To maintain the newness of your abaya, you need to take extra care while washing, drying, and ironing it. Here are some tips that can help:
Check the laundry tag: The first and most critical step in abaya care is to check the laundry tag. The label indicates the fabric composition, and that will determine how and if you should care for your abaya at home or leave it to the dry cleaning professionals. Abayas made of delicate or luxury fabrics or with metal details should be dry-cleaned 1.
Washing: You can choose to handwash or machine-wash your abaya. When caring for your abaya at home, it is often safest to wash it by hand. Handwashing your abaya is not different from the way you would wash your other clothes. You only need extra caution and attention as you handwash your abaya. Do not soak it for more than 10 minutes. Wash with cold water and use a mild detergent suitable for delicates and colors. Gently rub the abaya fabric against itself to clean it, paying particular attention to areas that accumulate dirt and sweat like the armpits and hem. Avoid rubbing or scrubbing the areas with embroidery and other embellishments. If you choose to machine-wash, make sure to separate like color fabrics so that the abayas do not discolor or end up ruining other dresses. Wash the abaya inside out to preserve its color. Use the delicate cycle and avoid using hot water 12.
Drying: After washing, always let your abaya air dry and avoid using the machine dryer. Tumble drying will expose the abaya to extreme heat, which will cause the fabric to shrink and the colors to dull. Avoid squeezing or twisting the abaya as this might stretch the fabric, and the stitches might get loose. Also, do not dry your abaya in direct sunlight as it poses a risk of discoloration 13.
Ironing: When ironing, press out wrinkles from inside out and on low heat as this is more gentle for the fabric. For abayas with embellishments or embroidery, iron them from the inside out, but place fabric over the embroidery. That would act as a safety barrier from direct heat 3.
By following these tips, you can help maintain the luster of your abaya and avoid making it look worn out too early.