care

muslin only gets better with time — here’s how to keep it that way.

before first use

give it one gentle wash before it touches your baby’s skin. muslin softens with every wash, and the first one sets it off well.

washing

• machine wash cold (up to 30°C) on a gentle cycle, with a mild, fragrance-free detergent.
• wash with similar colours for the first few washes.
• skip the fabric softener — muslin softens naturally, and softeners coat the fibres and reduce absorbency.
• no bleach, no optical brighteners.

drying

tumble dry on low, or line dry in the shade. direct harsh sun over time can fade the calm, natural tones. a light steam or cool iron is fine if you like things crisp.

little stains

treat them early with a dab of mild detergent and cool water. for the usual newborn surprises, a soak in cold water before washing works better than hot — heat sets stains.

made to be passed on

cared for this way, your hush pieces stay soft through one baby — and the next. that’s the point.