How to Wash and Care for a Brazilian Cotton Hammock: The Complete Guide

A good Brazilian cotton hammock, cared for properly, will outlast most furniture you will ever own. The hand-woven cotton used in traditional Brazilian hammocks is remarkably durable — the same weave techniques that have been used in the north-east of Brazil for generations produce fabric that softens beautifully with age rather than deteriorating. But "properly cared for" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. Leave a cotton hammock wet, store it badly, or machine-wash it with the wrong settings, and you can undo years of quality craftsmanship in a single afternoon. Here is everything you need to know.

Understanding What You Have

Brazilian hammocks are typically woven from mercerised cotton — a treated cotton that has a slight sheen, enhanced strength, and better dye retention than untreated cotton. The weave is usually a fine, open-mesh structure that allows airflow and gives the hammock its characteristic drape. Some hammocks use thicker cord cotton with a more visible texture; others use finer threads woven into an almost fabric-like surface. The care principles are the same across these variations, though finer weaves require a touch more care during washing.

The end bars (the spreader bars, if your hammock has them) are typically made from hardwood — often eucalyptus, bamboo, or a tropical hardwood. The hanging ropes and loops are usually braided cotton or macrame cord. Each of these components has slightly different care requirements, which is why caring for a Brazilian hammock requires a little more thought than throwing it in the machine and hoping for the best.

The Australian Context

Australian conditions are harder on hammocks than the relatively humid climate of north-east Brazil where most of these hammocks originate. In Australia, you are dealing with UV radiation that is among the most intense in the world, high humidity in coastal Queensland and northern NSW, dry heat in inland areas, and dramatic seasonal swings in many regions. A care routine that works in a temperate European climate needs adjustment for Australian use.

The key enemies of a cotton hammock in Australian conditions are, in order of damage potential: prolonged UV exposure, staying wet for extended periods, mould and mildew, salt air on coastal properties, and abrasion from rough surfaces when being moved or stored.

Day-to-Day Care: The Basics

Bring It In When Not in Use

The single most impactful thing you can do to extend the life of a Brazilian cotton hammock is to store it inside when you are not using it. This applies even in good weather. A hammock left outside full-time in direct sun will fade and weaken significantly faster than one that comes inside each evening. The UV index in Queensland and northern NSW during summer regularly hits 11 or above — that is extreme UV by any international standard, and cotton, even mercerised cotton, is not immune to UV degradation.

If you leave it outdoors, use a hammock storage bag or cover it with a light canvas tarp. Even partial UV protection makes a meaningful difference to longevity.

Never Leave It Wet

This is the rule that most people learn the hard way. Cotton fibres, when wet, are vulnerable to mould and mildew in a matter of hours in warm, humid conditions. A hammock caught in an unexpected rain shower and left overnight is not a disaster if you retrieve it the next morning and dry it properly. A hammock left wet for two or three days, particularly in Queensland summer heat, can develop permanent mildew staining and a musty odour that is very difficult to fully remove.

After rain, take the hammock down and hang it somewhere with good airflow — a veranda, a clothesline in the shade, or indoors — until it is completely dry before storing it. "Completely dry" means dry to the touch throughout the entire weave, including the thicker sections near the spreader bars, not just on the surface.

Shake It Out Regularly

Leaves, insects, dust, and general outdoor debris accumulate in the weave of a hammock faster than you might expect. A quick shake and brush-down every few uses prevents this buildup from becoming embedded in the fibres. A soft-bristled brush (a clean dustpan brush or a natural-fibre scrubbing brush) works well for any dried debris that clings after shaking.

How to Wash a Brazilian Hammock

Brazilian cotton hammocks should be washed, but not too often. Over-washing weakens cotton fibres and can cause the weave to distort over time. For most Australian households using their hammock regularly outdoors, washing two to four times per year is appropriate — more often if the hammock has been heavily used, is in a coastal environment, or has visible staining.

Hand Washing: The Preferred Method

Hand washing is the gentlest option and is recommended for finely woven or heavily fringed hammocks. Fill a large bucket, laundry tub, or bathtub with cool to lukewarm water (never hot — heat can cause cotton to shrink and colours to bleed). Add a small amount of mild liquid detergent — something designed for delicates or wool, or a gentle natural soap. Avoid enzyme-based detergents, which can break down cotton fibres over time.

Submerge the hammock and work the soapy water through the weave with your hands, gently squeezing rather than scrubbing. Pay attention to the sections near the spreader bars and the end loops, which tend to accumulate the most grime. Let the hammock soak for ten to fifteen minutes, then drain and rinse thoroughly with clean cool water until no soap remains. Remaining detergent residue can attract dirt and cause the cotton to feel stiff and rough.

Machine Washing: When It Is Acceptable

Machine washing is acceptable for sturdier, cord-woven Brazilian hammocks without wooden spreader bars. If your hammock has wooden spreader bars, remove them before washing if possible, or hand wash only — prolonged soaking damages wood and the hardware connecting the bars to the hammock.

Place the hammock in a large mesh laundry bag to prevent the fringe and hanging loops from tangling around the drum. Use the delicate or gentle cycle with cold water. Use a small amount of mild liquid detergent — not powder, which can get trapped in the weave. Do not use fabric softener, which coats cotton fibres and reduces their natural breathability over time.

Never use a spin cycle above 400 RPM on a cotton hammock. High-speed spinning can distort the weave and stress the end loops significantly.

Dealing with Stains

Sunscreen, food, bird droppings, and mildew are the most common stains on Australian outdoor hammocks. For most organic stains, a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water applied directly to the stain, left for thirty minutes, and then rinsed away before washing works well. For stubborn mildew staining, a diluted white vinegar solution (one part vinegar, four parts water) applied to the stained area and left in the sun for an hour before washing can help significantly. Avoid bleach on coloured hammocks — it will strip the colour and can weaken cotton fibres in high concentrations.

Drying Your Hammock

Drying is where most hammock care goes wrong. The goal is complete, even drying in the shortest reasonable time — without using heat or extended direct UV exposure.

Do not put a cotton hammock in a clothes dryer. The combination of heat and mechanical tumbling will shrink the cotton, weaken the fibres, and can damage the fringe and end loops. Air drying is always the right approach.

Hang the hammock over a clothesline, fence, or railing so that as much surface area as possible is exposed to airflow. Outdoors in the shade is ideal on a breezy day — you get good airflow without UV damage. Avoid laying the hammock flat to dry, which prevents the interior of the weave from drying and encourages mildew.

In coastal areas, rinse the hammock with fresh water first to remove any salt accumulation before drying. Salt left in cotton fibres accelerates degradation and gives the fabric a rougher texture over time.

Wait until the hammock is completely dry — especially in the thick sections and end loops — before storing it. In Queensland summer, this typically takes three to five hours in good airflow. In humid or overcast conditions, allow longer.

Storage: The Most Overlooked Step

How you store your hammock between uses matters nearly as much as how you wash it. A cotton hammock that is stored correctly in a breathable bag or basket can last fifteen to twenty years. One stored in a plastic bag while slightly damp, in a hot garage, can develop mildew damage in a single season.

The ideal storage conditions are: cool, dry, with some airflow, out of direct light. A cotton or canvas storage bag is better than a plastic bag, which traps moisture. Many Brazilian hammocks come with a cotton carry bag — use it. If yours did not, a pillowcase works well for shorter-term storage.

For seasonal storage (if you are putting the hammock away for winter), add a sachet of cedar or lavender to the bag to deter insects. Check the hammock every few weeks during storage to make sure no moisture has accumulated, particularly in climates where humidity varies significantly.

Caring for Wooden Spreader Bars

If your Brazilian hammock has wooden spreader bars, they need occasional attention of their own. Inspect them seasonally for cracks, splitting, or signs of rot. Wipe them down with a dry cloth to remove any dust or debris. Once or twice a year, apply a light coat of natural wood oil — tung oil, Danish oil, or a food-safe oil like linseed — to nourish the wood and prevent it from drying out and cracking in Australian conditions. Apply with a cloth, allow to absorb for twenty minutes, then wipe away any excess.

Avoid getting oil on the cotton weave, as it can stain and attract grime. If oil does get onto the fabric, address it immediately with a small amount of dish soap and cool water before it sets.

Signs It Is Time to Retire Your Hammock

With good care, a quality Brazilian cotton hammock will last many years. But there are signs that it is time to retire it: fraying or broken strands in the main weave that have not been repaired; significant UV bleaching that has weakened the fibres (test by pulling a small section gently — if the cotton tears more easily than it should, UV degradation has set in); persistent mildew odour that does not respond to treatment; or damaged or cracked spreader bars that cannot be replaced.

A hammock that has been well cared for rarely reaches this point quickly. The stories of Brazilian hammocks passed down through families — used by grandparents, then parents, then children — are not exaggerations. They are the result of the consistent, simple practices described above: bring it in, keep it dry, wash it gently, store it well.

The Short Version

Care for your Brazilian cotton hammock the way you would care for any quality natural textile: protect it from prolonged UV exposure, never store it wet, wash it gently a few times a year with mild detergent, dry it completely in the shade with good airflow, and store it in a breathable bag in a cool dry place. Do these things consistently and your hammock will be one of the longest-lasting and most enjoyed things in your home.