HOW TO STRIP YOUR MUSLIN CLOTHS CLEAN
Muslin cloths have been a mainstay in my life for many years. On integrating the principles of Ayurveda into my life and making the switch from drying foaming face washes to the much more Vata-soothing and skin-softening oil or balm cleansers, I employed muslin cloths for the final step of my skincare routine.
Muslin is a plain weave cotton fabric that is soft and gentle, and becomes even softer with use. First used in Ancient India for their many benefits, muslin cloths are great for sensitive skin, (perfect for wiping and swaddling baby Mahi), lightweight (move over, flannels!), easy to wash, and reusable — making them an eco-friendly option, as long as you know how to keep them fresh (more on that below). This ensures they get to stay around your home longer.
Some cleansers, such as Romilly Wilde, Aurelia and Pai, come ready packed with a muslin cloth, while other brands sell them separately. I have a stash collected over the years underneath my bathroom sink, and every night I whip one one out as part of my nightly ritual — sometimes a hilarious sight if I’ve been wearing my winged liquid eyeliner which is now all over my “greasy” face. I dip the cloth in warm water and delicately smooth it over my face to remove the cleansing balm (care should be taken with the amount of pressure and action you apply as muslin is still abrasive and will certainly aggravate even the toughest skin if you overdo it). Immediately afterwards I wash the muslin cloth with a little soap and water if I’ve not already fallen asleep on the job (oil cleansing is a very relaxing way to take off the day). Otherwise, after a quick rinse, it’s hung up to dry before being tossed into the laundry bin the next day (don’t add it wet — stinky!). However, try as I might to get them clean — and this is with my more naturally formulated eyeliners and mascaras — these cloths get grubby. The pic below demonstrates an extreme example, but even when they don’t look this stained they certainly look anything but fresh after a regular wash.
I’ve asked people how they clean theirs once they look past their best and the general consensus is to throw them in the bin and replace! Whilst they are biodegradable, it still seems like a waste of resources and money to me. A google on getting your whites white (by the way, eco unbleached muslin is naturally off-white) or stripping them of all the grime usually involves bleach — no thanks. So over a year ago I went on a mission to give my face cleansing muslins an overhaul and get them looking and feeling as good as new, by stripping them of all the dirt they’d accumulated.
Before long I was cooking up a big vat of bicarbonate of soda — the go-to for a “green clean” — and muslin cloth stew! Even though my cloths didn’t look THAT bad, the water quickly turned a dark grey — a broth of cleansing oil and makeup (and the rest!) parting ways with the fibres of the cloth. After a quick rinse, I threw them in with my whites for a spin in the machine and was pleasantly surprised by the final results. Though one of the cloths that had a couple of layers of muslin rather than a single layer was still a bit dingy, the rest looked great. Since then, I’ve used this method at least four times, and have found that drying them in the sun helps with the whitening effect. Be careful though, as sunlight and heat can also set a stain, so be sure to have used this cleaning method first, which will help to strip out the muck!
If anyone else has any natural tips — I’m sure that someone somewhere must have their own tips and tricks... lemon juice? Vinegar? If so, please share with me at hello@jasminehemsley.com and I’ll update this post!
SHOP MUSLIN CLOTHS
TO CLEAN YOUR MUSLIN CLOTHS:
Gather up your muslin cloths. Put them into a cooking pot large enough for them to only fill half of it (you might need to do it in batches otherwise, as I find you need room for them to move to allow agitation to take place).
Add in several tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda — I use about 5 tablespoons for 10 cloths. Fill with water.
Bring the pan up to a rolling boil (be careful it doesn’t bubble over!), then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes or so, stirring occasionally.
Drain off the water, wring out the muslin cloths and then handwash with some natural detergent or let the washing machine do the job.
Hang to dry — in the sunshine if poss!
East by West tips:
Don’t use those little pots of bicarbonate of soda (AKA baking soda) designed for baking for this job. Big boxes or tubs are much better value and better suited to the task.
This method is also great for cleaning up those bamboo reusable cleansing pads.
For more, head to:
10 Products to Make Your Load of Laundry More Planet-Friendly
