How to properly care for fabrics? This question cannot be answered in a general way, because it obviously depends on the type of material in question. Undoubtedly, for this reason, it is worth getting to know the appropriate specifications and rules for caring for our clothing. Today I will share a few tricks on how to care for clothes so that they retain their quality for longer. To start, I can say that materials of natural origin require special treatment, such as: silk, wool, or linen. In this post, you will also learn the applicable care rules for viscose, micromodal, and tencel fibers. Enjoy the read!
1. Washing
The process that can damage your clothes the fastest is washing, because an incorrect temperature or excessive spinning can result in a drastically different look for the garment (shrunken trousers, stretched sweater – perhaps you have encountered these unpleasant situations before). It is therefore important to follow the instructions presented in the form of pictograms on the label, usually sewn into the side seam. Below is a short, concise summary.
We wash at 30 degrees Celsius:
- viscose,
- modal,
- tencel (lyocell),
- acrylic,
- alpaca (unless the label explicitly recommends hand washing),
- wool (in this case, you must check the label every time - sometimes 30 degrees, sometimes hand wash only).
We wash at 40 degrees:
- cotton,
- polyester,
- linen.
We wash at 60 degrees:
- towels,
- dishcloths,
- heavily soiled clothes.
We hand wash:
- cashmere,
- lace lingerie.
We dry clean:
- silk (sometimes it can be hand-washed, but this all depends on the recommendations directly on the label due to the type of material production, though in most cases it is dry cleaned),
- wool fabric (suits, skirt suits),
- jackets,
- coats,
- formal dresses.
Spinning:
For very delicate materials and wool knits, it is best to skip spinning or set it as low as possible in favor of pressing the moisture out into a towel. Important: viscose must be spun at low speeds because it often shrinks.
Laundry detergents:
Currently, we have a wide range of different laundry products on the market. It is worth looking into this topic, as they can prevent the side effects of washing, such as color fading.
2. Drying
Drying in a tumble dryer obviously saves a lot of time, unfortunately not all clothes can be treated this way, so it is best to check what solution the manufacturer recommends on the label. Some materials, such as wool knitwear, should be dried flat so as not to stretch, and it is also essential to press them out with a towel/cloth - do not wring them out, because the fibers may stretch. Materials with saturated colors should not be dried in the sun, due to the risk of fading.
3. Ironing
The correct iron temperature also affects the quality of our clothes; individual temperatures correspond to the dots on the temperature dial. Use the lowest temperature for synthetic and artificial materials (micromodal, lyocell, viscose). Iron clothes inside out to avoid making the fabric shiny.
4. Storage
The way we hang or arrange clothes in the closet also affects the shape and aesthetic appearance of the garment. The best way to avoid creases is to store clothes in a hanging position. However, we have an exception here in the form of sweaters, which could stretch, so we fold them. As for hangers, wooden ones, which are more durable than plastic ones, will work best. Jackets and coats should hang on wide-shouldered hangers to avoid distorting the shoulders. Store bras laid out; the cups should not be tucked into each other.
As you can see, the durability of a garment is influenced by many factors, starting from washing to proper storage. However, I think every well-cared-for piece of clothing will reward you for this effort with its aesthetic appearance. If you have any questions about clothing care, leave a comment under this article!
Anna Ochman Stylist
