How to Care for Tencel, So It Lasts Years

If you've landed here, you probably have a Tencel garment in your hands and one specific question: how do I wash it without ruining it? Our answer is simple: wash it by hand. It takes five minutes, and it is the only way we can promise the piece will look the same in three years.

Tencel is a grateful fibre, but it has two dislikes: strong heat and aggressive friction — exactly what a washing machine does best. Machine washing is possible, and many customers do it, but it is done at your own risk: shrinkage, lost drape and dull colour are not covered by our warranty. And one rule above all the others, by hand or by machine: never use fabric softener.

First things first: what is Tencel?

Tencel™ is the brand name for lyocell, a plant-based fibre made from wood pulp — usually eucalyptus — sourced from responsibly managed forests. It is produced in a closed loop: over 99% of the solvent used to turn pulp into fibre is recovered and reused.

What matters for you: it is a cellulosic fibre, like cotton or linen, but with a much smoother surface. That is where the fluid drape and the moisture management come from — and also where its fragility comes from when it meets heat or friction.

Two dislikes:
heat and friction.

Hand washing, the way we do it

1. Cold water, a basin or the sink. Never hot: heat is the number one cause of shrinkage.
2. A little mild soap. Dissolve it in the water before the garment goes in.
3. Swirl, don't rub. Move the piece gently for a minute or two. No twisting, no scrubbing.
4. Rinse in clean cold water until no soap is left.
5. Press, never wring. Press the garment against the side of the sink, or roll it in a towel to release the water.

Never wring it out like a cloth — that is exactly where the drape breaks

No fabric softener. Ever.

Tencel is soft by nature: its softness comes from the smoothness of the fibre itself, not from a coating. Softener leaves a film that dulls the natural sheen, makes the fabric limp and, over a few washes, reduces the moisture management you bought the piece for. The same goes for bleach and whitening detergents.

If you use the washing machine

We understand real life. If you do machine wash, do it knowing it is at your own risk, and give the garment every advantage:

1. Turn it inside out and put it in a mesh laundry bag.
2. Cold or 30 °C, delicate cycle, with a small dose of mild detergent.
3. Short, gentle spin — 600 to 800 rpm. A harsh spin sets deep creases into wet fibre.
4. Wash it alone or with similar light pieces. Never with denim, towels or anything with zips.

Drying: here is where it is decided

If you take one idea from this guide, take this one: Tencel and the tumble dryer are not friends. High heat can shrink a garment and make the fibre brittle. The good news is you do not need it — Tencel dries quickly by nature.

Take it out as soon as you finish washing, shake it twice, reshape it with your hands and lay it flat on a towel or hang it on a wide-shouldered hanger, away from direct sun and radiators.

Wrinkles, ironing and steam

Tencel wrinkles far less than linen, and most creases fall out on their own if you hang the garment while you shower. For a more polished finish: iron on low to medium, inside out, ideally while slightly damp. A steamer is the safest option of all.

The five mistakes we see most

• Using fabric softener — the single fastest way to lose the touch.
• Washing hot "so it comes out cleaner" — guaranteed shrinkage.
• Tumble drying "just this once" — that is the once that counts.
• Leaving it soaking for hours — it weakens the fibre and dulls the colour.
• Rubbing stains hard — friction can lighten the area. Soap, fingertip, patience.

Quick questions

Half of a garment's life is decided at home. Now you have the other half.