Wrap fabric characteristics and care

The majority of manufacturers are producing wraps with some additives as well as pure cotton wraps. Each additive has its own specifics and it is suitable for different seasons, the weight of the child, etc. It is also necessary for each additive to take care differently. For this reason we wrote you this simple summary.

 

Cotton

Cotton wraps are usually fine for wrapping and are excellent for beginners. Cotton is also good for all seasons. The thick cotton wrap (= high weight above 280 g / m2), may be a little warmer during the summer and it is advisable to choose a lighter, single-layer carries (e.g. Front cross carry).

Cotton can be washed at 30-60 ° C (it depends on each manufacturer so follow the instructions which comes with the sling). Sling is not necessary to iron after washing, nor does it require any special care. When wrap is ironed it makes it to be softer and easier to wrap with them.

 

Egyptian combed cotton/ combed cotton

Egyptian combed cotton/ combed cotton has the same requirements as the classic cotton. These wraps are usually densely woven = they are softer, more supporting and have less of creases.

 

Linen

Linen wraps are usually little tough at the beginning but wrapping makes them softer. They are suitable for summer because they have a cooling effect and they are breathable. Most of linen wraps are thinner but very supportive.

Linen wraps is better to iron after washing. This helps to prevent folds and the risk of breaking of linen fibers. To make the wrap soft quicker you can steam it when ironing or sleep/sit on it, etc. :-) Iron it with the program for cotton because it is also part of the wrap. After each wrapping and unwrapping it is convenient to uncurl the wrap and fold it up to prevent permanent folds which can influence lifetime period of the sling. When you do not use the wrap for a while it is better to unfold it and fold it up again to make the folds on different places.

 

Hemp

Wraps with hemp are usually little tough at the beginning but wrapping make them to be softer. They are suitable for summer because they are breathable, they absorb sweat. Most of hemp wraps are thinner but very supportive. It takes little longer to make hemp softer and it is little more supportive than linen but it is less prone to make creases.

Hemp slings is better to iron after washing. To make the sling softer quicker you can steam it when ironing. Iron with the program for cotton because it is also part of the wrap. After each wrapping and unwrapping it is convenient to uncurl the wrap and fold it up to prevent permanent folds which can influence lifetime period of a wrap. When you do not use the wrap for a while it is better to unfold it and fold it up again to make the folds on different places. Hemp wraps never wash in detergent it can cause damages and break their fibers.

Wool

Wool is a popular additive. Woolen slings are soft and easy to wrap. They have excellent thermoregulation – it keeps warm in winter and in summer it drains water and warm away. Woolen wraps are pliable and they do not crease. Wool in a wrap provide support and comfort for your shoulders. For someone the wool can be little scratchy, then I can recommend you to choose a wrap with merino wool which is suitable even for people with atopic syndrome.

We recommend to wash at 30 °C by hands and during washing there cannot be quick changes in temperatures, you do not wring it or put it in spin-dryer. After washing wrap your sling into a towel to suck out the water. Then put it on the floor or on dryer – it is important for the wrap to be drying horizontally. It is not necessary to iron woolen wraps. If you do, iron it on the lowest temperature (as cotton).

 

Cashmere

Cashmere is a very expensive and luxury admixture. Wraps with cashmere are soft and easy to wrap and usually are in combination with wool. It has an excellent thermoregulation – it keeps warm in winter and in summer it drains water and warm away.  Wool in a wrap provide support and comfort for your shoulders.

Always wash the wraps with cashmere at 30 °C and use laundry detergent specified to wash wool without bleaching and optical highlighters. Wash the wrap in enough water to be able to rinse off well the rest of detergent. It is not necessary to iron cashmere wraps.

 

Silk

Silk is very a supportive and pleasant to touch admixture. Wrap can be (not necessarily) be shiny – it depends on amount of added silk. The most used are tussah silk or wild silk. We do not recommend silken slings for beginners because they are more slippery and to inexperienced person it can be more difficult to tighten it well or can have feeling that the wrap is slackening. Silk is suitable for each season.

We recommend to wash silken wraps at 30 °C and use detergent without bleaching and optical highlighters. Never put it in spin-dryer nor dry it out by sunshine. It is not necessary to iron silken slings. If you do, iron it on the lowest temperature as silk.

 

Bamboo viscose / bamboo

Bamboo wraps are incredibly soft and if the wrap contains bigger amount of bamboo then it is shiny and iridescent. These wraps are perfect for summer – they are very good in thermoregulation, drain sweat away and they are also light and breathable. Unfortunately all these amazing features are at the expense of supporting. If they are not with linen they are not suitable for bigger children.

We recommend to wash the wrap at 40 °C on a "gentle programme". If you iron the wrap, use the cotton program. Bamboo viscose cannot be for long time in water – the whole process of washing cannot by longer than 40 – 50 min.

 

Common rules about care of a sling

Pre-wash

Before first wrapping it is necessary to wash the sling to finish the manufacturing process and to help the fibers in the wrap to close up. In reality most of the wraps are longer than it is written because unwashed cotton is going to shrink a little bit after washing.

 

Detergents

Please use only a little of liquid detergents. At high hardness of the water it is good to use the water-softener to wash the sling to prevent hardening of the wrap. When using a powder detergent it may cause clogging of the fibers of the wrap.

 

Spinning

Please use spinning at low speed. Admixture wraps - with cashmere and wool – cannot be wringed.

 

Usage of a spin-dry machine

We do not recommend using of spin-dry machine, it can cause shrinking of a wrap.