How to Keep Your Gabby Lou Pima Pieces Butter-Soft Forever ♡

(a love letter from one Pima-obsessed mama to another)

Hi sweet friend! Anne here (and my girls are currently wearing their third Pima dress of the day). Every single piece in our shop is made from the softest Peruvian Pima cotton — the kind that feels like a cloud and somehow gets even softer with every wash. But I know how scary it can feel to toss those precious (and sometimes pricey!) little outfits in the laundry. So, here’s my exact routine for keeping our Pima looking brand-new, wash after wash… even after blowout after blowout.

Soft Pima cotton baby clothes folded neatly, showcasing texture and quality

Why Our Pima Is Basically Baby Magic

- Extra-long fibers = ridiculously soft + almost impossible to pill 

- Breathes like a dream (perfect for hot summers or snuggly winter layers) 

- Holds color and shape like a champ 

- Gets softer the more you love it (yes, really!)

My Tried-and-True Wash Routine (the one I use on Gabrielle’ & Louise’s clothes every single week)

1. Turn everything inside out — protects those sweet, smocked details and keeps colors vibrant. 

2. Cold water only, gentle cycle — hot water is Pima’s worst enemy! 

3. Baby-safe, fragrance-free detergent — we love Dreft Pure Gentleness or Honest Company. 

4. Skip fabric softener (it coats the fibers and makes them less breathable). Want extra softness? Add ½ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle — it’s magic and smells like nothing once dry. 

5. Never overcrowd the washer — give those ruffles room to dance.

Drying Secrets (because nobody wants a shrunken onesie!)

- Air-dry flat is my #1 choice — I lay everything on a big towel on our guest bed with the ceiling fan going. Takes longer, lasts forever. 

- Must use the dryer? Lowest heat, tumble dry low, and pull them out while still a tiny bit damp. Then smooth them flat — they finish drying in minutes and stay perfectly shaped.

Stain Rescue (Because… Babies)

Spit-up, sweet potatoes, birthday cake — we’ve seen it all. My go-tos: 

- Immediate cold-water rinse 

- A dab of baby-safe stain stick or a paste of baking soda + water 

- Let it sit 10 minutes, then wash as usual 

- NO bleach ever — it breaks down those gorgeous long fibers

Folding & Storing Like a Pima Princess

- Cool, dry drawer or breathable cotton storage bin (plastic traps moisture = sad Pima) 

- Fold, don’t hang — keeps shoulders from stretching 

- Toss in a lavender sachet for that fresh-from-the-garden smell

When It’s Time to Say Goodbye (Or Pass It Down!)

Pima is tough, but when you finally see thinning fabric, stubborn stains that won’t budge, or the softness just isn’t the same… that’s when I box it up with a little tear and save it for the next baby (or the memory box). Gabby’s newborn onesies are still going straight into her “forever” keepsake bin.

Follow these steps and I promise your Gabby Lou pieces will stay just as buttery-soft for baby #2 (and #3… and maybe #4) as they were the day they arrived in that pretty pink box.

Have a favorite Pima care hack? Reply and tell me — I read every single email and love adding new tricks to my routine!

All the love & super-soft snuggles, 

Anne, Gabby & Lou (currently wearing Pima jammies and frosting) ♡