Garment Care with Ms Brown
How to Care for Your Swimwear
We're thrilled to introduce the Ms BROWN Matteau Swim Wash - a 100% biodegradable laundry liquid, especially for gently cleansing your Matteau swimsuits.
The pure essential oils of Lemon Peel, Neroli and Frankincense combine for a delightful floral and citrus fragrance, reminiscent of the Australian summer.
Like any garment, the better care you take of it, the longer it will last so you can wear it summer after summer.
We’ve put together these five simple steps to best cleanse and preserve your swimsuit.
1. Half fill a ten litre bucket or a sink with cold water and add approximately one capful of Ms BROWN Matteau Swim Wash to the water. Disperse the detergent by agitating the water.
2. Immerse your swimsuit(s) in the water and gently swirl, paying extra attention to any soiled patches like deodorant or sunscreen marks. Leave to sit in the water for 10-15 minutes.
3. Hold the swimsuit to the side of the bucket and pour out the soapy water. Fill the bucket again with clean water. Move the garment around in the water to rinse off any excess product. Empty bucket and repeat only if necessary.
4. To remove excess moisture, gently press the item in a ball against the side of the empty bucket. Never wring your swimsuit as it will stretch out of shape and damage the fibres. If you need to dry your suit quickly, lie your swimsuit flat on a clean towel and gently roll. You may need to repeat this process on a drier section of towel.
5. Gently arrange your garment into shape and drip dry in the shade.
Do not tumble dry, iron or dry clean. Do not leave rolled up wet. Chlorine, spa baths, tanning products, sunscreen and oils can cause damage or mark garments – avoid contact and rinse immediately. Avoid contact with rough surfaces to prevent pulls in fabric.
Shop the Ms BROWN Matteau Swim Wash here.
How to Wash Silk and Delicate Items
Hint: You don't need to send them to the dry cleaner.
After wool and cashmere, silk shirts are the garment that seems to cause the most confusion in the laundry. But that needn't be the case. Most silk and delicate items such as shirts and lingerie, including those made from lace or synthetics, can be washed in the machine at home on a gentle cycle using the Ms BROWN Delicate Wash. Not only is it extremely gentle on precious garments, the heavenly scent of Neroli essential oil will have you looking forward to your next delicate wash.
IN THE MACHINE
- Turn garment inside-out then place in machine, using a garment bag if you like. Avoid washing one garment alone if you can, firstly, it’s a waste of water and secondly, it’s better if the garment has something soft to bounce against as it goes around.
- Add Ms BROWN Delicate Wash to detergent section of machine, following directions on bottle, and press start.
- Once the cycle is finished, depending on your machine, you might need to remove excess moisture by lying your garment flat on a towel and rolling, like a sleeping bag, squeezing gently as you go. Gently pull your garment into shape, if required. Lie flat on a towel or rack to dry.
BY HAND
For anything that’s heavily beaded or you’re worried about it being spun out of shape, it’s best to hand wash using the below steps.
- Half-fill a bucket or the bathroom sink with tepid water. Add approximately one capful of Ms BROWN (more if item particularly dirty) Delicate Wash to the water and swish around to disperse detergent (our wash has excellent moisturising properties, so your hands will love it!)
- Immerse your garment in the water, gently swirling around for a moment, paying extra attention to any soiled patches like cuffs and armpits. Leave to soak for ten minutes or so, longer if it needs it.
- Empty the bucket and fill again with clean water, moving the garment around in the water to rinse off any excess product.
- When removing from water, gently press the item in a ball against the side of the bucket to remove moisture. Never wring the garment as it will stretch it out of shape.
- To dry, lie item flat on a clean towel and gently roll like a sleeping bag. You may need to repeat this process for a very thick or very wet garment. Gently pull your garment into shape and lie flat on a clean towel on a drying rack until dry. Always use a towel to prevent lines on the garment from the rack. So long as the garment isn't too heavy, hanging a silk shirt on a soft hanger to dry, can also help it to fall nicely into shape and reduces ironing or steaming time.
Shop the Ms BROWN Delicate Wash here.
How to Wash Wool and Cashmere
THE EASY AND NATURAL WAY TO CLEAN CASHMERE AND WOOL.
Wool is a very durable and sustainable fibre that will last a very long time if cared for properly. Hand washing or gentle machine washing with a natural detergent is the best method to clean wool and cashmere clothing to ensure they stay beautiful for longer.
Can I wash wool clothing in the washing machine?
Yes you can wash both wool and cashmere in the washing machine. This is also the simplest method. Most front loader washing machines today have a gentle cycle or even a specific wool wash cycle. Key is to ensure the temperature is warm enough to shift dirt but not so hot it will shrink your garment (no more than 30 degrees). Always select a slower spin cycle, which is gentler on clothes.
Follow these steps for washing wool and cashmere in the washing machine
- Turn garment inside-out then place in machine, using a garment bag if you like. Avoid washing one jumper alone if you can, firstly, it’s a waste of water and secondly, it’s better if the garment has something soft to bounce against as it goes around.
- Add Ms BROWN Wool & Cashmere Wash to detergent section of machine, following directions on bottle, and press start.
- Once the cycle is finished, depending on your machine, you might need to remove excess moisture by lying your garment flat on a towel and rolling, like a sleeping bag, squeezing gently as you go. Gently pull your garment into shape, if required. Lie flat on a towel or rack to dry.
Follow these steps for washing wool and cashmere by hand
- Half-fill a bucket or the bathroom sink with lukewarm water. Add approximately one capful of Ms BROWN Wool & Cashmere Wash to the water and swish around to disperse detergent (our wash has excellent moisturising properties so your hands will love it!)
- Immerse your garment in the water, gently swirling around for a moment, paying extra attention to any soiled patches like cuffs and armpits. Leave to soak for ten minutes or so, longer if very dirty.
- Empty the bucket and fill again with clean water, moving the garment around in the water to rinse off any excess product.
- When removing from water, gently press the item in a ball against the side of the bucket to remove moisture. Never wring the garment as it will stretch it out of shape.
- To dry, lie item flat on a clean towel and gently roll like a sleeping bag. You may need to repeat this process for a very thick or very wet garment. Gently pull your garment into shape, if required and lie flat on a fresh towel or drying rack until dry.
HOW TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF WOOL AND CASHMERE
Never hang your woollens, as the weight of the garment will stretch it out of shape
Instead, store wool and cashmere folded in a drawer or on a shelf
Always wash your garment before putting away to prevent moths and bugs which are attracted to dirt
The Eucalyptus and Lavender essential oils in the Ms BROWN Wool & Cashmere Wash will help to naturally deter moths and bugs
During summer, when garments are not being worn, store in fabric bags, not plastic.
HOW TO REMOVE CASHMERE PILLING
Pilling occurs as a result of the cashmere fabric rubbing against itself or another surface, which is why you'll notice it most on the sides of your jumper and the sleeves, where your arms, desk or even hand bag will rub. Unfortunately pilling can occur on basically any cashmere sweater, designer cashmere is not necessarily less prone to pilling. Finer, tighter weaves will pill less but it can be difficult to tell one from the other in a store.
It sounds quite strange, but giving the garment a "rest" in between wears, can help reduce pilling. When not being worn, the fibres in the fabric are able to bounce back to their original shape, helping them to be more resilient and pill less.
Being careful when you wash it will also help. Using our Wool & Cashmere Wash will nourish the cashmere fibres, helping to keep them strong and pill less.
Washing inside out will also reduce the rubbing of the outside of the garment while washing. Gentle hand or machine washing will be better for it than dry cleaning or just throwing it in a normal wash cycle.
Pills can be easily removed using a cashmere comb or garment bristle brush — never use a razor or scissors as you'll damage the fibres and make it worse. After washing, simply lie the garment flat and use the comb, brushing in one direction to gently remove pills. Your garment will look as brand new as the day your bought it after this process.
How to Store Wool and Cashmere
KEEP YOUR CASHMERE LOOKING BEAUTIFUL FOR LONGER.
As the end of winter approaches and your need for your heavy woollen jumpers and scarves decreases, don’t just shove them back into your wardrobe and assume they’ll be fine until next season.
We’ve almost all had the unfortunate experience of pulling a favourite wool or cashmere jumper out of the cupboard to learn it has tiny little holes in it, created by moths over the summer.
To prevent moths from ruining your garments, here are the best ways to store your wool and cashmere and ensure they look beautiful for years to come.
WASH
- Moths are attracted to residual dirt and body oils on garments so the most important step you can take to prolong the life of your wool and cashmere and get rid of moths, is to make sure it is properly cleaned before being stored away.
- Use a natural wool and cashmere detergent before storage. Chemical residues from dry cleaning will actually erode the garment while natural detergent will cleanse, soften and refresh garments.
- Eucalyptus and Lavender oils are effective natural moth deterrents so we've included them as key ingredients in the Ms BROWN Wool & Cashmere Wash to help get rid of moths naturally.
STORE
- Wool and cashmere should be stored folded in a drawer or on a shelf.
- Never hang your woollens as gravity will stretch them out of shape and leave dimples in the shoulders.
- Fold the arms under first then fold the whole jumper in half. This will not only look as nice as it did in the store, you'll avoid a line down the middle of your jumper.
- When storing for longer periods, such as during summer months, always use cotton or linen bags, not plastic. Cotton and linen allow air to flow through naturally while plastic can cause garments to sweat and smell, particularly in warm and humid climates.
- To prevent moths from getting near your wool and cashmere, store in bags with proper closures such as zips or use drawers that seal properly.
- Storing clothes in a dry (and if possible, cool) environment will also help prevent moths from ruining wool and cashmere.
- Moths prefer wool and cashmere to cotton and synthetics but if being stored together it's important all clothes have been cleaned properly or they will attract moths. Cleansing all items with Eucalyptus and Lavender will help to prevent moths on your woollens.
