The first key step when washing anything is to check the washing instruction symbols on the garment care tag. Then familiarise yourself with the washing machine symbols, making sure that the washing machine is set to the right cycle and temperature.
Selecting the right detergent for the fabric you are washing is important.
Wool can be both warm and cool depending on how it's constructed and from which animal it comes from. Cashmere is one of the softest yarns while mohair fibres have a rougher feel. Wool absorbs moisture well, retaining 30% of its weight before feeling damp.
Wool will shrink at high temperature - check the label before you put it in the machine. Cashmere and similar delicate knits should be hand washed in a gentle detergent such as Woolite. Wool garments will lose their shape if hung on a line to dry so they are better aired flat, and away from artificial heat.
Keep moths away by storing your woollen garments with cedar blocks. Knits should be stored folded not hung on hangers. When possible iron woollens on the reverse side.
Cotton is the principal clothing fibre in the world and it's cool and comfortable qualities means it can be worn by anyone. Cotton allows the skin to breath making it the perfect summer fabric. Cotton can be made into durable fabrics such as denim and canvas which resists wear and tear making at suitable for workwear.
Cotton will shrink at high temperatures but irons well. Polyester/cotton mixes help to give the fibre resistance to wrinkles and creasing. Judicious use of chlorine bleach will help to restore white cotton.
Washing: Turn garment inside out when washing to prevent pilling on the exterior surface formed by friction against other garments. Separate dark and light colored garments to avoid colour run. Place them into laundry bags. When machine wash, temperature should not be higher than 30˚C to prevent shrinkage. Gently stretch garment to normal shape and hang dry.
Yellowing
There are 2 main reasons to the yellowing of white cotton underwear:
1. The colour of sweat if most cases is clear. When sweat reaches the surface of your body, bacteria residing on the skin surface may interact with the fats, oils and other chemicals in the sweat that produces the yellow coloration, resulting in sweat stains.
2. It is a common practice by many to add bleaching agents to the wash, and a lot of the bleaching agents in the market contains chlorine. It is the chlorine element in the agents that causes the yellowing of your clothes.
Tips:
1. Change your underwear every day to prevent sweat from staying on the garment for too long.
2. Use oxygen-based bleaching agents can reduce the likelihood of your white cotton turning yellow.
Shrinkage: After washing, structure of cotton fiber will change, leading to shrinkage. The size of clothing is slightly shortened or reduced, which is a common phenomenon.
The strongest of the vegetable fibres, linen has 2-3 times the strength of cotton. Popular for centuries as tablewear, linen suits and shirts have become the staple of many summer wardrobes.
Linen can be easily dyed and the colour does not fade when washed. Linen should always be washed by hand at cool temperatures or dry cleaned - although machine washable linen is becoming more readily available - and although it wrinkles easily it irons well.
Silk is one of the oldest textile fibres known to man and has been used by the Chinese since the 27th century BC. Silk is considered a luxurious fabric associated with wealth and status although it appears on the high street as much as the catwalk these days.
Silk fabrics can be hand washed if is a pre-washed silk - check the label - but this should be done in lukewarm water with a gentle detergent such as Stergene. Do not wring but instead roll the garment in a towel to absorb excess moisture. Silk will dry quickly but let it do so naturally. Steam iron carefully using a cloth.
If your silk garment clings to your body when worn try putting a drop of a good quality hair conditioner in your final rinse water.
Acrylic is man made fine soft and luxurious fabric with the bulk and hand of wool. Light weight and springy, this fabric is non-allergenic, dries quickly, draws moisture away from the body.
* May be machine washed or dry cleaned.
* When machine washing, use warm water setting and add a fabric softener during the final rinse cycle.
* Machine dry at low temperature. Remove from dryer as soon as garments are dry.
* Wash delicate items by hand in warm water.
* Static electricity can be reduced by using fabric softener in every third or fourth washing
* Gently squeeze out water, smooth or shake out garment and let dry on a non-rust hanger.
* Sweaters and circular knits should be dried flat.
* If ironing is required, use moderately warm iron.
Is a r synthetic material used to make cool-weather clothing
* Machine wash warm and remove quickly to avoid matting.
* Hang to dry; do not use dryer.
Since 1940, Nylon became one of the most versatile fibers of the man-made fabrics. In addition to hosiery, nylon is used in tricot, netting for bridal veils. Nylon is stronger yet weighs less than any other commonly used fiber. It is elastic and resilient and responsive to heat setting. Nylon fibers are smooth, non-absorbent and dry quickly. Dirt doesn’t cling to this smooth fiber nor is it weakened by chemicals and perspiration.
* Most items made from nylon can be machined washed and tumbled dried at low temperatures.
* Use warm water and add a fabric softener to the final rinse cycle.
* To minimize static electricity use a dryer sheet when machine drying.
* Remove articles from the dryer as soon as the tumbling cycle is completed.
* If ironing is required, use a warm iron.
is a strong man made fiber that is resistant to crease and thus keeps it shape. Blends of polyester with cotton gives a permanent press property and extend the wear of the garment. You can't go wrong with clothing that is made of polyester and blended with rayon-viscose or spandex. It's the polyester component in a garment that will give it it's pristine drape and crease-free finish. Natural fibers do not possess this incredibly appealing attribute. Polyester is hydrophobic in nature and quick drying.
* Most items made from polyester can be machine washed and dried.
* Use warm water and add a fabric softener to the final rinse cycle.
* Machine dry at low temperature setting and remove articles as soon as the tumbling cycle is complete.
* If ironing is needed, use a moderately warm iron.
* Most items made from polyester can be dry-cleaned.
from cellulose, has many of the qualities of cotton, a natural cellulose fiber. Rayon is strong, extremely absorbent, comes in a variety of qualities and weights, and can be made to resemble natural fabrics. Rayon does not melt but burns at high temperatures. Rayon drapes well, and has a soft, silky feel. Rayon will wrinkle easily and may stretch when wet and shrink when washed.
* Use mild lukewarm or cool suds. Gently squeeze suds through the fabric and rinse in lukewarm water.
* Do not wring or twist the garment.
* Smooth or shake out the article and place on a non-rust hanger to dry.
* Rayon sweaters should be laid flat to dry
* Press the article while damp on the wrong side with the iron at a moderate setting.
* If finishing on the right side is required, a press cloth should be used.
* Between wearings, rayon articles may be pressed with a cool iron.
is an man made elastic type fiber that can be stretched many times its length and then spring back to the original length. Spandex is more resistant to washing, perspiration, and heat than latex. Spandex is often used in foundation garments, hosiery and polyester blend garments
* Hand or machine wash in lukewarm water.
* Never use chlorine bleach on any fabric containing Lycra.
* Either drip dry or machine dry using low temperature settings.
* If ironing is required, iron rapidly and don't leave the iron in one place too long.
* Use a low temperature setting on the iron.
Viscose is a semi-synthetic material consisting of chemically treated natural fibres. Viscose garments can be washed by hand using a gentle washing detergent. Immerse your viscose garments in the water, swirl them gently and leave them to soak for a few minutes.Remove your garments from the soapy water and rinse them carefully with warm water. Do not wring them out; but gently squeeze the excess water out. Although washing by hand is preferable, viscose garments can also be washed in your washing machine. In this case, set your washer to a gentle wash cycle, at a maximum temperature of 40°C and remove your viscose garments from your washer as soon as the cycle is finished. Never tumble dry viscose.
Store your leather garment in a well ventilated area out of the garment bag
Allow a wet or damp garment to air dry away from any heat source
Remove small stains as soon as possible with a cleaner like saddle soap
Polish with a good quality leather polish
Use professional dry cleaners for more serious stains
Vinyl Care
It is recommended that Vinyl garments be stored in a garment bag away from other clothing
Hand wash in warm water with a small amount of liquid detergent
Wash both the inside and outside of the garment, rinse thoroughly in cool water
Hang to dry inside out then turn to let Vinyl side dry
Polishing can be done with small amounts of silicone spray
Different colors of Vinyl should be washed and stored separately as dark colors can bleed onto lighter ones.
Washing: Separate dark and light colored garments to avoid discoloring from each other. Turn garments insides out and put it into laundry bag for laundering. Machine wash cold, not highter then 30˚C to keep garment from shrinking. Gently stretch cotton garments to normal shape and dry it agter washing. Do not trumble dry and dry clean. Aviod to use bleaching agents.
Ironing: Do not iron. Hang on hangers to dry after washing.
Care: Avoid using softener as it forms a coating on the surface of garments. It reduces the ventilative ability, leaving sweat evaporating from your skin instead of from the outer surface of the fabric. As the evaporation process draws energy from your body, it would leave you feeling cold. Therefore, usage of softener should be avoided.
Cashmere is a luxurious fabric that requires extra delicate care. Never place cashmere garments in the washer or dryer but wash them gently by hand in lukewarm water using a very mild detergent or shampoo. Gently work the suds through the fabric and rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Don’t wring or twist the material, as it could lose its original shape. When drying cashmere, gently squeeze the excess water out of the garment (again, do not wring or twist). Lay the garment out on a clean towel, adjusting it to its original shape, and roll the towel up like a sausage with the cashmere item in the middle. Apply pressure to the towel, and unroll, laying the item flat again on another clean dry towel to finish air-drying. Never hang your cashmere garment on a hanger, as it will lose its shape. Also be aware that some cashmere items are dry clean only. Check your care label carefully and never attempt to wash a cashmere item that is dry clean only.
Suede is a type of leather that is created from the underside of the hide. The fibres are buffed and raised to give it a velvety touch. Protection and careful cleaning are the keys to keeping suede items looking good. Spot cleaning can be done at home using a cleaner designed especially for suede rather than general leather cleaner. Suede erasers can be rubbed on the suede to loosen ground in dirt and remove some stains. If necessary, try using small amount of vinegar on a towel to clean stains out of suede, but be sure to spot-test it first. Let the item air out to remove the smell.
Polyamide fabric is commonly used to manufacture outdoor and workout clothing. It has the feel of soft cotton, yet unlike cotton, it is waterproof and breathable, which helps your body maintain a comfortable temperature and wick away moisture. Polyamide fabric is washing-machine safe, but should only be washed with cold water. Wash the polyamide fabric on a normal cold water washing machine cycle, using a bleach-free laundry detergent, alternatively, the fabric can be hand washed in cold water. Allow the fabric to air dry. Do not dry the fabric using heat, as it will shrink it.
Spandex/Lycra/Elastane
Spandex is a manmade elastic type fibre that can be stretched many times its length and then spring back to the original length. Hand or machine wash spandex items in lukewarm water. Do not use detergents that contain chlorine bleach on any fabric containing spandex as it will damage the fabric.
Always check the label to see if your velvet garment can be washed. If the velvet is cotton or silk in origin, rather than an easy-care, synthetic fabric, it is advisable to have it dry-cleaned. Cotton and silk velvets can have a tendency to dry out of shape and look ruined if washed at home. Velvet should never be machine washed but gently washed by hand using a mild soap.
Be sure to check the label for proper care instructions, including the water temperature and wash cycle to use.
Don't overload the washer. If the washer is too full, the clothes won't get enough agitation, and may not get clean. Also, all the detergent may not be dissolved, leaving globs of detergent paste on fabric.
Make sure the items are equally distributed around the tub of the washer to keep the load balanced during spinning cycles.
To minimize wrinkling when washing fabrics containing man-made fibers, wash in hot/warm water using a permanent-press cycle. If your machine does not have a permanent-press cycle, use warm/cool water.
Very important tip - Always be sure to check the pockets of all garments before washing and drying. The stains and damage which can result from one hidden lipstick, lip balm, stick of gum or crayon goes beyond words!
Use the washing and drying tips to reduce the amount of wrinkles from laundering.
Be sure you read the care label for the proper ironing procedure and temperature setting to use.
Do not iron items which are dirty or stained. Heat from the iron will set stains.
Keep the iron and the ironing board cover clean to avoid soiling the clean garments/fabric being ironed.
Garments which are drip-dry should be pressed while damp on the wrong side, using a cool iron. If finishing the right side, use a pressing cloth.
Circular knits and sweaters should be laid flat to dry.
