#JOURNEEbatik101 Care Tips for your Batik (ENG)

Batik is now appreciated and worn by people all around the world, not just in Indonesia. A Batik cloth is a priceless treasure, a lovely fabric passed down from generation to generation that is one of Indonesia's most precious tangible cultural heritages.

Batik is a delicate cloth, with proper care, you may extend the life of your batik for many years. For those who have batik and want to keep it in its lovely look and shape so that it can last a long time without being damaged, here are some helpful tips #JOURNEEbatik101 for caring for your batik items:  

Giving it a cold hand rinse is the best approach to clean it. Hand washing not only saves money, but it also preserves the color, shape, and texture of your clothes! However, keep an eye out for colors that are running. Simply lay your batik flat to dry or hang it up to dry. Rub the textile lightly together, and never soak your batik too long, since this will damage the fabric.

The soapberry tree produces soap nuts, also known as lerak in the Indonesian archipelago.If you must machine wash your batik clothing, use a mild detergent such as lerak, baby shampoo, or olive oil shampoo, use a non-spin cycle (delicate mode), and set the temperature to cool. NEVER use chlorine bleach, strong detergents or brighteners in washing Batik. Lerak is highly recommended, because it’s a natural soap with no chemicals, batik can be safely soaked in the mixture for at least 15 minutes, then gently rubbed and rinsed. You should keep your batik apparel separate from your other clothing to avoid any unwanted color running problems. After you've washed your clothes, make sure to let them air dry.

Exposure to light causes fading and discoloration in various coloured textiles, not just batik. Keeping your storage location as dark as possible is the best method to combat this. Natural light can fade your linens, even if it comes in via the windows. If you are drying with a dryer machine should be in a low heat setting, and do not over dry your Batik.

Steam iron is better than normal iron to maintain Batik's colour. Iron will slightly transfer the colour and result in discoloration. If you use normal iron, layered with another piece of fabric on top to avoid direct heat, use a warm iron setting and iron them when still a little damp for best results.

Moisture and humidity, as with many things, are the primary drivers of batik deterioration. Dehumidifiers or moisture-absorbing sachets, which are readily available in homeware stores, can help keep your batik clothing, clutches, and other accessories dry.