Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Washing bone buttons is safe at a moderate temperature, on a gentle cycle and without bleach. The garment is buttoned up and turned inside out, is not left to soak and is dried in the air. When ironing, the iron is not placed on the button. Bone buttons also withstand dry cleaning, but with expensive styles it is wise to do a test or to protect the buttons.
How bone reacts to water, heat and chemicals
Bone is a dense mineral material with an organic base. It does not melt like plastic and does not deform at normal ironing temperatures. It has three weak points:
- prolonged soaking – the material absorbs moisture and fine cracks can form if it then dries quickly;
- sudden temperature changes – hot water followed by a cold rinse, or hot drying;
- acids and strong bleaches – they can dull the polished surface, discolour dyed buttons and draw out the natural oils.
That is why bone lasts for many years if extremes are avoided, but it is not suitable for very hot industrial laundering.
Machine washing bone buttons
- Fasten all the buttons – that way they do not knock against the drum and do not catch.
- Turn the garment inside out.
- Choose a gentle cycle with moderate spin speed.
- Follow the temperature on the label – for most cotton and linen garments with bone buttons, up to 40 °C is a sensible choice.
- A mild detergent – without chlorine bleach and without strong acidic stain removers.
- Rinse at a similar temperature – avoid a sudden switch from hot to ice-cold water.
- Do not leave the garment to soak and take it out immediately after the cycle.
- Dry in the air, without a tumble dryer on a high setting.
Hand washing
For knitwear and delicate fabrics, hand washing in lukewarm water is the gentlest. Do not scrub the buttons with an abrasive brush and do not leave them under water longer than necessary.
Dry cleaning
Bone buttons usually withstand the professional dry cleaning of coats and jackets. There are risks with dyed buttons and colour-filled engravings, where the solvent can affect the dye. Practical tips:
- for expensive styles, test a sample in the real cleaning process;
- if in doubt, ask the dry cleaner to protect the buttons with foil or remove them temporarily;
- put the dry-cleaning symbol on the label according to the test.
Ironing and pressing
When ironing, go around the buttons. It helps to place the garment face down on a soft towel, so the buttons sink in and the iron glides smoothly. For industrial pressing of coats and jackets, use pads or bucks that do not press directly on the button – the hot plate can leave a dull mark on polished bone.
Why cracks appear
| Cause | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Prolonged soaking | washing without pre-soaking |
| Hot water and tumble dryer | moderate temperature and air drying |
| Knocks in the drum | buttons fastened, garment inside out |
| Thread pulled too tight | sewing on with a thread shank, suitable thread |
| Narrow rim around the holes | choosing a style with enough material around the holes |
| Aggressive detergents | mild, chlorine-free detergent |
Care symbols on the label
If you produce garments with bone buttons, the care instructions must take into account both the fabric and the accessories. The symbols are standardised in ISO 3758 and are placed on a care and composition label. An example set for a wool coat with bone buttons:
- a crossed-out washtub or a wool programme at a low temperature;
- a crossed-out triangle – no bleach;
- a crossed-out square with a circle – no tumble drying;
- an iron with one or two dots;
- a circle with the letter P – professional dry cleaning.
Under Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011, for textile products with non-textile parts of animal origin, such as bone buttons, the label must also state this.
Dyed and scorched buttons
With dyed bone buttons, the main risk is colour bleeding onto light fabrics in the first few washes. That is why, for styles with dark buttons on light fabric, you must test the sample. Scorched buttons are more stable, because the effect is achieved with heat rather than dye, but they should also be tested with aggressive detergents.
Sample tests before series production
For a brand, the surest way to avoid complaints is to test a finished garment, not just the button. Sew the buttons onto a sample of the real fabric and put it through the procedure you will state on the label – for example five wash cycles at 30 or 40 °C or one dry cleaning. Then check:
- whether there are cracks around the holes or along the rim;
- whether the lustre of the polished surface has changed;
- whether dye has transferred onto the fabric;
- whether the contrast of the engraved logo has been retained;
- whether the thread holds firmly, without fraying.
Record the result in the technical file – it is the basis for the care instructions and for future orders.
How to refresh the buttons
If after years the polished bone has lost its shine, the wearer can wipe it with a damp cloth and apply a thin layer of colourless wax, then polish with a soft cloth. Bleach and abrasive pastes are not recommended.
Browse the styles in the bone buttons category. Similar care rules apply to horn buttons.
Advice and samples from Polkom
Polkom is a Sofia-based manufacturer of accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags. We help brands choose the right button finish for the way the garment will be cared for, produce care and composition labels with care symbols and make samples for testing. Send an inquiry via the contact form.
