You found the pyjamas. The ones that feel like a cloud, drape like a dream and make you want to cancel your plans. Now you want them to feel exactly the same a year from now. Here's how to wash modal pyjamas so they stay soft, keep their shape and hold onto their colour, written for Australian homes, Australian sun and the very real chaos of a family wash day.
Modal is a fibre made from beech tree pulp, and in our pyjamas it comes as a luxuriously soft cotton modal blend with a little stretch. It's soft, breathable and drapey, but it doesn't love heat or rough treatment. Treat it gently and it will look after you for a long time.
How to wash modal pyjamas, step by step
Wash them before the first wear
It's a lovely habit for any new PJs. Pop them through a cold gentle cycle with similar colours before their first night out.
Turn them inside out and use a mesh bag
Turning PJs inside out protects the print and the outer surface from rubbing against everything else in the drum. A mesh laundry bag adds another layer of protection, especially for lace trims and adjustable straps on a chemise or cami.
Choose a cold gentle cycle and keep the load light
Use cold water and the gentle or delicate setting on your machine, and don't overstuff the drum, because modal needs room to move. Wash it with similar colours and other soft things like tees and pyjamas, not towels, jeans or anything with zips and hooks.
Go easy on the detergent
A small amount of mild liquid detergent is all you need. Too much can leave residue that makes soft fabric feel stiff, and bleach is a firm no.
How to care for your modal pyjamas
Good news for wash day: every Cachia modal style shares the same care instructions. Whichever piece you own, here's what it asks for.
- Cold gentle machine wash
- Wash inside out with similar colours
- Use a mild liquid detergent
- Do not bleach
- Do not tumble dry
- Line dry in the shade
- Cool iron inside out if needed
- Do not dry clean
Your modal pieces can all go through the wash together in one cold, gentle load with similar colours.
Which modal pyjamas do we offer?
All our modal pyjamas are made from a luxuriously soft cotton modal blend that feels breathable, drapey and gentle on skin. Here are the styles in our current range.
Drift Away Set
The Drift Away Set pairs a button up shirt with relaxed full length pants in a soft floaty blue, scattered with cursive phrases like "drift away" and "good night, sleep tight". It's finished with brown piping, pockets and a branded Cachia waistband, so turn it inside out before it goes in to keep that print looking fresh.
Drift Away Chemise
Same dreamy print, different mood. The Drift Away Chemise is a midi length slip style with adjustable straps and delicate lace trim along the neckline and hem. That lace is exactly why we love a mesh bag, and the chemise can share a cold gentle load with the matching set.
Winterberry Cami Set
The Winterberry Cami Set features a white polka dot print on a deep berry base, soft pink straps, a built in shelf bra and shorts with pockets. Rich shades like berry are best washed with similar colours, especially for the first few washes.
How do you dry modal pyjamas in Australia?
Drying is where most modal heartbreak happens. Every one of our modal styles says do not tumble dry and line dry in the shade, and there's a good reason for both.
Why shade matters under the Aussie sun
Our sun is no joke, and strong UV can fade prints and colours faster than you'd expect. Hang your PJs in the shade, under the patio or on a clothes airer inside. On a humid Brisbane day or a soggy Melbourne week, an airer near an open window does the trick.
Hang them so they keep their shape
Give each piece a gentle shake as it comes out of the machine, then hang pants from the waistband and drape tops over the line rather than pegging them at the shoulders. Never wring modal out, because twisting can pull a soft knit out of shape.
Does modal shrink?
Modal holds its shape well, but heat is its weak spot. Hot washes and tumble dryers are the usual reasons a favourite set comes out looking a little smaller. Stick to a cold gentle wash, skip the dryer and you're in good shape.
How do you stop modal pyjamas from pilling?
Pilling is those tiny fuzzy balls that pop up where fabric rubs, like under the arms or between the thighs. Friction causes it, both in the wash and in bed.
- Wash inside out in a mesh bag.
- Keep modal away from towels, denim and anything with zips.
- Use a cold gentle cycle and a light load.
- If a few pills appear, remove them gently with a fabric shaver rather than pulling them off.
How to iron and store modal pyjamas
Soft modal jersey rarely needs ironing if you hang it out properly. If you do want a crisp collar, turn your PJs inside out and use a cool iron, avoiding any trims or badges.
Fold your PJs rather than leaving them on a hanger for weeks, as soft knits can stretch. For tips on looking after the rest of your sleepwear drawer, our guide to long lasting sleepwear care covers the basics.
FAQs
Can you put modal pyjamas in the dryer?
No. Every Cachia modal style says do not tumble dry, because heat can cause shrinkage and wear. Line dry in the shade instead.
Can I wash modal pyjamas with other clothes?
Yes, as long as they're similar colours. Turn your PJs inside out, pop them on a cold gentle cycle with other soft things like tees and pyjamas, and save towels, denim and anything with zips for a separate load.
How often should you wash modal pyjamas?
A good rule of thumb is every three or four wears, or more often on hot, sticky nights. Having two sets on rotation makes that easy.
Why do my modal pyjamas feel rough after washing?
Usually it's too much detergent, a hot wash or the dryer. Try a smaller dose of mild liquid detergent, a cold gentle cycle and drying in the shade, and the softness often comes back within a wash or two.
Looked after the right way, your modal favourites will feel just as dreamy on night one hundred as they did on night one. Ready for a new favourite? Shop New Arrivals