Care guide

Always check the product care instructions before washing your clothes. The washing temperature marked on the care label is the manufacturer’s recommendation for the highest wash temperature the product can withstand. If the care instructions mention washing at 40° C, it is advisable that you stick to that washing temperature when washing. When you wash using cooler water, dirt may not be fully removed and in some cases color fastness may suffer in cooler water temperatures. We also recommend to not to soak your clothes – nowadays, clothes are rarely so dirty that even soaking is necessary. Soaking may cause the colors to dilute and spread. Same goes for leaving the clothes in washing machine over night or for too long. If you suspect your clothes have a manufacturing defect, it is easier to get to the bottom of the reason behind it, if you have washed the garment just as described in the care instructions.

Wash clothing only when it is necessary. We recommend washing the clothes before first use. During the first wash, loose dust is removed, as well as other residues, which may have adhered to the material at different stages of production. Airing the clothes can extend their washing interval. Always air your clothing in a shady area, as the sunlight can brittle and turn yellow some materials such as cotton, wool, linen and elastane. When your clothes need to be washed, invest some time in sorting out your laundry. Sort the laundry by color as well as by washing temperature and materials: Wash light, coloured, and dark clothing separately, and make sure you don’t wash 30° C laundry at 40° C or delicates in a long program. Check your children’s clothing for dirt. For example, soiled children’s clothing may require a longer washing program, comparing to a dress worn in the office. If necessary, use a stain remover such as bile soap. The faster and sooner the a stain is removed, more likely it is to be completely removed.

After sorting out the laundry, empty pockets, close cords, hooks, laces and zippers. Turn the garments inside out so that the right side will not rub and wear so quickly. Check your washing machine’s manual for how much laundry you can load at a time. Too tightly packed clothing may be the cause of poor washing results. In a home appliance, it is good to leave an adult fist-sized space on the laundry. For gentle washing programs, however, it may be necessary to leave the drum slightly empty.

In Finland, Aarrelabel has partnered with Menddie – a platform for mending and repairing clothes.

We believe when you can fix and repair your clothes, you won’t need new ones so soon. This way you can keep your favourite dress with you for a longer time. This will eventually help reduce the impacts of the textile industry in the environment.

Mending clothes is cool!

We describe the care instructions of each product on the Care tab on the product page. If you do not find the care instructions on the product page, please contact our customer service at help (at) aarrelabel.com.

For colored, dark clothing and textiles, always use a non-bleaching detergent, without whitening agents. This way the washing doesn’t discolor the colors. For white clothes and textiles, on the other hand, it is a good idea to choose a white detergent for a fresh white result. Also, take a look that the detergent does not contain zeolite, which is added to soften hard water, tap water with more calcium and magnesium salts. There are very few hard water areas in Finland and you can check your water hardness with the water utility in your area. The zeolite in the detergent can accumulate in the washing machine piping and eventually even break the machine. This is especially true if the laundry is only washed at low temperatures. Sometimes there may be a lot of light dust on the clothes after washing. Then it might be a sign that there is zeolite dust left in the fibers, meaning you have used too much detergent or the product was not rinsed properly.

If you want to wash your laundry in a chemical and perfume free way, try washing nuts. Despite their name, they are not nuts – they are by no means eaten – but bones. The walnut shells contain saponin, which is soluble in water when the water temperature is above 30° C. When washing with nuts, the laundry is left with a soft touch. Odorless laundry nuts are a really good alternative to laundry detergent, specially for people with allergies and asthmatics, as well as for sensitive skin.

A wool knit is a treasure that, when properly handled and taken care of, will bring you warmth and softness for years to come.

Wool is by nature a dirt repellent fiber, so preferably air your knits instead of washing. In particular, our cardigan, which rarely comes in direct contact with the skin, almost never needs to be washed. Airing will remove odors and slight traces of use from the woolen garment, as well as straighten any wrinkles. It is advisable to remove stains with a local wash by wiping the stain lightly with a cloth dampened with cold water. You can add a little bit of bile soap to remove stubborn stains. Rinse the area thoroughly with cool water, if using bile soap.

However, if your woolen clothing needs washing, always wash it manually with lukewarm water, using a mild detergent for woolen clothing. Mix the detergent in the washing water and ensure that any powdery detergent is completely dissolved in the washing water before immersing the garment in the wash basin. Follow the detergent manufacturer’s recommendation for detergent dispensing and preferably use a small amount of detergent. Too much detergent does not improve the washing performance and requires plenty of rinses. Many washing machines have a wool wash program to choose from, but the mechanical treatment may still be too hard for the wool. Therefore, we always recommend hand washing.

The wool fiber will felt in soapy water and mechanical abrasion. If a knit has shrunk considerably and has become tight after washing, the damage is done. To avoid this press lightly on the wool, avoid rubbing and twisting. Spinning and tumble drying are too hard treatments for wool. Dry the woolen garment by placing it on a towel and rolling it dry inside the towel. You can gently squeeze and press the towel roll, but avoid twisting to protect the knitting. Never dry woolen clothes in a hanger to prevent it from stretching and losing shape. Get your garment in shape and dry the knit on a flat, airy place such as a clothes rack, away from sunlight and radiators.

The steamer is always the best option for woolen clothes, but you can also use your iron to steam your Aarre woolen knit. Check the knitting care instructions for the maximum heat the iron should hold. If the iron is too hot it can turn wool yellow and brittle. Steam the knit inside out and with the iron a few inches from the garment. Never press it directly on a woolen garment, as it takes away the wonderfully soft, elastic and fluffy feel of the knitwear. Allow the steamed garment to dry flat before dressing.

Store knitwear in a dry, cool and airy place. The wool is a natural fiber and a favorite food for moths and home pests. Cedar wood pieces on a knitting shelf keep pests out of your knitwear. Never keep your knit in a hanger hanging, as it will stretch your garment and over time make it more formless. However, if you have forgotten to hang the cardigan, you can try steaming the wool to regain its’ shape.

Wash your 3D pantyhose after each use at 30 degrees, either by hand or using a delicate washing machine program. If you use a washing machine, we recommend that you use a laundry bag that protects your tights from other items that rotate in the washing machine. Wash your tights with textiles of the same shade. Do not use a fabric softener. It is not recommended as it will damage the spandex. Do not use bleach detergents, tumble dry or iron your tights. If you wash your pantyhose by hand, make sure that your nails are not sharp and that the rings are off your fingers before you start washing. We recommend hand washing with liquid detergent.

Pantyhose need a little help from you to stay as good as possible for as long as possible. In addition to careful care, the longevity of your pantyhose is affected by the condition of your own hands, feet and even your shoes!

The most important thing about the durability, longevity and comfort of the pantyhose is that you choose the right size and fit for yourself. Too tight tights will be stretched, run down the crotch or roll around the waist and will not feel comfortable at all. For example, a long-legged or taller user might want to choose a larger size than their normal clothes would be.

Your tights will last longer if you wear and care for them properly. Dry heels or jagged toe nails can bite a dull hole in your pantyhose. Pantyhose also love well-groomed hands and fingernails. It is best to put your rings on your fingers only after you have put your pantyhose on. When dressing your pantyhose, cotton gloves are a good idea to protect the hosiery from your hands. The condition of your shoes can also affect the life of your tights. If the lining of the shoe has been severely fractured or worn, it may rub the hole in your tights after a while.

Do not dress your tights in a hurry, and when dressing them, it is advisable to roll down the entire lower leg first so that you can straighten your toes without stretching the tights. Then roll the trouser part without pulling it over the lower leg and thigh and position it comfortably. Imagine that you are dressing your legs.

If a hole has appeared, you can scrub a colorless nail polish around the edges of the hole. Spraying hairspray into it may also help if a colorless nail polish is not within reach. These nicks do not completely save your tights, but help keep the hole from widening and from a bigger rupture.

Socks are the kind of clothes that accompany us all day. They will take a lot of steps during the day and carry our feet throughout the day. When you get new socks, it is a good idea to do wash them before use to remove dust and finishes from your socks.

Wash your socks in a 30 degree machine wash. Always wash the socks inside out and tuck any loose pile inside the socks before putting in the machine. Do not tumble dry or use detergents with bleach or whitening agents. Fabric softeners also damage the spandex in the long run. Use laundry vinegar instead to freshen and soften your laundry. Vinegar also helps maintain the colors bright. Shape your socks while wet after washing to maintain their shape and length. Socks should not be ironed. To prevent pair of socks from disappearing, there are tassel straps that attach the socks of the same pair to each other during washing. No more odd socks! Another tip is to use laundry bags to hold the socks that waiting to be washed. Each family member can have their own laundry bag for socks. This makes sorting the laundry easier after washing.