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Wash & Care of Hemp Fabrics
Hemp articles of all kinds can take any amount of washing and keep coming up for more. They thrive on regular use and regular laundering.

Considered "Bulletproof" by many experts, hemp is an amazingly strong, long-lasting fabric that launders easily. It handles extreme water temperatures well, and can be considered as a machine washable linen.

Over time it produces significant cost savings for owners because it has a much longer lifespan than all other natural fabrics.

Hemp's ultra-durable, cost-saving benefits makes it the perfect natural fabric for heavy-wear, uniform-type clothing. It withstands the rigors of industrial cleaning processes extremely well. (Note: Commercial soap powders and liquid detergents can be safely used and water temperature is not critical).

Because of the highly porous nature of the hemp fiber (i.e., magnified under a microscope it's filled with lots of holes) hemp dries extremely quickly naturally (in the open air) or is easily tumble-dried. 

Laundry:
Each time hemp is washed it constantly reveals new surfaces, usually becoming softer with use. Given reasonable care it will render a lifetime of service.

Hemp fabric rapidly absorbs moisture - which accounts for its coolness and comfort when used for apparel or bed sheets. It is also one of the only fabrics which are stronger wet than dry, so it does not become tender through washing.   Generally speaking, dry cleaning is recommended for drapery hemp, upholstery hemp, decorative hemp, and high end garments.

If you are washing plain hemp fabric that has not yet been made into a garment, then it is important to serge or zig-zag the cut edges before wash to prevent fraying. The selvage (woven) edges will not fray.

As with other textiles, always test for color fastness and remember that detergents containing Optical Brightening Agents (OBA) may cause colors to alter slightly and will detract from the appearance of the subtle natural hemp. Chlorine Bleach should not be used as it can significantly degrade and weaken the natural fibers. Oxygen-based bleach is ok in small quantities.    

Suggested maximum wash water temperatures for hemp 

1.Hemp without special finishes - unlimited to include boiling temperatures. 

2. Hemp without special finishes, where colors are fast - 65c 

Note: for 1 & 2 above a temperature of 50c is generally sufficient 

Hemp sheds dirt more readily than other materials and with thorough rinsing comes clean as new after every wash. If stained, use a proprietary stain-remover before washing. Do not use chlorine bleach. Oxygen bleach is ok in small quantities.

There is no need to use starch except perhaps for the finest hemps, for hemp has a natural crispness. hemp does not have to be tumble-dried - it will naturally dry quickly.  

Softening:

Hemp will get softer with use and after each wash. If you need to speed up this process then a commercial softener may be used. Another way to soften hemp is to do a hot water wash followed by a tumble dry, repeat these two steps two or three times. 

Ironing:

After conventional machine washing use a fast spin, then hot iron while the hemp is still damp. This makes for ease of ironing and will maintain appearance. Stretch the damp article to its natural size and shape before ironing. A hot iron will ensure that creases and crumples disappear instantly. Every piece will come up so crisp and new that it is impossible to tell whether starch has been used. Iron the 'wrong' (underside) first. For colored dress hemps, only iron the wrong side. This preserves the texture of the weave.  

Storing Hemp:

Hemp is naturally mothproof and can be safely stored under normal conditions. Slatted shelves will allow air to circulate. Avoid drying cupboards which have heated pipes running through, or cedar lined chests. Both can discolor hemp. If by mischance it does become discolored, wash as soon as possible and dry in the sun to whiten. Place most recently laundered items at the bottom of the pile so that all receive equal wear. To store hemp fabrics for long periods, it's better to roll them around a cardboard roll than to store them folded.

As the premier plant fiber, True Hemp or Cannabis sativa has served mankind for thousands of years. This venerable fiber has always been valued for its strength and durability. Materials made from hemp have been discovered in tombs dating back to 8,000 B.C.E. Christopher Columbus sailed to America on ships rigged with hemp. Hemp was grown extensively in colonial America by numerous farmers including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag from hemp. In fact, its combination of ruggedness and comfort were utilized by Levi Strauss as a lightweight duck canvas for the very first pair of jeans made in California.

For thousands of years hemp was traditionally used as an industrial fiber. Sailors relied upon hemp cordage for strength to hold their ships and sails, and the coarseness of the fiber made hemp useful for canvas, sailcloth, sacks, rope, and paper.

While hemp fiber was the first choice for industry, the coarseness of the fiber restricted hemp from apparel and most home uses. Hemp needed to be softened. Traditional methods to soften vegetable fibers used acids to remove lignin, a type of natural glue found in many plant fibers. While this method to remove lignin worked well with cotton or flax, it weakened the fibers of hemp and left them too unstable for use. Hemp therefore remained as an industrial fabric.

In the mid 1980's, researchers developed an enzymatic process to successfully remove lignin from the hemp fiber without compromising its strength. For the first time in history, de-gummed hemp fiber could be spun alone or with other fibers to produce textiles for apparel. This technological breakthrough has catapulted hemp to the forefront of modern textile design and fashion. Given hemp's superiority to other fibers, the benefits of this breakthrough are enormous.

Environmental Advantages
Hemp is an extremely fast growing crop, producing more fiber yield per acre than any other source. Hemp can produce 250% more fiber than cotton and 600% more fiber than flax using the same amount of land. The amount of land needed for obtaining equal yields of fiber place hemp at an advantage over other fibers.

Hemp grows best in warm tropical zones or in moderately cool, temperate climates, such as the United States. Hemp leaves the soil in excellent condition for any succeeding crop, especially when weeds may otherwise be troublesome. Where the ground permits, hemp's strong roots descend for three feet or more. The roots anchor and protect the soil from runoff, building and preserving topsoil and subsoil structures similar to those of forests. Moreover, hemp does not exhaust the soil. Hemp plants shed their leaves all through the growing season, adding rich organic matter to the topsoil and helping it retain moisture. Farmers have reported excellent hemp growth on land that had been cultivated steadily for nearly 100 years. 

Hemp Today
As a fabric, hemp provides all the warmth and softness of a natural textile but with a superior durability seldom found in other materials. Hemp is extremely versatile and can be used for countless products such as apparel, accessories, shoes, furniture, and home furnishings. Apparel made from hemp incorporates all the beneficial qualities and will likely last longer and withstand harsh conditions. Hemp blended with other fibers easily incorporates the desirable qualities of both textiles. The soft elasticity of cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with the natural strength of hemp creates a whole new genre of fashion design. 

The possibilities for hemp fabrics are immense. It is likely that they will eventually supersede cotton, linen, and polyester in numerous areas. With so many uses and the potential to be produced cheaply, hemp textiles are the wave of the future!