Caring for Your Beautiful Margaret Lawton Nightgown

Here's the General Rule...You can't go wrong if you hand wash. If that's not an option, use the hand or delicate wash setting on your washing machine in a lingerie bag. Use a mild detergent such as Woolite, The Laundress or other brand designed for delicates. Check color fastness by treating a hidden part of the clothing if necessary. Hang or towel dry.

If it's not stretchy, modal, silk, nylon, cotton and non-stretchy cotton blends may be hung, and will save you from ironing or steaming. Anything stretchy such as some cotton blends (stretchy), polyesters, and spandex blends should go in a drawer.

Here are Specifics Based on Fabric Type.

Modal (Rayon)

Made from trees, this soft, drapey fabric is weakened when wet. Use cold water and line dry. I personally cheat and put in the dryer on for about 2 minutes in the middle of it's drying, then let it continue to line dry. Turn inside out to iron and use a low setting with no steam. Iron a small area at a time to prevent stretching. Steamers are great alternatives if you don't want to iron.

Silk

Soak the fabric in lukewarm water with a mild soap for about 5 minutes or less.  Rub stains very lightly under the soap-water. Rubbing too hard can damage the silk pajamas irreparably. Rinse with water containing 1/4 cup vinegar to remove the soap and help restore shine. Your final rinse should be cold water alone. Spread your silk pajamas or nightgown out on a towel and rolling it up to wring out the excess water. Leave the silk pajamas on the towel and let it dry somewhat. Iron inside out on low while still damp. 

Soft Polyester, Spandex

Hand or machine wash in a lingerie bag on the setting. Depending on the dampness, towel or line dry. You don't want it to stretch, so if it's very damp, start by wringing your nightgown or pajamas in a towel. Dryer heat can destroy the fabulous wicking properties of polyester and deteriorate elastic in waist bands and bodices.

Cotton/Batiste

Although cotton is durable fabric, we recommend always using a lingerie bag. Hang dry or tumble dry for 2-3 minutes, then take your beautiful garment out while it's still damp and line dry to finish. Turn your garment inside out to iron. Usually, you'd use a steam iron and a high setting for cotton, but for your beautiful nightgown we'd suggest you iron it damp at a medium setting.

More about Wrinkles

Use a cool iron at the lowest setting. Depending on the fabric, you may want to turn your beautiful sleepwear inside out. Once I got a steamer, I fell in love. It's very simple to use and great with the delicate fabrics we have with Margaret Lawton Nightgowns. I especially like my steamer for its ease of use with chiffon, organza and silk, because there's no anxiety about scorching. There is a wide variety of them available on Amazon starting at $20 for a portable brand.

Full Disclosure

I've thrown many things in the washer and dryer and they've come out fine, but not always. Start conservatively.