A quality abaya is an investment. Whether you paid BDT 2,500 or BDT 7,000, you want it to look beautiful for years — not just months. The difference between an abaya that lasts two years and one that lasts five often comes down to how you care for it.
Here is your complete guide to washing, drying, ironing, and storing abayas to keep them in perfect condition.
Washing Your Abaya by Fabric Type
Nida Abayas
Nida is the easiest fabric to care for. You can machine wash on a gentle or delicate cycle with cold or cool water. Use a mild detergent. Avoid washing with rough items like denim that could cause pilling. Turn your abaya inside out before washing to protect the colour and any surface details. Do not use fabric softener — it can affect the fabric's opacity over time.
CEY (Crinkle) Abayas — Special Care
CEY is a beautiful, breathable, and slightly stretchy fabric known for its signature crinkled texture. However, because of its unique fiber construction, it can be prone to "peeling" or pilling if not handled correctly.
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Preventing Peeling (Pilling):
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Minimize Friction: Pilling is caused by abrasion. Avoid wearing rough accessories (like heavy metal bags or abrasive belts) directly against your CEY abaya.
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Wash Inside Out: Always turn your CEY abayas inside out before washing to protect the outer surface from rubbing against the machine drum or other garments.
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Use a Mesh Bag: Never wash CEY loose in the machine. Always place it in a zippered mesh laundry bag to act as a barrier against friction.
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Gentle Detergents: Use pH-neutral, liquid detergents. Avoid harsh powdered detergents, which can leave a residue that increases friction between fibers.
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Maintenance:
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Skip the Softener: Paradoxically, fabric softeners can coat fibers in a waxy film that may actually encourage pilling over time.
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The "De-pilling" Fix: If your abaya does develop minor pills, don't pull them by hand. Use a high-quality fabric shaver or a sweater stone to gently remove the pills. Move in soft, circular motions, taking care not to apply too much pressure.
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Important: Never iron CEY fabric, as the high heat can damage the fibers and accelerate the breakdown that leads to peeling. If the abaya needs freshening, use a low-heat steamer from a distance.
Crepe Abayas
Crepe is slightly more delicate than Nida. Hand washing is the safest method — use cool water and a gentle detergent, swirl gently, and do not scrub or twist. If machine washing, use a mesh laundry bag and the most delicate setting available.
Chiffon Abayas
Chiffon requires hand washing every time. Fill a basin with cool water, add a small amount of delicate fabric wash, and submerge the abaya. Gently swirl for a few minutes — do not scrub, wring, or twist. The fabric tears easily when wet.
Embroidered Abayas
Always hand wash embroidered pieces in cold water. Turn inside out. Support the embroidered areas gently rather than rubbing them. Soaking for more than 30 minutes can loosen thread attachments.
Drying Your Abaya
Never put abayas in a tumble dryer — the heat shrinks fabric and dulls colours significantly. Hang abayas to dry in the shade — direct sunlight fades dark colours quickly. Use a wide plastic or padded hanger rather than a thin wire one to prevent shoulder marks and distortion. For chiffon and embroidered pieces, lay flat on a clean towel to dry rather than hanging, as the weight of wet fabric can stretch delicate weaves.
Ironing Guide by Fabric
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Nida: Use a medium heat setting. Iron on the reverse side if possible.
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Crepe: Use medium heat with light steam. Iron on the reverse side with the grain of the fabric.
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CEY: Do not iron. Use a fabric steamer if absolutely necessary to remove heavy creases, keeping the nozzle away from the fabric to maintain the crinkle.
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Chiffon: Use the lowest heat setting. Always use a pressing cloth as a buffer.
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Embroidered Areas: Never iron directly over embroidery. Use a pressing cloth on the reverse side.
Removing Common Stains
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Food stains: Gently blot (do not rub) with a clean cloth. Apply a small amount of gentle liquid detergent, leave for five minutes, then rinse.
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Oil stains: Sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder on the stain and leave for 30 minutes to absorb the oil before washing.
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Colour transfer: If colour has transferred, soak in cool water with white vinegar for 30 minutes before gentle washing
Storage Tips
Hang abayas where possible using wide, padded hangers. Store in a cool, dry, dark place. For infrequently worn embroidered pieces, store in a cotton garment bag—never plastic—to allow the fabric to breathe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I iron my CEY abaya? A: No, ironing CEY will flatten its unique crinkled texture. If it's wrinkled, a light steam treatment is the only recommended method.
Q: Why should I avoid fabric softener for Nida? A: Fabric softener leaves a chemical residue that can build up, eventually making the Nida fabric lose its signature smooth opacity and causing it to attract lint.
About the Author
Fariza Binte Bulbul is the founder and head designer of Modest Collection. With years of hands-on experience in Dhaka's Modest fashion industry, Fariza bridges the gap between global modest trends and the practical needs of the Bangladeshi climate. Her work centers on sustainable fabric selection, ergonomic design for South Asian body proportions, and high-quality craftsmanship. Follow Modest Collection on [Instagram] and [Facebook] for daily styling tips