Our Laundry Tips
Here at JK we know the laundry is the last place you want to spend a lot of time! So, here are some tips to keep your JK children's clothes looking great without too much effort.
Shrinkage / Washing / Drying / Stains / Ironing /
Pigment Dyed Garments and Indigo Denim
Shrinkage
All our knits are 100% compacted cotton which means that much of that inevitable shrinkage has already happened before you buy the garment! Saying this however, it takes a few washes for fabric to mould to its right size and therefore you may notice further shrinkage in your first wash. For this reason, our sizing has been developed on the generous side to allow for shrinkage, so you should find you are purchasing the normal size for your child.
Here is a table that will show you how much shrinkage to expect for the size you are buying, (please note that shrinkage only occurs in the length):
| Type of garment | 1-2 Sizes | 3-6 Sizes | 8-12 Sizes |
| Knitted tops (T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, singlets) | 2-3cm | 2-4cm | 3-5cm |
| Knitted bottoms (leggings, tracksuit pants) | 2-4cm | 3-6cm | 5-8cm |
Washing
The first vital step when washing your JK clothes is to read the care label. We have tested all our fabrics and advise you of the safest washing methods.
Although most JK fabrics are colourfast (please refer to note on Pigment dyed garments & indigo denim), some of your other clothes may not be. Therefore, we suggest that you sort your washing into light and dark colours. This sounds like a drag, but, believe us, it is worth it in the long run! There's nothing worse than that new blue towel bleeding into that white baby suit.
We suggest washing in cold water. Not only does cold water washing help to keep our fabulous, bright colours looking sharp and crisp, it's also a great saving on your electricity bill!
Drying
Where possible, JK clothes are best dried on the clothesline or on a drying rack. Hanging the clothes inside out on the line will help prevent fading.
Tumble dryers can reduce the life of a garment - but if it's raining cats and dogs, or in the absence of a washing line, the tumble dryer becomes a necessity. To keep your JK clothes in better shape note the following tumbling tips:
- Choose the WARM-DRY option as opposed to the HOT-DRY option
- Do not over dry.
Any garment will deteriorate if tumble-dried on a hot setting for too long and think again about that electricity bill!!
Stains
The other bug-bear with kids clothes is the inevitable 'kindy' stains, food stains and out-door grime (mud, grass etc.) Treat stains as they happen if you can, the longer they stay on the fabric, the harder they are to remove. Put water on the stain as soon as you can, for tougher stains you may have to use one of the many products on the market today. Be sure to avoid any product that contains bleach!!
Ironing
Once again, read the care label for the correct ironing heat for the fabric. We recommend that you do not iron any of our fabulous prints!
Pigment Dyed Garments and Indigo Denim
Please note all Indigo, Denim and Pigment dyed styles should be washed SEPARATELY (on their own) before wearing. In addition, the dyeing process may cause garments to shed colour whilst wearing, until they have been washed several times.