Your clothing is an investment. From cotton to silk, the fabrics in your wardrobe needs specific care. With these fabric care tips for washing, drying, and treating stains, you can keep your clothes look fabulous. Knowing how to properly care for different types of fabric in your wardrobe can help keep clothing looking its best and lengthen its life.
Common Fabrics & Their Care:
- Acetate: As most items are made of acetate are dry clean, while some can be hand washed in lukewarm water. Do not twist the fabric. Iron while the fabric is damp. Press the inside of the garment using a low-temperature setting.
- Acrylic knit: Most acrylic knit garments can be machine washed. You should read the label and check for the proper dying option. Some knits retained their shapes best if reshaped and dried flat.
- Cotton: Cotton holds up well to home laundering. Remove the garment from the dryer promptly to reduce wrinkling. Press using spray starch for the crispness of a laundered shirt.
- Linen: Linen garments mostly needs to be dry cleaned or hand washed. You should always follow the instructions of the care label.
- Nylon: Machine-wash nylon garments in warm water. You should always use a low-temperature setting when tumble-drying and include a dryer sheet to reduce static electricity. Use a warm iron to press if necessary.
- Silk: Silk requires dry cleaning. Some silks are hand or machine washable. Do not dry silk in a clothes dryer. Garments usually look best when professionally dry cleaned.
- Spandex: You should use warm water when hand or machine-washing items are made with spandex. Line dry or use a low-temperature setting when machine drying to preserve the elasticity of the garment.
- Wool knit: Typically wool knits need to be dry cleaned but check the label. If hand-washed, use cold water and a detergent for washables. Squeeze out excess water, then reshape and dry flat.
- Wool (Lined): Lined garments looks best when they are professionally dry cleaned at least once a season. Between dry cleanings, remove surface soil with a brush or with a damp cloth. You can refresh the item by hanging it from a padded hanger in a steamy bathroom; moisture will help garment shed wrinkles.
- Cotton Blend: Dry cotton-blend garments which use dryer’s permanent press or low heat cycle, to reduce wrinkling.
- Rayon: Make sure that you read the care label for rayon clothing. Launder rayon in cool water and mild detergent. When you are washing it in a machine, use the gentle cycle and promptly remove garments after washing. When you are hand washing, make sure you do not twist or wring the garment. To dry, roll the item in a towel to squeeze out excess water. Lay flat to dry. Iron when still damp and with the garment inside out to prevent the fabric from becoming shiny.
Thus, these are some of the care tips to be taken into consideration for a particular set of fabrics and garments.
