How to Care for Ankara and Traditional Nigerian Fabrics

Traditional Nigerian fabrics are some of the most beautiful textiles in the world. Ankara prints, hand-woven aso-oke, delicate lace, and adire all carry real cultural weight. They also need specific care to stay vibrant and hold their shape over time.

Here is how to handle each one properly.

Ankara (African Print Cotton)

Ankara is printed cotton, which makes it more durable than most people think. That said, the prints can fade quickly with rough handling.

Wash in cold or lukewarm water. Hot water causes the dye to bleed. If you are hand-washing, keep the water below 30 degrees.
Turn garments inside out. This protects the printed surface from friction.
Use a mild detergent. Harsh powders strip the dye. A gentle liquid detergent works well.
Do not soak. A quick wash cycle is enough. Soaking loosens the dye and causes bleeding.
Air dry in the shade. Direct sunlight fades prints fast. Lay flat or hang in a shaded spot.

Aso-Oke

Aso-oke is hand-woven and much more delicate than ankara. Machine washing will damage the weave.

Always hand-wash or dry clean. The structure of aso-oke cannot survive a spin cycle.
Use very little detergent. A small amount dissolved in cool water is enough.
Support the fabric fully when lifting it wet. Aso-oke is heavy when saturated and will stretch if you hold it by one end.
Lay flat to dry. Hanging causes it to pull out of shape.

Lace Fabric

Nigerian lace, whether French, Swiss, or cord lace, is an investment. It needs to be treated like one.

Dry clean is the safest option for any heavily embellished or multi-layered lace.
If hand-washing, use cold water and a capful of gentle detergent. Swirl, do not scrub.
Never wring lace. Press it gently between dry towels to remove water.
Store folded in a cotton bag, not a plastic one. Plastic traps moisture and causes yellowing.

Adire and Tie-Dye

These fabrics are known for running. The dye is often reactive and will bleed onto other fabrics.

Always wash separately for the first three or four washes.
Cold water only. No hot rinses.
A splash of white vinegar in the rinse water helps set the dye and reduces bleeding over time.

When to Hand It Over to a Professional

Some fabrics are simply not worth the risk of washing at home. Heavy beading, layered lace, dry-clean-only labels, and anything that is part of a ceremony outfit should go to a professional laundry that understands Nigerian fabrics.

At Swiftwash, our Premium Care service handles all of these. We weigh and inspect each item before washing, use appropriate cleaning methods for each fabric type, and guarantee the condition of every garment we return.

Book a Premium Care pickup on WhatsApp and tell us what you are sending. We will handle the rest.