A little love goes a long way. Our pieces are made to be lived in — pulled on for school runs, dusty paddocks and the best kind of messy days — and cared for well, they'll last long enough to be handed down. Here's how to keep them looking their best.

"The best days end in dirty clothes" — so here's how to get them clean again.

Our golden rules

• Wash cold, wash gentle. Cold water on a gentle cycle is kindest to fabric, colour and any prints or embroidery.
• Turn prints & embroidery inside out. This protects the design and keeps colours bright.
• Wash with like colours. Keep darks with darks, brights with brights.
• Skip the dryer. Line dry in the shade — it's gentler on fabric and stops fading. Direct sun can be harsh on colours.
• Go easy on the heat. A warm iron where needed; always check the fabric first.
• Always follow the care label. The sewn-in label on your garment is the final word — if it differs from this guide, follow the label.

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By fabric

Cotton & cotton-blend everyday wear

Tees, rompers, polos, dresses, blouses, shirts, jersey & waffle pieces.

• Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with like colours.
• Turn printed or embroidered pieces inside out before washing.
• Do not bleach.
• Line dry in the shade — avoid the tumble dryer to prevent shrinking.
• Warm iron if needed; avoid ironing directly over prints.

Denim & jeans

Jeans, denim bloomers, overalls.

• Wash inside out in cold water with like colours.
• For the first few washes, wash separately — deep indigo can run a little at first.
• Do not bleach.
• Line dry in the shade. Warm iron if needed.
• Wash less often to keep the colour rich and the fit true.

Linen & linen-blend

Our "Luci" & "Lucia" linen shirts, linen pants.

• Cold or warm gentle machine wash with like colours.
• Do not bleach or tumble dry.
• Line dry in the shade.
• Warm iron while slightly damp for the crispest finish.
• A relaxed, lived-in crease is part of linen's charm — it softens beautifully with wear.

Corduroy

Cord trousers & cord pieces.

• Wash inside out in cold water on a gentle cycle with like colours.
• Do not bleach or tumble dry.
• Line dry in the shade.
• Warm iron on the reverse to protect the soft pile.

Activewear, rashies, board & footy shorts

Polyester & spandex pieces.

• Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with like colours.
• Skip the fabric softener — it coats the fibres and reduces breathability.
• Do not bleach, tumble dry or iron (heat damages the fabric and print).
• Line dry in the shade.
• Rinse after swimming — salt and chlorine are hard on stretch fabrics.

Winter knits & jumpers

Knit jumpers & cotton-knit pieces.

• Cold gentle machine wash (or hand wash) with like colours.
• Do not bleach or tumble dry.
• Reshape while damp and dry flat in the shade — hanging can stretch knitwear out of shape.
• Cool iron only if needed.

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Stains & little accidents

• Treat spills as soon as you can — the fresher the mark, the easier it lifts.
• Dab, don't rub. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper into the fibres.
• Rinse in cold water first; hot water can set protein and fruit stains.
• Test any stain remover on a hidden seam before using it on the whole piece.

Made to be handed down

We're a country family, and we make our clothes the way we'd want them for our own kids — timeless, durable and worth keeping. Care for them gently and they'll be ready for the next little adventurer down the line.

Questions about a particular piece? We're always happy to help — email hello@littlewindmillclothingco.com.