Care Instructions

Joven Knits

Washing by hand is always best in order to maintain the longevity of knit fabrics.

Wool Knits:

Wool knits must be washed in lukewarm water by hand (do not wring) then laid flat to dry (roll in a towel to squeeze out excess moisture). They can be run through the spin cycle before laying flat to dry. If you choose to machine wash, be sure to wash on the gentle cycle with cold water. Do not put knit garments in the dryer. We highly recommend putting the garment in a mesh laundry/lingerie bag before adding it to your washing machine. Do not use any bleach whatsoever, a mild shampoo will work. We recommend hand washing with Joven's Lanolin Soap. Our soap already contains lanolin so it water-proofs your wool while it cleans.

Using our wool shorts and pants as soakers:

Because wool is anti-bacterial and anti-microbal, wool soakers only need to be washed approximately every 2-3 weeks unless soiled. If you allow them to air-dry between uses, you will find that they dry without oder. Wool can also absorb 30% of it's own weight in liquid before feeling wet. This makes wool a wonderful and natural option for diaper covers. If you are planning to use our knit shorts or pants as wool soakers you will find it helpful to lanolize them every few weeks as this will keep them from leaking. Hand washing with Joven's Lanolin Soap eliminates the need for lanolizing.

Lanolizing:

Put 1/8 teaspoon of lanolin and a drop of soap in a jar with hot water and shake until dissolved. Add to a sink-full of warm water then add knits. Immerse in water for at least 10 minutes. Squeeze out (do not wring) and lay flat to dry.  Hand washing with Joven's Lanolin Soap reduces and may eliminate the need for lanolizing.

Cotton Knits:

Some of our cotton knits may be washed by machine (gentle cycle) in cold water, inside a mesh laundry/lingerie bag. Please refer to the garment care labels in order to be sure or feel free to e-mail us.

Organic Cotton Knits:

Our Organic Cotton Knits may be machine washed warm, rinsed cool in the gentle cycle. Dry flat or gently tumble in the dryer until ALMOST dry and finish flat. Tumble drying may cause 10-15% shrinkage in length. While we have allowed for this in our designs, we cannot predict individual dryer outcomes.

EllaRoo Baby Carriers

Wash separately in COLD water by hand or machine wash GENTLE cycle and hang to dry. Ella Roo Baby Carriers dry overnight indoors (On Mama's Back Podaegi Baby Carrier can be tumble dried on low). The Chinese Embroidered Mei Tai must be hand washed or machine washed on gentle cycle in cold water and line dried. The US made Mei Tai can be machine washed and dried.

Setting fabric colors: Some of the brighter fabric colors may bleed at first (especially reds). Soak the carrier in water to which you have added 4 tablespoons of white vinegar and 4 tablespoons of salt. Soak for a few minutes, remove from water and line dry. If it is still bleeding rinse until bleeding stops. Always wash in cold water. In case of continued bleeding, the carrier can be dry-cleaned once, to set the colors.

Shoo Shoos

Wash with only "like" colors on gentle cycle. Washing in a lingerie bag is suggested for locating the shoes after washing. Shape correctly and set aside for 30 minutes to 1 hour (no longer). Toss into the dryer (again, in lingerie bag) to complete the drying process. Shoes may be stiff initially, however leather will soften with wearing

Cloth Diapers & Doublers

Before Use:

Most diapers need to be washed and dried 4-5 times before they reach their full absorbency. This is so that the cotton will "fluff" up and be able to hold more liquid. In the case of organic diapers, the washing also removes the natural oils in the fabric which can inhibit absorption. If ordering for the first time, we recommend washing only one diaper so that in the event you change your mind, the unwashed diapers can be returned for a full refund. See our Returns Policy.

The Diaper Pail:

Wet diapers can be put into a diaper pail until wash day. Soiled diapers must have their contents dumped into the toilet and rinsed. Some people simply dunk soiled diapers in the toilet and swish them around, others just rinse them in the sink. Once this is done, they may be put aside in the diaper pail until wash day. Adding baking soda to the pail will prevent odors.

Some people prefer to soak their diapers to help with staining. Fill the diaper pail with cold water and add 1/4 cup of baking soda to prevent odors and stains. Soaking with bleach, detergent or soap may decrease the life of your diapers so we advise against it.

Washing*:

-Step 1 (dry pail)

Put diapers into washing machine and do a cold rinse.

-Step 1 (wet pail)

Put diapers into washing machine and run spin cycle to get excess water out.

-Step 2 (wet or dry pail)

Wash diapers on HOT (unless otherwise specified on label) with a cold rinse and 1/2 the recommended amount of laundry detergent. (Using too much detergent may cause a build-up of soap that can cause rashes and reduces the absorbency of your diapers.) Washing more than 2 dozen diapers at a time will not allow the machine to clean them properly and may cause pilling due to the friction. Adding 1/4 cup of vinegar at the beginning of the rinse cycle aids in removing soap residue and makes for fresher smelling diapers. We advise against using fabric softeners because they leave a coating on diapers making them less absorbent. Chlorine bleach will cause premature breaking of the fibers. If diaper rashes are an issue, a third load with 1 cup of baking soda and a vinegar rinse is recommended.

-Step 3

Line dry or tumble dry on medium. Adding a clean dry towel in the dryer will speed drying time. Line drying helps extend the life of your diapers. Direct sunlight will remove stains and kill bacteria and yeast. Remove stains by putting lemon juice on them and putting diaper in direct sunlight.

*Any covers should be washed separately.

Wool Puddle Pads

Spot clean or wash with a natural lanolin wool wash such as Joven's Lanolin Soap when needed. Because wool does not harbor bacteria or mold, these wool pads do not need constant washing.