How to Make Your Sustainable Surf Clothing Last (A Care Guide for Bamboo, Hemp & Recycled Fabrics)
19/03/26 12:49
How to Make Your Sustainable Surf Clothing Last (A Care Guide for Bamboo, Hemp & Recycled Fabrics)
One of the most sustainable things you can do is make your existing clothing last as long as possible. Buying well is half the equation — caring for what you buy is the other half.
Sustainable fabrics like bamboo, hemp, Tencel and recycled polyester all have specific care needs that, if ignored, will shorten their lifespan. Here's exactly how to look after every fabric in the Not Sponsored range so you're still wearing it in five years.
General Principles That Apply to Everything
Before we get into fabric-specific care, a few rules that apply across the board:
Bamboo is wonderfully low-maintenance, but a few specifics will keep it at its best:
Wash: Cold water, gentle cycle. Bamboo fibres are strong but can be weakened by heat and agitation.
Dry: Air dry flat or on a hanger. Bamboo can stretch slightly if hung wet while heavy with water — lay flat for the first few washes until the fabric has settled.
Iron: Low heat only, if needed. Bamboo rarely needs ironing — it has a natural drape that releases wrinkles as you wear it. If you must iron, use a cool setting and iron inside out.
Avoid: Bleach (destroys the natural fibres), hot washing (causes shrinkage and weakens the antibacterial properties), and harsh detergents.
The antibacterial properties of bamboo are best preserved by washing gently and infrequently. Over-washing with harsh detergents will reduce the odour-resistance over time — cold water and a gentle detergent keeps those properties intact for much longer.
Caring for Hemp Clothing
Hemp is the most durable fabric in our range and the most forgiving to care for — it genuinely gets better with washing.
Wash: Cold or warm water, gentle cycle. Hemp can handle slightly more robust washing than bamboo.
Dry: Air dry. Hemp can wrinkle more than bamboo when air dried — if that bothers you, remove from washing while still slightly damp and smooth by hand before hanging.
Iron: Medium heat is fine for hemp if needed. It responds well to ironing and the texture softens noticeably with heat and pressing.
Avoid: Very hot washing repeatedly — it will eventually cause some shrinkage, though hemp is more heat-tolerant than most natural fibres.
Hemp's superpower is that it genuinely softens and improves with every wash cycle. A hemp shirt you've had for two years feels noticeably better than when it was new. Don't be put off if it feels slightly stiffer than bamboo initially — it earns its softness.
Caring for Tencel Clothing
Tencel is the most delicate fabric in our range and benefits from the most careful handling That’s why we typically blend it with bamboo/Merino:
Wash: Cold water only, delicate cycle. Tencel fibres are smooth and soft — they can become misshapen with rough handling when wet.
Dry: Air dry flat. Do not wring or twist Tencel when wet — gently squeeze out excess water and lay flat. It dries quickly and returns to its shape beautifully.
Iron: Low to medium heat, while slightly damp for best results. Iron inside out.
Avoid: High heat in any form — washing, drying, or ironing. Also avoid wringing or heavy agitation when wet.
Tencel's exceptional softness is a product of its smooth fibre structure. Treat it gently and it'll reward you with years of that silky feel. Treat it roughly and you'll notice pilling and loss of drape over time.
Caring for Recycled Polyester (Boardshorts & Towels)
Our boardshorts and beach towels are made from recycled polyester — a performance synthetic that's hardwearing and easy to care for:
Wash: Cold water, gentle cycle. Turn inside out to protect the outer fabric surface (Always use one of our MicroPlastics Filter Wash Bags)
Dry: Air dry wherever possible. Recycled polyester dries very quickly — it's rarely in a hurry.
Avoid: High heat drying, which can damage the stretch fibres in the fabric. Also avoid washing with fabric softener, which coats the fibres and reduces their quick-dry performance.
One important note for recycled polyester: to reduce microplastic shedding when washing, consider using our Micro Plastics Filter Bag or a Guppyfriend washing bag — a fine mesh bag that catches microfibres before they reach the water system. It's a small investment that makes a meaningful difference, and it's consistent with the whole reason we made these garments from recycled materials in the first place.
The Bottom Line on Longevity
The single biggest factor in how long your sustainable clothing lasts is how often you wash it and at what temperature. Cold, gentle, and infrequent is the formula. Air dry. Skip the fabric softener and the bleach. And when something does eventually reach the end of its life, look into textile recycling options before it goes in the bin.
Clothing that lasts five years instead of one isn't just better for your wallet — it's dramatically better for the environment. That's the whole point of buying sustainably in the first place.
Any questions about specific garments or care instructions? Drop us a line at notsponsored.com.au — we know our fabrics and we're happy to help.
notsponsored.com.au | @notsponsoredsurf | Made to last on the Sunshine Coast 🌿
One of the most sustainable things you can do is make your existing clothing last as long as possible. Buying well is half the equation — caring for what you buy is the other half.
Sustainable fabrics like bamboo, hemp, Tencel and recycled polyester all have specific care needs that, if ignored, will shorten their lifespan. Here's exactly how to look after every fabric in the Not Sponsored range so you're still wearing it in five years.
General Principles That Apply to Everything
Before we get into fabric-specific care, a few rules that apply across the board:
- Wash less often. Every wash cycle — no matter how gentle — causes some wear to fabric fibres. Bamboo, Merino and hemp are naturally antibacterial, which means you can often wear them multiple times before they need washing. If it doesn't smell and isn't visibly dirty, air it out instead of washing it.
- Cold water always. Hot water breaks down fibres faster, causes shrinkage, and uses significantly more energy. Cold water cleans just as effectively for everyday wear.
- Gentle cycle. The aggressive tumbling of a standard wash cycle physically stresses fabric. Use a gentle or delicate cycle for all sustainable fabrics.
- Turn garments inside out. This protects the outer face of the fabric — the bit you can see — from abrasion against other garments and the drum of the machine.
- Skip the dryer where possible. Tumble drying is hard on all fabrics. Air drying is always better — it's gentler, uses no energy, and your clothes will last significantly longer.
- Avoid fabric softener. It sounds counterintuitive, but fabric softener actually coats fibres with a chemical film that reduces their natural breathability and moisture-wicking properties over time. Your bamboo shirt doesn't need it — it's already soft.
Bamboo is wonderfully low-maintenance, but a few specifics will keep it at its best:
Wash: Cold water, gentle cycle. Bamboo fibres are strong but can be weakened by heat and agitation.
Dry: Air dry flat or on a hanger. Bamboo can stretch slightly if hung wet while heavy with water — lay flat for the first few washes until the fabric has settled.
Iron: Low heat only, if needed. Bamboo rarely needs ironing — it has a natural drape that releases wrinkles as you wear it. If you must iron, use a cool setting and iron inside out.
Avoid: Bleach (destroys the natural fibres), hot washing (causes shrinkage and weakens the antibacterial properties), and harsh detergents.
The antibacterial properties of bamboo are best preserved by washing gently and infrequently. Over-washing with harsh detergents will reduce the odour-resistance over time — cold water and a gentle detergent keeps those properties intact for much longer.
Caring for Hemp Clothing
Hemp is the most durable fabric in our range and the most forgiving to care for — it genuinely gets better with washing.
Wash: Cold or warm water, gentle cycle. Hemp can handle slightly more robust washing than bamboo.
Dry: Air dry. Hemp can wrinkle more than bamboo when air dried — if that bothers you, remove from washing while still slightly damp and smooth by hand before hanging.
Iron: Medium heat is fine for hemp if needed. It responds well to ironing and the texture softens noticeably with heat and pressing.
Avoid: Very hot washing repeatedly — it will eventually cause some shrinkage, though hemp is more heat-tolerant than most natural fibres.
Hemp's superpower is that it genuinely softens and improves with every wash cycle. A hemp shirt you've had for two years feels noticeably better than when it was new. Don't be put off if it feels slightly stiffer than bamboo initially — it earns its softness.
Caring for Tencel Clothing
Tencel is the most delicate fabric in our range and benefits from the most careful handling That’s why we typically blend it with bamboo/Merino:
Wash: Cold water only, delicate cycle. Tencel fibres are smooth and soft — they can become misshapen with rough handling when wet.
Dry: Air dry flat. Do not wring or twist Tencel when wet — gently squeeze out excess water and lay flat. It dries quickly and returns to its shape beautifully.
Iron: Low to medium heat, while slightly damp for best results. Iron inside out.
Avoid: High heat in any form — washing, drying, or ironing. Also avoid wringing or heavy agitation when wet.
Tencel's exceptional softness is a product of its smooth fibre structure. Treat it gently and it'll reward you with years of that silky feel. Treat it roughly and you'll notice pilling and loss of drape over time.
Caring for Recycled Polyester (Boardshorts & Towels)
Our boardshorts and beach towels are made from recycled polyester — a performance synthetic that's hardwearing and easy to care for:
Wash: Cold water, gentle cycle. Turn inside out to protect the outer fabric surface (Always use one of our MicroPlastics Filter Wash Bags)
Dry: Air dry wherever possible. Recycled polyester dries very quickly — it's rarely in a hurry.
Avoid: High heat drying, which can damage the stretch fibres in the fabric. Also avoid washing with fabric softener, which coats the fibres and reduces their quick-dry performance.
One important note for recycled polyester: to reduce microplastic shedding when washing, consider using our Micro Plastics Filter Bag or a Guppyfriend washing bag — a fine mesh bag that catches microfibres before they reach the water system. It's a small investment that makes a meaningful difference, and it's consistent with the whole reason we made these garments from recycled materials in the first place.
The Bottom Line on Longevity
The single biggest factor in how long your sustainable clothing lasts is how often you wash it and at what temperature. Cold, gentle, and infrequent is the formula. Air dry. Skip the fabric softener and the bleach. And when something does eventually reach the end of its life, look into textile recycling options before it goes in the bin.
Clothing that lasts five years instead of one isn't just better for your wallet — it's dramatically better for the environment. That's the whole point of buying sustainably in the first place.
Any questions about specific garments or care instructions? Drop us a line at notsponsored.com.au — we know our fabrics and we're happy to help.
notsponsored.com.au | @notsponsoredsurf | Made to last on the Sunshine Coast 🌿
