Care Guide

Keep Their Favourite Clothes Looking Better for Longer

Children’s clothing is made for movement, play, school, family outings, and everyday adventures. Proper care can help preserve the colour, shape, softness, and overall appearance of each item.

Always check the care label attached to the product before washing. Manufacturer instructions take priority over the general recommendations below.

Before the First Wash

Before washing a new item:

  • Read the attached care label
  • Remove tags, stickers, and detachable packaging
  • Check pockets and close zippers
  • Fasten buttons, snaps, and hook-and-loop closures
  • Separate light, dark, and brightly coloured clothing
  • Wash delicate or strongly coloured items separately

We recommend washing new children’s clothing before the first wear, especially items that will be worn directly against the skin.

General Washing Instructions

Unless the product label states otherwise:

  • Wash in cold or lukewarm water
  • Use a gentle washing cycle
  • Use a mild detergent
  • Wash similar colours together
  • Turn printed, decorated, or embroidered items inside out
  • Place delicate items in a mesh laundry bag
  • Avoid overloading the washing machine
  • Remove clothing promptly after the cycle finishes

Cold-water washing is generally gentler on fabrics and may help reduce shrinking, fading, and damage to printed designs.

Drying

Whenever possible:

  • Air-dry clothing naturally
  • Lay knitwear and delicate items flat to dry
  • Hang lightweight garments away from direct sunlight
  • Reshape clothing while it is still damp
  • Use low heat only when machine drying is permitted

High heat can cause shrinking, fading, damaged elastic, cracked prints, or changes to fabric texture.

Do not tumble-dry an item unless its care label confirms that machine drying is suitable.

Printed and Decorated Clothing

For clothing with prints, lettering, appliqués, glitter, embroidery, sequins, or decorative details:

  • Turn the garment inside out before washing
  • Use a gentle cycle
  • Wash in cold water
  • Avoid bleach
  • Avoid high-temperature drying
  • Do not iron directly over the decoration
  • Do not wring or aggressively rub the decorated area

Some decorative elements may naturally show wear over time, especially with frequent washing or active use.

Denim

To help preserve children’s denim:

  • Wash inside out
  • Wash with similar dark colours
  • Use cold water
  • Avoid washing more often than necessary
  • Air-dry when possible
  • Avoid bleach
  • Use low heat if machine drying is permitted

Dark or strongly coloured denim may release some dye during the first washes. Keep it separate from light-coloured items.

Knitwear and Sweaters

For knitwear:

  • Use a gentle or hand-wash cycle when permitted
  • Wash in cold water
  • Use mild detergent
  • Do not wring
  • Gently press out excess water
  • Reshape and lay flat to dry
  • Store folded rather than hanging

Hanging wet or heavy knitwear may stretch the garment and change its shape.

Outerwear

Before washing jackets, coats, and other outerwear:

  • Check the care label carefully
  • Empty all pockets
  • Close zippers and fasteners
  • Remove detachable accessories where possible
  • Use a gentle cycle only when machine washing is allowed
  • Dry completely before storage

Some insulated, waterproof, or specially coated outerwear may require professional cleaning or specific detergents.

Delicate Fabrics

Items made with lace, tulle, mesh, chiffon, satin-like materials, or delicate trims should receive additional care.

We recommend:

  • Hand washing or using a delicate cycle when permitted
  • Using a mesh laundry bag
  • Washing separately from rough fabrics
  • Avoiding zippers, hooks, and abrasive garments
  • Air drying
  • Avoiding twisting or wringing

Swimwear

After use:

  • Rinse swimwear promptly in clean, cool water
  • Gently hand wash with mild detergent
  • Do not wring
  • Dry flat or hang away from direct sunlight
  • Avoid bleach, fabric softener, and high heat

Chlorine, salt water, sunscreen, and prolonged sunlight may affect colour, elasticity, and fabric appearance.

Footwear

Care instructions depend on the shoe material.

General recommendations:

  • Wipe away dirt with a soft, damp cloth
  • Allow footwear to dry naturally
  • Keep shoes away from heaters and direct high heat
  • Do not machine wash unless specifically permitted
  • Use cleaning products designed for the relevant material
  • Test cleaning products on a small hidden area first

Shoes should be fully dry before being worn or stored.

Bags and Accessories

For children’s bags and fabric accessories:

  • Empty all compartments before cleaning
  • Spot-clean with a soft cloth and mild soap
  • Avoid soaking unless the care label permits it
  • Air-dry completely
  • Keep metal parts, prints, and decorations away from harsh cleaners

Hair accessories, jewellery, and small decorative items should generally be wiped clean rather than machine washed.

Stain Care

Treat stains as soon as possible.

  • Blot rather than rub
  • Use cold water first
  • Apply a small amount of mild stain remover
  • Test the product on a hidden area
  • Follow the garment’s care label
  • Avoid drying until the stain has been removed

Heat can permanently set some stains into the fabric.

Ironing

Before ironing:

  • Check the product care label
  • Use the lowest suitable temperature
  • Turn the garment inside out
  • Place a protective cloth between the iron and delicate fabric
  • Avoid direct contact with prints, logos, sequins, elastic, or synthetic decorations

Do not iron items marked as unsuitable for ironing.

Bleach and Fabric Softener

Unless specifically allowed by the manufacturer:

  • Do not use chlorine bleach
  • Avoid strong stain-removal chemicals
  • Use fabric softener sparingly
  • Avoid fabric softener on swimwear, activewear, waterproof materials, and highly absorbent fabrics

Harsh products may weaken fibres, affect colours, or damage special fabric finishes.

Storage

Before storing children’s clothing:

  • Make sure every item is clean and completely dry
  • Fold knitwear and heavy clothing
  • Store items in a cool, dry place
  • Keep clothing away from prolonged direct sunlight
  • Avoid sealing damp items in plastic containers
  • Remove batteries from light-up or electronic accessories where applicable

For seasonal storage, use clean and breathable containers whenever possible.

Safety Checks

Parents and guardians should inspect children’s clothing and accessories regularly.

Check for:

  • Loose buttons or snaps
  • Damaged zippers
  • Detached decorations
  • Loose cords or drawstrings
  • Torn fabric
  • Small parts that may present a choking hazard
  • Excessive wear that could affect safe use

Stop using an item if it becomes damaged or unsafe.

Important Notice

This Care Guide provides general recommendations only. Materials, construction, decorations, and manufacturer requirements vary between products.

Always follow the care label included with the item. Stickonia Kids is not responsible for shrinking, colour transfer, fading, damaged decorations, fabric changes, or other damage caused by improper washing, drying, ironing, cleaning, storage, or failure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Questions

For questions about caring for a specific product, please use the contact form on our website and include the product name or order number.