Updated September 5, 2026 — Written by Nora MASTAN from the SOOTRASHOP team
⏱ Reading time: 10 minutes.
Caring for a crepe or Nidha abaya involves a set of rules for stain removal, cold or maximum 30°C washing, and air drying, all essential to preserve the fabric's fluidity, color depth, and fiber structure over time.
This comprehensive guide details all the key steps to caring for your abaya daily. From choosing the right detergent to tips for preventing shrinkage and eliminating white marks, discover the essential practices to keep your crepe and Nidha abayas looking great wash after wash.
Before diving into the guide, discover our collection of abayas, crafted from noble, easy-care materials and delivered to France, Europe, Canada, North Africa, and the United Kingdom.
What temperature and detergent should you choose for your abaya?
To preserve your abaya's fluidity and radiance, the golden rule is to wash it in cold water, up to a maximum of 30°C, using a mild liquid detergent for delicate fabrics (or a special black laundry detergent to maintain pigment intensity). Powder detergents should be avoided as they can leave white marks and damage the fiber.
Exceeding 30°C causes irreparable damage:
- Shrinkage: Heat causes the fiber to contract, leading to a loss of up to 5 cm in length.
- Set-in creases: The thermal shock between hot water and rinsing sets creases that are impossible to remove.
- Dullness of black: Hot water releases pigments and discolors the onyx black.
- Rhinestone detachment: At 40°C, ornament glues melt and stain the fabric.
Discover our collection of Nidha abayas from SOOTRASHOP — noble, structured, and easy to care for.
Wash delicate or highly embellished items in cold water, never exceed 30°C for your daily abayas, and definitively ban cycles at 40°C!
How to remove a stubborn stain from an abaya without damaging it?
To remove a stain from an abaya without discoloring the fabric, the golden rule is to blot from the edge to the center with a gentle product, and never rub to avoid spreading the stain or creating an irreversible halo.
Step-by-step stain removal protocol:
- Absorb: Immediately blot excess liquid with a dry cloth, without rubbing.
- Isolate: Slip a clean towel under the stain to protect the other side of the garment.
- Treat: Gently blot from the edge to the center with your stain remover.
- Rinse & Dry: Rinse with clean water using a damp sponge and air dry.
Each stain requires a targeted solution to preserve the textile and the depth of its colors.
👉 Discover all our targeted stain removal solutions to safely treat each substance and maintain the brilliance of your abayas.
Method 1: Hand washing your abaya (recommended)
To hand wash a crepe or Nidha abaya, immerse it inside out in cold water up to a maximum of 30°C with a mild liquid detergent. Gently agitate for 4 to 6 minutes, without rubbing or twisting. Rinse with clean water, then hang to dry on a hanger in the shade.
To avoid having to iron your abaya, shake it vigorously immediately after washing before hanging it on its hanger.
How to prepare the wash bath and choose the right detergent for your abaya?
To prepare an abaya's wash bath, dilute 15 to 20 ml of mild liquid detergent (pH neutral) in 10 to 15 liters of cold or lukewarm water (max 30°C) before immersing the garment.
3-step bath preparation protocol:
- Generous water volume: Fill a basin with 10 to 15 liters of water so the fabric can float freely without being compressed.
- Controlled temperature (max 30°C): Use cold or lukewarm water to prevent fiber shrinkage and ornament degradation.
- Pre-dissolution: Thoroughly mix 15 to 20 ml of liquid detergent specifically for delicate textiles directly into the water before immersing the abaya.
Strictly prohibited products:
- Powder detergents: Their abrasive grains dissolve poorly in cold water and leave white marks on onyx black.
- Bleach & chlorinated agents: They permanently discolor the fabric and destroy the fiber.
- Industrial fabric softeners: They deposit a greasy film that suffocates the crepe, weighs down the drape, and attracts dust.
Always mix the water and liquid detergent by hand to obtain a perfectly homogeneous bath before introducing your abaya!
The gentle agitation technique and ornament care for your abaya
To preserve the nobility of crepe and Nidha and the brilliance of your embellishments, hand washing requires delicate movements to avoid pilling, deformation, or the loss of your precious details.
Adopt these key gestures for perfect care:
- Accordion agitation: Never rub the fabric against itself. Apply gentle vertical pressure with your palms to circulate the soapy water without stretching the fibers.
- Care for embellished pieces (Dubai Abayas): Always wash inside out. Blot the collar or cuffs with a soft sponge, never rubbing areas embellished with rhinestones or beads.
- Express soaking (5 to 8 min max): Limit immersion to prevent the fibers from swelling and the onyx black from bleeding.
- Rinsing & wringing without twisting: Rinse 3 to 4 times with clear water to remove detergent residue. Never twist the garment: gather it into a ball and press firmly with your palms.
Remember to support your abaya with both hands when removing it from the water: when saturated with water, the weight of the fabric can stretch and deform the shoulders if you lift it by only one side.
Method 2: Can a crepe and Nidha abaya be machine washed?
While some machines offer gentle programs, at SOOTRASHOP, we strongly advise against machine washing your abayas. Regardless of the material (Nidha, Medina Silk, crepe, linen, velvet…), drum washing poses an unnecessary risk to your garment.
To guarantee the longevity and beauty of your abayas, only one rule applies:
- Prioritize hand washing: Opt for gentle manual cleaning in cold water or at a maximum of 30°C.
- Protection of drape and color: Manual washing avoids the friction of the drum which sets the fibers, preserves the fluidity of the fabric, and maintains the intensity of the onyx black.
- Detail security: This gentle method protects the crepe's microfilaments and preserves your embroidery, beads, and rhinestones from any risk of wear or detachment.
Forget the washing machine! To preserve the high quality and fluid drape of your abayas, always opt for hand washing in cold water or at a maximum of 30°C.
Essential settings (program, spin)
If you must exceptionally use the machine, choosing the delicate program is an absolute condition to limit mechanical damage to your abayas.
These precise adjustments protect the fiber structure and the garment's fit:
- Selection of the very delicate program: Exclusively choose the "Delicate," "Silk," or "Hand Wash" cycle. These programs use a larger volume of water and very slow agitation, which reduces friction against the drum.
- Controlled temperature: Mandatory setting to cold or 30°C maximum. A higher temperature softens synthetic microfibers and causes the fabric to shrink.
- Minimum spin speed: Set the spin speed between 0 and 400 revolutions/minute maximum (or disable it). Too fast a spin breaks crepe fibers, deforms seams, and creates deep creases that are very difficult to remove.
Even on the gentlest program, don't forget to turn your abaya inside out and absolutely place it in an individual laundry bag before starting the cycle!
Using a laundry net to protect your abayas' fabric
The laundry net is the essential accessory for machine washing your abayas without risking damage. By isolating the garment, it forms a protective shield against the mechanical aggressions of the drum and friction against other items.
How to use it correctly:
- Preparation: Always turn your abaya inside out and close all buttons or zippers.
- Placement: Gently fold the garment before placing it in an appropriately sized net (do not cram it in).
- Washing: Start your Delicates cycle at a maximum of 30 °C with a gentle spin (max 400 rpm).
Place only one abaya per laundry net to allow water and liquid detergent to circulate freely without creating deep creases!
Drying and spinning: preserving the fluidity of your crepe abaya
The dryer is deadly for your abaya. Extreme heat (60 to 80 °C) and drum friction cause irreparable damage to fabrics (Nidha, Medina Silk, Jazz…):
- Loss of fluidity & rough feel: Above 65 °C, microfibers melt and stick together, destroying the noble drape of the garment.
- Permanent shrinkage (5 to 10 cm): Dry heat irreversibly shrinks crepe threads.
- Detachment of rhinestones & glue stains: Hot-melt adhesives melt, releasing ornaments and embedding dark halos in the fabric.
- Damaged threads & "baked creases": Rotation frays embroidery, dulls onyx black, and sets creases that are impossible to remove.
To dry your abaya without damaging it:
- No twisting: Never twist the wet garment.
- Sponge press: Roll the abaya in a large clean towel and press firmly to absorb up to 70% of the water.
- Cold air: Hang it on a wide hanger in the open air in the shade for complete drying in less than two hours.
The towel roll technique: perfect wringing without damaging your abaya's fabric
To remove excess water from a delicate abaya without altering its cut or damaging the fiber, the towel roll method is essential. It allows for quick capillary drying, without any harmful friction.
Follow this step-by-step protocol for risk-free wringing:
- Unfold: Lay a large, clean, neutral-colored terry towel flat to create a homogeneous absorption matrix.
- Positioning: Place the abaya on half of the towel, flattening the sleeves well to avoid deep creases.
- Rolling: Fold the other half of the towel over and gently roll the whole thing to form an absorbent cylinder.
- Pressing: Press moderately along the entire length of the roll with your hands to transfer water from the crepe to the sponge.
Discover our abayas made from noble crepes with delicate finishes directly on our online store.
Drying: flat or hung on a hanger for your abayas?
To dry an abaya without altering its cut, choose hanger drying for fluid fabrics (Nidha, crepe, Medina Silk, Jazz) to eliminate wrinkles by gravity. Conversely, apply flat drying for heavy items (velvet, heavily embroidered Dubai abayas) to avoid distorting the shoulders under the weight of the water.
Adopt these two protocols according to your textile:
- Hanger drying (fluid fabrics) : Use a wide hanger made of smooth plastic or satin (ban metal and raw wood). Adjust the seams, close the buttons and manually smooth from top to bottom.
- Flat drying (heavy & ornate pieces): Lay a terry towel on a horizontal drying rack, place your abaya flat, adjusting the sleeves, then turn it over halfway through drying for even evaporation.
The 3 golden rules to follow:
- No tumble dryer: Heat shrinks the fiber and melts the glue of rhinestones.
- Shade drying: Always dry away from UV rays or inside out to preserve the onyx black.
- Thermal distance: Keep your garment at least 1.50 m away from radiators.
Always prefer natural drying on a wide hanger in the shade and in a well-ventilated room: gravity will naturally remove wrinkles without heating the fabric!
For very heavy ornate abayas, start with the towel roll technique to absorb excess water before laying it flat: drying time will be halved!
🛍️ Find our crepe abayas and Nidha abayas with perfect cuts and fluid, easy-care fabrics directly on our online store.
How to iron or steam a crepe abaya?
To restore an impeccable drape to your crepe abaya without damaging its noble material, ironing requires particular precautions. Direct heat can shine the fiber, burn the fabric, or melt ornaments: you must therefore always work on the inside of the garment.
Adopt the right gestures depending on the tool you use:
- With a steam iron (recommended): Always steam on the inside, keeping the head of the appliance 5 cm away from the fabric. Steam gently penetrates the fiber and removes wrinkles without any harmful direct contact.
- With a classic iron: Set the iron to the minimum temperature ("delicate", "silk", or "synthetic" program). Be sure to place a press cloth (a thin, slightly damp cotton cloth) between the iron and the inside of your abaya to create a barrier against direct heat.
- Protection of precious details: Never pass the iron or steam directly over rhinestones, pearls, or embroidery, otherwise the glue may melt or the embellishments may be altered.
FAQ: Your frequently asked questions about abaya care
Saudi, Emirati, Turkish, Moroccan… it's normal to have questions. Here are all the answers to help you take care of your abaya in a flash.
❓ Will my abaya shrink if machine washed?
No, a polyester crepe abaya will not shrink below 30°C. However, viscose or cotton crepe may shrink by 5 to 8% if washed in hot water or tumble dried, as heat tightens the twist of the threads.
❓ What if white marks appear after my abaya dries?
To remove white marks from an abaya, soak it for 10 to 15 minutes in a basin of lukewarm water with 250 ml of white vinegar added. This treatment dissolves limescale and poorly rinsed detergent deposits. Then rinse with clear water and dry on a hanger, away from the sun.
❓ What is the difference between a crepe abaya and a Nidha abaya?
The difference lies in the fabric's drape: the crepe abaya is more structured, opaque, and matte, ideal for everyday wear. The Nidha abaya is more fluid, light, and silky, with an airy drape. Maintenance remains identical for both: wash in cold water or at 30°C maximum, never tumble dry.
📖 Want to know more about abayas?
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📝 Article written by Nora MASTAN — SOOTRASHOP Team | Abaya Care Guide 2026