Maintenance - Advice

Our clothes need love and attention.

1/ Wears more and washes less:

Regular washing is not necessary; washing less slows down discoloration and...
Our clothes age. Airing your garment and cleaning localized stains is no less hygienic than washing it. These are good actions for our clothes and the planet.

Treat stains immediately; natural materials like cotton, linen, and wool generally absorb much more. This means the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to remove the stain (stain removal guide).

2/ Filling your washing machine correctly:

If it's not full enough, it contributes to the waste of water and energy; if it's too full, the clothes rub against each other and get damaged faster.

3/ Wash properly:

Read the symbols and instructions on the care label. Empty pockets, close zippers.
Lightning bolts, put your bras in a laundry bag (to avoid tearing them on the clasps). Don't wash colored clothes for the first time with lighter-colored clothes to prevent color bleeding. Modern washing machines and detergents mean we no longer need to boil our laundry. A delicate wash at 30°C (or an eco program if you have one) is sufficient in 90% of cases.

4/ The press:

Some clothes can't withstand the washing machine. Before sending them to the dry cleaners, make sure you've taken the necessary precautions (airing them out, treating any stains). Dry cleaning is very harmful because it uses the chemical PERC, which causes health problems and contributes to air pollution. Therefore, choose a dry cleaner that uses eco-friendly methods (see the list of establishments in Paris below). Remember to also bring your hangers back to the dry cleaners for recycling.

5/ Use the right products:

Choose an environmentally friendly laundry detergent and don't use too much. Be careful with chemical fabric softeners, which are harmful to your skin and the environment. Substances to avoid include: optical brighteners, chlorine, synthetic perfumes and dyes, parabens, phosphates, petrochemicals, and sulfates. Clean your washing machine thoroughly from time to time to ensure that stuck-on dirt doesn't contribute to discoloration of white clothes.

6/ Avoid the tumble dryer:

This is probably the crucial step to reducing your carbon footprint. Air drying is always a better option.

7/ Ironing:

If you shake and arrange your clothes properly while drying, 8 times out of 10 ironing isn't necessary! A real time and energy saver. Alternatively, use steam, which is gentler on your garments, and adjust the temperature according to the fabric composition.

8/ Sorting and organizing:

Clothes are made of different materials, and depending on these materials we must apply different storage methods.

Example: shirts on hangers but sweatshirts or sweaters put away and folded.

9/ Reduction of microplastics:

These tiny pieces of plastic, less than 5 millimeters long, pass through the filters.
existing and end up in our ecosystem. They pollute the oceans and enter our bodies through food and water. Many synthetic fabric fibers, such as polyester, nylon, elastane, and acrylic, leave microplastics in the water with every wash. MAELI clothing is made from natural fibers whenever possible. However, we use polyester yarn for the sweatshirt and 2% elastane in the ribbing. We recommend using a Guppy Friend laundry bag when washing clothes containing plastic fibers. The Guppy Friend collects the microplastics that are released into the water.
They detach from clothes during washing and prevent microplastics from entering the water supply.

Many fabric softeners, laundry detergents, and stain removers contain bleach, which can remove fabric color and leave unwanted lighter stains or cause more significant discoloration.

Sunlight and wearing wet clothes can accelerate fading. Avoid darker colors when you're outside in the sun. At the beach, keep your clothes in the shade, under a parasol, or in your bag to protect them from the summer sun.

When wet, fabrics exposed to friction discolor more quickly, so if you're at the beach, make sure to dry them before putting on your clothes.

When washing your clothes, follow the care label instructions regarding temperature and wash colored clothes inside out with other dark clothes to preserve the color and prevent light-colored clothes from fading.

To remove stains, there's only one golden rule: persistence; some stains require repeated treatment. It's best to wash with cold water, as heat sets stains. Hot water should only be used for grease stains.

More stubborn stains, whether food-related or not, may require a stain remover. Below you will find advice for the most common stains. In all cases, it is essential to test the product beforehand on an inconspicuous area of ​​the garment.

Ink stains: use sponges rather than rubbing; use lemon (felt-tip pen) or nail polish remover (ink & marker) by applying it and letting it sit for 15 minutes. Then wash with dish soap.

Blood stains: Rinse immediately with cold water. Never use hot water, as this will set the stain. If the stain persists, soak it in cold, salted water. If the stain still persists, mix baking soda with cold water to form a paste. Leave the paste on the stain for at least 30 minutes, or overnight, then wash the garment.

For stains from chocolate, coffee, red fruits and berries, herbs, or ketchup: if the stain is fresh, scrape the surface and rinse with cold water. Use dish soap if the stain persists.

Grease and oil stains: Start by using dish soap and rubbing it onto the stain. Then rinse the stained area with warm water and repeat the process if the stain persists. For colored clothing, be sure to use a stain remover without chlorine or bleach. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. Do not rinse, but add dish soap or liquid detergent to the stain. Let it sit for about 10 minutes.

Red wine stains: Immediately soak up the excess wine with a towel or cloth. Do not rub the stain; simply press the cloth against the stain and allow it to absorb the wine. Sprinkle salt on the stain and press it down. The salt will absorb the wine and help remove the stain.
After a moment, brush off the salt, and if the stain is still very stubborn, saturate it with cold water and repeat the salt process. If the stain is really ingrained, soak it and treat it carefully with a mild bleaching agent.