How to Care for Turkish Textiles: Towels, Silk Velvet, Ikat & More
Handmade textiles reward a little care. The difference between a Turkish towel that lasts a decade and one that goes stiff, or a silk velvet cover that keeps its glow versus one that goes flat, is almost always in how it is washed. Because we carry several very different fabrics, here is a simple, honest guide organized by material — find your piece and follow its rules.
Turkish Towels (Peshtemal)
Peshtemals are woven cotton, and they actually get softer and more absorbent with each wash — so do not baby them.
- Machine wash cold or warm on a gentle cycle.
- Skip the fabric softener. It coats the cotton fibers and reduces absorbency — the opposite of what you want in a towel.
- Tumble dry low or line dry. Line drying keeps them lightest and quickest to pack.
- Give a new peshtemal one wash before first use to set the weave and fluff the pile.
Shop the Turkish towels collection, or read more about why peshtemals suit everyday living.
Silk Velvet
Silk velvet is the most delicate fabric we carry, and the one most often ruined by ordinary washing.
- Dry clean recommended to preserve the intricate weave and velvet luster. Machine washing crushes the pile and dulls the color.
- Between cleanings, refresh with a gentle shake and a soft brush in the direction of the pile.
- Store covers filled or flat, never crushed under heavy items, to protect the pile.
This covers our silk velvet pillow covers and our silk velvet bags alike.
Ikat
Our ikat is genuine resist-dyed cloth — the yarn is tied and dyed before weaving, not printed — and it is more forgiving than velvet.
- Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle; wash inside out to protect the surface.
- Air dry when you can, and iron on a low, warm setting if needed.
See the ikat pillow covers.
Hand-Crochet & Knit Cotton
Pieces like our crochet evil eye cushions are worked by hand in cotton and need a gentle touch.
- Hand wash, or use a gentle cold cycle inside a mesh bag.
- Do not wring. Press out water, then reshape and dry flat so the piece keeps its form.
Five Rules for Any Handmade Textile
- Wash less. Spot-clean small marks instead of laundering the whole piece.
- Remove inserts from pillow covers before washing.
- Cold and gentle is almost always safer than hot and vigorous.
- Keep out of constant direct sun, which fades any dyed textile over time.
- Store clean and dry, with room to breathe rather than sealed in plastic.
Quick Reference
- Turkish towels: machine wash cold/warm gentle, no softener, tumble low or line dry
- Silk velvet: dry clean recommended
- Ikat: machine wash cold, gentle, inside out
- Crochet/knit cotton: hand wash, dry flat
Cared for well, handmade Turkish textiles are meant to last and to age beautifully. Browse the collections at pillow covers, Turkish towels, and bags, or visit us in Historic Downtown McKinney.
