How to Wash an Abaya Without Ruining It

Most abayas are ruined by washing rather than wearing. Heat, agitation and the wrong detergent do more damage in one cycle than a year of use. Here is how to wash each fabric, and how to deal with the problems that actually come up.

The general rules

• Cold water, always. Heat sets stains, shrinks fibres and dulls colour. Nothing is gained by washing warm.
• Turn it inside out. Protects the surface from abrasion against the drum.
• Use a mesh laundry bag. Especially for anything with beading, lace or a long tie belt.
• Never tumble dry. This is the single most damaging thing you can do to a crepe abaya.
• Hang on a wide or padded hanger. Wire hangers leave permanent shoulder points.

By fabric

Nida and crepe

Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, low spin. Hang damp and the creases will drop out on their own — most crepe abayas never need ironing. If they do, use a cool iron on the reverse.

Jersey

The most forgiving. Cold machine wash, gentle cycle. Dry flat rather than hanging if it is a heavy jersey, or the weight of the water will stretch the shoulders and hem.

Linen and cotton

Machine wash cold. Expect creasing and plan for it: hang while still damp and smooth the seams with your hands, and much of it settles. Iron slightly damp if you want it crisp.

Satin and silk

Hand wash in cool water with a detergent made for delicates, or dry clean. Do not wring — press the water out between towels. Dry flat, away from sunlight, which fades silk quickly. Iron on the lowest setting with a cloth between the iron and the fabric.

Embellished pieces

Beading, sequins and heavy embroidery should be hand washed or dry cleaned. If hand washing, support the weight of the garment in the water rather than letting it hang — wet embellishment is heavy enough to tear its own stitching.

Common problems

Deodorant marks under the arms

Treat before washing. A paste of bicarbonate of soda and water, left for thirty minutes, lifts most build-up. Do not use hot water, which sets the protein stain permanently.

Perfume and oil stains

Oil-based perfume marks the fabric rather than staining it. Blot, apply a little washing-up liquid directly, leave for fifteen minutes, then wash cold. Apply fragrance before dressing, not after.

Static cling

Common on synthetic crepe in winter. A light mist of water, or a slip underneath, is more effective than fabric softener — which coats the fibre and dulls the surface over time.

Pilling on jersey

A fabric shaver removes it, and washing inside out slows it down. Once a cheap jersey starts pilling badly it will keep doing so.

The hem dragging on the floor

Wash more frequently at the hem only if you can — sponge the bottom fifteen centimetres between full washes. It is the part that gets dirty first and it saves the rest of the garment from unnecessary cycles.

How often

Outer layers do not need washing after every wear. An abaya worn over clothes for a few hours can usually be aired on a hanger overnight and worn again. Washing less is the single best thing for the lifespan of the garment.

For choosing fabrics that hold up, see our abaya fabrics guide and how to spot quality.