There’s something really exciting about wearing new clothes, especially clothes made with fabrics that have popping colours, like many African print fabric. Now the big question is how do we properly care for these fabrics so the colour  can retain that crisp look for a long time.Â
There are certain steps to take to ensure that your Ankara/Batik prints remain in the same fabulous condition. Here are some tips you can follow;
CHECK FOR COLOUR FASTNESS
It is always a good idea to separate coloured clothes from whites. That said, if you are mixing your Ankara/Batik fabrics with others, it is advisable to test the colour fastness first. To check if the colours on the fabric is resistant to running, you may try either of these techniques:
WASHING MACHINE VS HAND WASHINGÂ
Whenever possible, avoid washing your African fabric with a washing machine or using the tumble dryer. The washing machine can be extra hard on the material and possibly ruin it. The safest way to clean your African print fabrics is to hand wash them in cold or lukewarm water. If you have to use a washing machine, set to a cold gentle cycle for best results.
PICK THE RIGHT CLEANING AGENT
For African fabrics, it is advisable to use bar soap instead of detergents. Unfortunately, having stains on our fabrics is almost unavoidable. While hand washing, avoid using bleach or anything harsh to remove stains. Instead, try using a gentler cleaning agent like baking soda on the fabrics. If you are going to get your garments professionally cleaned, make sure the cleaners have experience with washing African print fabrics.
DRY YOUR FABRICS PROPERLY
Wringing or twisting your fabrics to dry will only compromise its rich colours and the tumble dryer is definitely one to avoid, best to hang them out to air dry instead.