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Dryclean Tips : |
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| 1 |
The care label on a sweater indicates it is hand washable. Can I
wash it in a machine on a delicate cycle?
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How should I clean my rayon garments?
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Does frequent dry cleaning shorten the life of a garment?
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How can I stop dark clothes from fading when I wash them?
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How can I remove burnt starch residue from an iron?
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Is there any way to determine how much a garment will shrink?
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| 7 |
What can be done to minimize pilling?
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| 8 |
Are fabric softeners always OK to use?
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| 9 |
Why do some designers and manufacturers use blended fibers?
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| 10 |
What are enzyme cleaners?
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| 11 |
How can I keep my whites white and the bright colors bright?
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The
care label on a sweater indicates it is hand washable.
Can I wash it in a machine on a delicate cycle?
There is some risk involved in using any care process not recommended by the
manufacturer. Hand washing involves manual removal of soils with water,
detergent, and a gentle squeezing action. A care label that calls for machine
washing, in a delicate or gentle cycle, indicates the soil can be removed with
water, detergent or soap, slow agitation, and reduced time in a washing
machine.
Hand washing is a restrictive care process that minimizes the
amount of abrasion a garment receives in cleaning. If hand-washable garments
are machine washed in a gentle cycle, agitation may be further minimized by
putting the item in a net bag. Even this procedure is in violation of the care
label instruction, however, and places responsibility for damages on the
launderer rather than the manufacturer.
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How
should I clean my rayon garments?
First we must remember that rayon is a manufactured fiber composed of
regenerated cellulose derived from wood pulp or cotton linters. It is absorbent
and comfortable to wear. There are different forms of the fiber know as rayon,
viscose, cuprammonium, high-wet modulus and lyocel sold as Tencel.
With the exception of lyocel, rayon is very sensitive to water. Many dyes
applied to rayon are not colorfast and will bleed or migrate upon contact with
moisture. In addition, manufacturers often add sizing to rayon in order to
achieve a desired body or drape. Some sizings are water-soluble, and washing
will distort the shape of the garment. dry cleaning is recommended for most
rayon garments. Although substantially similar in chemical composition to
rayon, lyocel can be either dry-cleaned or washed. However, when caring for
garments made of lyocel it is important to follow the care instructions
carefully. If a garment made of lyocel is washed when should have been
dry-cleaned, it may result in excessive shrinkage and a wrinkled appearance.
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Does
frequent dry cleaning shorten the life of a garment?
On the contrary, frequent cleaning prolongs the life of a garment. Not only do
stains set with age, making the garment unwearable, but ground-in dirt and soil
act as an abrasive, like sandpaper, causing rapid wear of fibers. Also, insects
are attracted to soiled clothes and will cause further damage
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How
can I stop dark clothes from fading when I wash them?
You may be able to extend the look of the blacks and brightly colored garments
by the following
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Use Woolite® Dark Laundry fabric wash, which is made to minimize fading of dark
colors.
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If only mildly dirty, wash in small washer load, or wash separately on
delicate, or hand wash.
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Turn the garments inside out to wash. This reduces the amount of abrasion the
clothes experience during washing.
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Use mild detergent and avoid using too much detergent. Harsh detergents are
hard on dyes.
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Do not leave in the dryer too long. Take out when still slightly damp. The heat
in the dryer ages fabrics.
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Dyes are also affected by sunlight, and from abrasive wear.
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How can I remove burnt starch
residue from an iron?
Try heating equal parts of vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub the solution on
a cool iron, and wipe dry.
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Is there
any way to determine how much a garment will shrink?
Any fabric can be expected to shrink about 1 to 3 percent, even dry clean only
garments. Manufactured fibers will shrink the least, and natural fibers the
most. The shrinkage of natural fibers is often controlled during the
manufacturing process, by washing and preshrinking the fabric before it is made
into a garment.
Natural fibers which are not preshrunk, and some manufactured
fibers such as rayon and acetate (both of which are made using natural plant
matter as part of their ingredients) can shrink significantly...even several
sizes.
Always read the care label before buying a garment.
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What
can be done to minimize pilling?
Pilling of a fabric occurs when groups of short or broken fibers on the surface
of the fabric become tangled together in a tiny ball called a pill. Pilling
results from rubbing (abrasion) of the fabric during normal wear and use. While
pilling cannot be eliminated it can be minimized by proper handling during
washing of the fabric/garment. Before laundering, turn the garment inside and
out. Use a slower agitation and a shorter wash cycle. And, remove the garment
from the dryer as soon as it is dry.
To remove any pills on fabric, pull the fabric taut over a
curved surface and carefully cut off the pill with scissors or shave the fabric
surface with a safety razor. There are also battery operated pill removers,
which shave the pills much like an electric razor.
However, it's important to understand that once you remove the
pills, they can come back. So you may find that you'll have to remove pills
from time to time to keep your garment looking fresh and new.
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Are
fabric softeners always OK to use?
Take a walk through a display
of high tech apparel and you´ll find a number
of care labels that say "no fabric softeners."
Many high performance fabrics and finishes, including
microfibers, allow the fabric to breathe and transport
moisture away from the skin to the outer surface of
the fabric, where it can evaporate. This keeps the wearer
dry and comfortable. The "fatty" material
in a fabric softener attaches directly to the fabric
and makes the fabric feel softer. However, fabric softeners
can buildup over time, and can reduce the ability of
the fabric to manage moisture and breathe.
Frequent use
of fabric softeners can also reduce the absorbency of
cotton towels. The web site of Cotton Inc. provides
the following tip for consumers: "Use fabric softeners
occasionally. Overuse will cause your towels to stiffen
and become less absorbent."
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Why
do some designers and manufacturers use blended fibers?
Blending of fibers is done to enhance the performance and improve the aesthetic
qualities of fabric. Fibers are selected and blended in certain proportions so
the fabric will retain the best characteristics of each fiber. Blending can be
done with natural and man-made fibers, but is usually done with various
combinations of man-made fibers or man-made and natural fibers. For example,
when polyester is blended with wool, the fabric retains the beautiful drape and
feel of 100% wool, and the polyester adds durability. In some blends the
polyester even makes the fabric machine washable.
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What
are enzyme cleaners?
Enzymes are a type of protein found in living matter. Used in laundry products,
they have the ability to breakdown protein type stains, such as blood, meat
juice, dairy products, baby formula, and vegetable proteins. Enzymes contain
amylase (for starch), protease (for protein), and lipase (for fats).
Be sure to check detergent ingredients, because some do contain
enzymes. Enzyme presoak products include Axion and Biz Bleach.
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How
can I keep my whites white and the bright colors bright?
There are several reasons why clothes loose their brightness. Common reasons
include the use of too much/too little detergent, use of too large of washer
loads, inadequate rinsing, and using the wrong water temperature. Read the
detergent package for the correct amount of detergent for your type of washer.
If the washer is too full, there's more rubbing/abrasion on the
clothes, which dulls the fabric/colors. So, don't overload ,and use the right
amount of water for the load. Regarding the temperature, follow the care
instructions on the garment label. Periodic use of appropriate fabric bleach
(all fabric or chlorine, as appropriate) and/or laundry boasters will help keep
clothes bright. Sometimes changing detergents may help.
Many clothes have optical brighteners or fluorescent whitening
agents (FWAs) applied, which help brighten colors. Unfortunately, if the FWA
are damaged by sunlight, bleach, or simply age, there is nothing you can do.
Prolong your garments by sending them to Sunny-Brite from the
start!
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