Cotton & linen
Strong plant fibers — but heat shrinks them.
- Cotton and linen are strong, absorbent plant fibers, but they shrink unless treated and are affected by mildew and prolonged sunlight. [1]
- Machine wash 100% cotton warm to cold and dry on low or hang dry — heat in washing or drying releases fiber tension and shrinks the garment. [2]
- Cotton/polyester blends resist wrinkling and shrinking better than 100% cotton; wash warm or cold, dry on low heat or hang. [2]
What we could not source
- No source fetched this session states chlorine-bleach limits specifically for cotton and linen — follow your care label's bleach symbol rather than assumptions.
Sources
- Institutional University of Georgia Extension (Textiles) — Fiber Types (accessed 2026-08-18)
- Institutional University of Tennessee Extension — Clothing and Textiles Intermediate Project Guide, Unit IV: Caring for My Clothes (W 1061-D) (accessed 2026-08-18)
Updated 2026-08-18. Compiled from the cited sources; not independently verified by this site. Care labels and manufacturer instructions always take precedence. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy.