Questions and answers

Run your palm over the fabric and press it against your wrist. Terry with dense, soft loops absorbs well and feels nice after a shower, while waffle weave is lighter and dries faster. A towel that feels too smooth and slippery usually absorbs less well.

Sateen is smooth with a slight sheen and feels silky. Percale is matte, crisp and cool, while muslin is simpler and a little rougher but practical for everyday use. Choose whichever feels best to you — all three last a long time with gentle care.

Each has its strengths. Cotton is soft and absorbs well; linen is cool and strong but wrinkles noticeably. Blends with synthetic fibers wrinkle less and dry faster, but they may absorb moisture less well and tend to pill over time.

The fiber content and the care symbols. The fiber content tells you what to expect from the fabric, and the symbols tell you what care it will need. If washing something on a delicate cycle or taking it to a cleaner isn’t practical for you, it’s better to pick an option with easier care from the start.

Usually, yes. The first wash removes leftover finishing from production and makes the fabric softer. Wash new colored items separately the first time, and choose the cycle according to the manufacturer’s care label.

Most often, detergent residue has built up on the loops, and sometimes the towel has simply been overdried. Try using less detergent, adding an extra rinse, not overloading the machine and shaking towels out before and after drying.

Read the label first: some curtains are meant for professional cleaning only. If washing is allowed, remove the hooks and clips, use a gentle cycle and don’t overload the drum. Curtains dry well hung out straight, and sometimes even right on the rod, if the label allows it.

It’s best not to. Strong heat dries fabric unevenly, can distort it and make it stiff. It’s better to hang the throw out straight somewhere well ventilated and turn it from time to time so it dries evenly on all sides.

Only clean and completely dry, in a dry place away from direct sunlight. Try not to cram throws and blankets in tightly: fabric needs air. Every so often, take out and air things that have been sitting unused for a long time.

Carefully trim the pills with scissors or a fabric shaver, without stretching the fabric. To keep pilling down, wash the throw separately from rough items, turn it inside out if you can and don’t overdry it.

Yes, and the sooner the better: small damage spreads quickly in the wash. Pick a matching thread and sew up the hole with small stitches on the reverse side; a badly worn spot can be reinforced with a patch of similar fabric.

When the fabric has worn so thin that you can see through it, tears in new places after every wash, or a towel no longer absorbs despite careful care. You don’t have to throw it out: it can become napkins, cleaning rags or bedding for a pet.