I’m sure you know that certain types of clothing require different care instructions. But do you know the difference between spandex hand wash, wool, silk warm-cool hand wash, polyester cold wash, cotton hot water wash, and linen? What about acetate? Do you know how to handle these clothes in a way that will preserve their quality for years to come? This article will teach you all about the different types of clothing care instructions and help ensure your wardrobe stays looking sharp!
Spandex Hand Wash
One versatile fiber is spandex, a synthetic compound added to many fabric types for stretch and comfort. Clothing made with spandex often fits and feels better. Machine- and hand washing spandex won’t ruin the fabric but avoid hot water or chlorine bleach for better results. When caring for clothing that is spandex material, both hot and cold water can result in damage. Spandex garments should be hung to dry and not machine dried. It is always advised to cloth manufacturer that they should use care labels for clothing material such as spandex.
In general, spandex-blends fabrics should not be dried in the dryer. If you need to iron your clothing after washing it, press the item with a warm iron.
Wool
In its natural state, wool is washable, but many wool garments incorporate design elements that cannot be washed. Dry-clean any wool garment with a washing instruction label where it is required. Washable clothes should be washed in a gentle detergent and hand washed or machine-washed according to the tag instructions—Wash wool fibers in lukewarm water. Use cold water to rinse only when necessary; otherwise, wool could shrink or be felt, hence, more often than not the clothing manufacturing industry focuses on using proper care labels for clothing.
Lightweight Wool Items: Machine washing is not recommended for light wool garments because it will shorten their lifespan dramatically. To wash such clothes by hand, use lukewarm (not hot) water mixed with a mild soap designed for delicate fabrics to clean these types of clothing; rinse them thoroughly in cool, clear water before hanging up to dry them as usual if you want any curling effect from the fibers when complete.
Silk Warm Cool Hand Wash
This natural fiber is among the world’s oldest clothing materials. It is soft, strong, and lustrous, a material that can be worn on its own or woven together with other fibers. While silk fabric itself is easy to wash, many weave patterns will shrink or pucker if washed. Deep dye tones are not color-fast.
Pay attention to the care instructions for your clothes. Dry clean only is a term used to describe clothing items that do not successfully survive washing in water. Washable silk garments should be hand washed to maintain the softness of the fabric. Use soap and water or a delicate fabric shampoo formulated for such wear, and wash out any suds with tepid water. Mild baby shampoo is perfect for hand-washable silk fabrics. When spandex is handwashed, the natural protein in it will be cleaned, revitalizing the fiber.
Wash silk clothing only in a handwashing cycle, never through a dryer. Instead, gently squeeze any excess moisture from the item by rolling it in a towel before laying it flat to dry. To press silk clothes, use a warm iron.
Polyester Cold Wash
Polyester is a relatively recent man-made fabric that makes up most of the clothing in today’s typical wardrobe. Washing polyester fabric in warm water is risky. Check care labels first to avoid making an expensive mistake.
Give polyester garments a tumble dry on low heat. Hang the garment in an unused area at low humidity (a bathroom or utility room) to allow it to dry completely before wearing. Keep the doors and windows closed and use a fan if needed. Why? Avoiding wrinkles is good, but with a static build-up, you could be left snagging your clothes on every door handle you come across. “Never iron polyester– the heat will damage it.
Cotton Hot Water Wash
In warm, humid climates and in chilly northern winters, cotton is a clothing fabric that’s hard to beat. Cotton, a natural fiber that can range from casual to fancy, is found in garments as various as T-shirts and ball gowns.
Depending on the fiber, cotton clothing may shrink when washed. Read the care label to know if your washing machine will be able to process it. “Coldwater only” may indicate to the wearer that their cotton trousers will turn into shorts if not properly washed.
Shrink-less cotton can be washed in hot, warm, or cold water for the color of your garment and care label instructions.
Add chlorine bleach to your white cotton loads to remove stains, or consult a non-chlorine bleach designed for color clothing. For jeans that still maintain their new-look deep color, cold-water washing is recommended. As for Hawaiian shirts–bright colors in particular–cold water will also keep them from fading away.
Towel-drying and air drying cotton clothes will help reduce shrinkage; dry your cotton clothes at a low heat setting and remove them from the dryer while they’re still somewhat damp.
Conclusion
We hope we’ve been able to provide you with a complete guide to the different types of care instructions for clothing. Keep in mind that these are just guidelines, and there is always some flexibility when it comes to caring for your clothes, depending on how often they’re worn or what type of fabric they are made out of.
