Different fabrics need genuinely different care — the instructions for linen don't apply cleanly to cotton rib, and denim has its own rules entirely. Here's a fabric-by-fabric reference for everything in a typical Jolene order.
Linen
Cold or cool wash, gentle cycle. Hang to dry, and remove while still slightly damp so the fabric's own weight pulls out wrinkles naturally. Iron only while damp if you want it pressed — for most casual wear, the natural texture is part of the look.
Cotton (Shirts, Wovens)
Machine washable on a normal cool or cold cycle. Avoid high heat drying, which is the primary cause of shrinkage in untreated cotton. Iron on a medium setting if needed; cotton tolerates more heat from an iron than it does from a dryer.
Cotton Rib (Fitted Tops, Bodycon Dresses)
Cold water, gentle cycle, and always air dry — heat from a dryer is what causes rib and stretch fabrics to lose their recovery over time. Fold rather than hang to preserve shape; hanging stretches knits under their own weight.
Denim
Wash inside out, cold water, and far less frequently than other fabrics — every 4-5 wears rather than after each one. Skip the dryer. Denim is more resistant to odour and creasing than most fabrics, so it tolerates longer stretches between washes better than almost anything else in a wardrobe.
Modal
Cold, gentle cycle. Modal is prone to snagging, so wash separately from rougher fabrics like denim or anything with zippers or hardware.
Twill
Machine washable, normal cycle. More forgiving than most fabrics — resists wrinkling reasonably well, and doesn't require the same careful heat management as rib or delicate knits.
General Rules That Apply Across Everything
Cold water is almost always the safer default — unless a care label specifically calls for warm water.
Wash inside out — protects colour and surface texture across nearly every fabric type.
Air dry when possible — heat from a dryer is the single biggest factor in shrinkage, fading, and loss of elasticity, regardless of fabric.
Wash less often than you think you need to — most garments don't need washing after every single wear.
Keep Your Pieces Looking Right
You might also enjoy: Denim Care Guide: How to Wash Denim Without Fading It and Fixing Common Fabric Problems: Pilling, Shrinking, and Fading