Fabric prevails supreme in the hearts of all the fashion fanatics. Be it your favorite pair of bedcovers or exclusive apparels; be it timeworn or newfound, every fabric has a unique sense of worth and charm. In the hustle and bustle of life, taking care of fabrics is no less than a trouble! But worry not, a little attention and expert advice will be plenty to keep your fabrics hale and hearty.
The gloomy fabric care story starts at the weekend, where we find ourselves struggling with that stack of unclean clothes, which usually end up getting shoved in some nook or corner of our wardrobe. Some rest on the bedroom chair for days, while some get tossed in the washing machine; some are driven to the dry cleaner’s while some get lucky with a hand-wash. Yes, we get them cleaned somehow. But “somehow” isn’t enough! We need to clean them right! So to be up to speed on what fabric is handled how, leaf through our complete fabric care guide to give your fabrics the life they deserve.
Fabrics by Material
Cotton
Cotton is one of the most soothing fabrics when it comes to wear and care. Even after being washed time and again, this soft and breezy fabric will never disappoint you. Easily machine washed, this fabric is a synonym for comfort.
Fab Tips
- Treat the mulish stains with a spot-wash technique beforehand (Gently rub the stained area with a wet cloth soaked in a mild soap)
- Use oxygenated bleach and let your fabric breathe after every wash
- Wash colored clothes inside-out
- Titled with a shrinking limitation, don’t dry cotton under direct sun
- If you want to get rid of the wrinkles in a snap, iron the fabric in a moist state
However, some of the cotton blends like Jute, Jacquard and Kota Doria might need some special care.
Crafted with coarse and organic fibers, gently rinse the Jute fabrics in cold water using a soft liquid cleansing agent, exposing it to a minimal sunlight. In case the fabric bears intractable stains, then dry cleaning is the only choice you have.
Brush off the dirt from Jacquard fabrics with a horsehair brush before immersing them in cold water. In case of stains, apply the spot-wash technique.
Woolen
The moment we swing into spring, dumping those woolens in the dark wardrobe corners seems a very convenient task! With no routine washing hassles, brushing along the length or exposing your woolens to fresh air is the best way to keep them in fine fettle. With dry cleaning being the top seed, daily woolens can be easily hand-washed.
Fab Tips
- Gently soak the fabric in lukewarm water and use a winter-specific detergent only
- Having stretchable traits, don’t drip-dry your woolens, instead
- Spread them across a flat surface and let them dry in room temperature or low sunlight
- Always use a steam-heat iron for the perfect shine and crease
- Always store your woolens in sealed bags or tight-fitting lid trunks
- To avoid smelling like Naphthalene next winters, hang a pouch of mothballs in the corner of the trunks, rather than spilling them over the clothes
Silk
With a lustrous and delicate feel, silk is one fabric that takes an exclusive spot in every fashionista’s wardrobe. Having an air of class and richness about it, this fabric should be handled with extra care. With dry cleaning being the best choice for rich colored silk fabrics, special washing techniques can be a money-saver for you.
Fab Tips
- Soak the silk fabric in a bucket filled with lukewarm water and a mild detergent
- After five minutes, gently rinse the fabric in cold water
- Add a teaspoon of vinegar to get rid of the gumminess
- For drying, wrap it in a towel and press to get rid of excess water
- Iron it inside-out at a very low temperature
- In case of obstinate stains, stick to professional cleaning services only
With silk having a pool of infinite varieties, each kind has its own maintenance outline, such as follows:
Mashru Silk - Crafted with a dominance of silk and few cotton yarns, the silky shine on the outside and a soft cotton touch on the inside makes this fabric demand extra care. The fabric should be dry-cleaned only.
Modal Silk - The softness and satin like shine makes this fabric unique in its own way. Having highly lustrous and extremely light weighing qualities, Modal silk should be dry-cleaned only.
In case you want to try your hands on cleaning Chanderi then follow these easy steps:
- Use a mild detergent and dip the fabric in cold water
- Avoid rubbing the fabric rigorously, instead rinse it gently
- Dry the fabric inside out in oblique sunlight (Direct heat can lead to color fading)
- Iron it inside-out and store it with no pressure on the top
- Due to its light weight, these fabrics are delicate and should not be weighed down with other clothes
Synthetic blends
The artificial fibers used in crafting synthetic fabrics make it compatible with an easy care. Be it hand-wash or machine, these fabrics holds a great strength and shine for a long period of time.
Fab Tips
- Wash these fabrics in cold water only
- Watch out for Dark colors, they bleed a little in the first few washes
- Drying these in a dryer can put you in trouble (since they are sensitive to heat, keep them away from high temperature)
- When ironing, always place a moist cloth between the iron and the fabric to get a fine crease and smooth shine
However, fabrics like Chiffon and Georgette need special care. Because of their thin and translucent textures, these fabrics should be carefully washed so as to avoid any kind of color bleeding or damage.
- Open to both options of hand-wash and machine wash
- Gently dip these fabrics in lukewarm water and use a mild detergent
- To avoid any kind of color bleeding, wash the dark colored fabrics separately
- Once thoroughly soaked in soap water, rinse it beneath gushing water
- Because of water absorbent attributes, dry them with a bathing towel and press out the excess water
- Drying them in shade will help resist the natural colors of the fabric
We hope you find the first chapter of our fabric care guide helpful. Stay tuned for more tips on fabric care…
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