A well-maintained baby garment is one that can be passed down through several children. One that is handed down. One that retains its softness and shape wash after wash.
The fabrics I use at Maison Piou Piou—jersey, French terry, loop knit, stretch terry—are all stretchy materials. They are soft, breathable, and comfortable. But they require some care to stay beautiful over time.
Here's what I do myself.
Act quickly on stains
With a baby, stains are inevitable. Spit-up, purees, grass: everything happens, often at the worst possible time.
The golden rule: treat the stain as quickly as possible, before it sets into the fibers. My secret, which I've been using for years on my boys' clothes: ox gall soap. It's easily found in pharmacies or supermarkets, costs almost nothing, and is incredibly effective on organic stains. Gently rub it on the wet area, let it sit for a few minutes, then put it in the washing machine.
No need for harsh chemicals. Ox gall is sufficient in the vast majority of cases.
Never exceed 40°, ideally wash at 30°
Stretchy fabrics don't like heat. Washing too hot distorts the fibers, shrinks the garment, and damages elastic.
I recommend washing at 30° whenever possible. It's enough for effective cleaning and much less aggressive for the materials. If the stain is stubborn, 40° maximum. Beyond that, you risk irreparably damaging the item.
Limit spinning to 1200 rpm maximum
Excessive spinning mistreats stretchy fabrics: it twists them, deforms them, and weakens seams. I recommend not exceeding 1200 revolutions per minute. This is enough for the garment to be properly spun without unnecessary stress.
Do not tumble dry
This is the most important advice. The tumble dryer is the enemy of stretchy fabrics. Intense heat and mechanical movement deform jersey, shrink loop knit, and wear out finishes much faster than machine washing.
I always dry Maison Piou Piou clothes on a drying rack, in the open air, away from direct sunlight. A few hours are enough, and the item retains its original shape and softness.
In summary
- Stain: treat immediately with ox gall soap
- Wash at 30°, 40° maximum
- Spin at 1200 rpm maximum
- Dry on a drying rack, never in a tumble dryer
These four simple steps make all the difference. A well-maintained Maison Piou Piou pajama can go through two or three children without losing its softness. That's also the meaning of handmade: creating pieces that truly last.
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