Care Advice for Cotton Corduroy Trousers

Stains

• Corduroy itself is not a material, but a particular way of weaving the cotton that results in textured rows. Avoid using a brush to clean out any stains in your corduroy trousers, as it will damage the texture. Blot out the stain with a wet rag, then hang them on a line, lay them on a flat surface or throw them in the dryer.

Machine Wash

• Cotton corduroy pants hold up well in the washing machine. However, if the trousers are part of a suit and are lined with a sensitive material, dry cleaning may be your only option. Before placing them in your washing machine, turn them inside out to protect the textured side. Because corduroy material attracts lint, wash the pants separately from the rest of your laundry. Fully dissolve the laundry detergent in cool water and use the gentle cycle.

Hand Wash

• When hand-washing your corduroys, don't wring them out or scrub the fabric harshly. Soak your trousers in warm water and gently rub the material together. Line dry them or tumble dry on a low setting. Remove the pants from the dryer immediately and shake the wrinkles loose.

To Iron or Not to Iron

• If you left your corduroy pants in the dryer for too long, they may become exceptionally wrinkled. Thin corduroys are notorious for this. Lay the pants on your ironing board and place a sheet over them as a protective layer, then iron. Alternately, hang your cords in a steamy bathroom to relax wrinkles.