How to Wash & Care for Mulmul Cotton Sarees — Complete Guide

Mulmul cotton is incredibly forgiving to wear, but if you treat it exactly like an old t-shirt, you'll end up with a shrunk, faded saree. If you handle washing and storage well, a good piece will easily last you five to eight years.

The most important thing to know is how to handle the very first wash. Do it by itself, and only use cold water. If your saree is block-printed or hand-dyed, it's almost certainly going to bleed excess dye in the basin for the first wash or two. That doesn't mean the print is failing, but you definitely don't want that dye sitting on your other laundry.

Hand washing is definitely the safest route, and it only takes about 10 minutes. Use cold water and a dash of liquid detergent, give it a gentle swish, and let it soak for no more than 10 minutes. When you pull it out to dry, whatever you do, don't wring or twist the fabric. Just gently squeeze the water out, wrap it in a towel to soak up the rest, and hang it up in the shade. Direct sun will bleach out the print, and throwing it in the dryer is a great way to shrink it. Don't leave it bunched up in a wet ball, either.

If you don't have the patience for that, you can usually machine wash mulmul—as long as it isn't covered in heavy embroidery or dyed with natural vegetable colors like Ajrakh. Use cold water on a delicate cycle, and put the piece in a mesh laundry bag so it doesn't get tangled around the agitator. One crucial tip: skip the fabric softener. It actually coats the cotton fibers and kills the breathability that makes mulmul so comfortable to begin with. Just pull it out the second the cycle is done.

Because it's such a light cotton, it wrinkles easily. The trick is to iron it while it's still slightly damp, on a low-medium heat setting. (If it's printed, iron it on the reverse side to protect the design). If you absolutely hate ironing, you can hang the saree in the bathroom while you take a hot shower to let the steam pull the wrinkles out naturally.

When you put your sarees away, avoid plastic covers at all costs. They trap moisture, which leads straight to yellowing and mildew. Keep your mulmul folded in a breathable cotton bag instead. If you live somewhere humid, throw some dried neem leaves or camphor in the bag to keep the bugs away. It's also a good idea to refold them every few months so the crease lines don't set permanently.

If you spill anything on it, deal with it immediately. For oil or ghee drops, pack some cornstarch on the stain and let it sit for half an hour. Haldi stains usually come out with a paste of lemon juice and baking soda, and sweat marks clear up if you soak the spot in cold water and white vinegar.

A few quick questions

How often does this need to be washed? Usually after every two or three wears, unless you've been heavily sweating in the heat.

Will it shrink? Expect about 1-2% shrinkage after the very first wash. If you buy pre-washed mulmul (like the ones we make), it shouldn't shrink noticeably after that.

My block print left the water totally pink. Is it ruined? No, it's just hand-dyed. It's totally normal for the excess dye to wash out the first couple of times. The colors will stabilize quickly.

If I can't use fabric softener, how do I make it softer? It will naturally soften up on its own the more you wash and wear it. If you want a boost, add a splash of white vinegar to the rinse water instead.

Shop our Mulmul Mastani collection — handcrafted mulmul cotton sarees starting at ₹1,697.