When a garment is at its best
Short answer: Between the tenth and thirtieth wash the fabric is usually at its softest, the colour has set, and nothing is worn yet. That is the period when a garment should be used most, rather than saved for a special occasion.
The short version
A garment is rarely at its best on the day you unpack it. It is best in the middle of its life, when it has been washed a few times and before wear begins. For most garments that point falls between the tenth and thirtieth wash, if you wash as directed.
Why not from day one
New fabric is stiffer than it will be. The first ten washes rinse out the last residue and loosen the fibres. A garment that has just been unpacked therefore rarely feels as good as the same garment two months later, especially those that sit close to the skin.
What the first ten washes do
Three things happen in the first washes: the garment shrinks slightly, the fibres settle, and the fabric softens. After the tenth wash those changes are largely done. The colour has set, the size is stable, and you can feel how the garment really fits.
Why not later
After thirty to forty washes the first pilling and the first dullness appear. The fabric is still fine, but it has passed the point where it is at its best. That is not a sign that something is wrong, only that the garment has had the life it was meant to have.
How to tell it is at its best
The garment is soft without being thin. The waistband holds and springs back. The colour is even, and there is no pilling or loose thread in the seams. If all of that is true, you are in the middle of the garment's best period, and now is when you get the most from it.
Does this apply to all fabrics
It applies to knitted cotton and viscose, the fabrics that get softer with washing. Woven fabric changes less, so the period is more even. Whatever the fabric, the first washes matter most, because they set both colour and size for the rest of the garment's life.
What to use it for
Use the garment on ordinary days, for exercise and for everyday tasks instead of saving it. For active days, see bamboo training clothes for women, and for every day bamboo underwear for women is a place to start if you need a pair that fits.
How to keep the good period going
Wash at low temperature, skip the tumble dryer, and rotate several garments so each is washed less often. That pushes wear further out and extends the good period. Notice when the garment starts to change, and keep it for everyday use once it has begun to wear.
Do not save the good stuff
If you have a garment you are saving for something special, use it in this period rather than sparing it. Saved garments never reach their best. If you are shopping for him too, see offers for men and compare with what you already own.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the tenth to thirtieth wash
With weekly washing, from about two to seven months. If you wash less often or rotate several garments, the period stretches over a longer time than that.
Does this apply to all fabrics
It applies to knitted cotton and viscose. Woven fabric changes less, so the difference between new and used is smaller, and the period is more even and easier to miss.
Do towels also get best then
Yes, towels absorb best after the first ten washes. That is because the last residue from production has rinsed out and the fibres have settled.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
