightly damp to easily straighten out all the creases.

2. Another pro tip would be to use medium level heat to iron your nightwear. In case your piece has prints, remember to turn it inside out before ironing it. Doing so will ensure preservation of any design or print on your sleepwear.

3. An often overlooked aspect is how we store our nightwear. At Nap Story we recommend folding them over hanging to prevent them from overstretching and becoming misshapen.

4. When it comes to storage, try to keep them in a cool and dry space, outside the reach of harsh sunlight.

5. For stowing them for winters, choose ventilated cotton bags over plastic, so that your clothes can breathe. Doing this will prevent your clothes from getting dirty while keeping it smelling fresh till the next time you decide to wear them.

When it comes to storing, folding is preferred over hanging. Hanging cotton for too long, especially on bony hangers, will cause it to stretch and become misshapen. Keep your nightwear smelling brand new by storing it in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight. If you're keeping it for a long time, use ventilated cotton bags or muslin drawstring bags instead of plastic. They protect your clothes from dust and allow air to pass through to the fabric, keeping your Nap Story nightwear smelling new and refreshed for your next night in.

Nap Story: A Saga of Commitment to Sustainability

At the time of establishment of Nap Story we had two primary goals in mind- providing every Indian a chance to buy sleepwear whose quality and aesthetic is at par with global standard, and doing it in a manner that is sustainable. It is then very clear why we chose to take the route of bringing to you 100% cotton nightwear that gives you the best of both worlds- comfort and eco-consciousness.

So when you take care of your Nap Story cotton nightwear, it  is not just good for your clothing, it also indicates your advocacy for a slower, more considerate way of living. A way in which there is lesser waste, fewer replacements, and more evenings wrapped in pure comfort.

 

Every time you treat your Nap Story night wear with care, you are taking a step to support a homegrown brand that creates with intention, love and care.  When you support us, you are supporting a brand that ensures usage of only responsibly grown raw material and fair production.

With this guide, you have an easy way of taking care of your Nap Story night suits, ensuring they look and feel just as beautiful and breezy on a random sunday morning as it did the day you wore it for the first time.