1. WOOL: With proper care, the natural qualities of wool can be maintained for years. If you give wool clothing a 24-hour rest between wearing it, will shed wrinkles and return to its original shape. Hang woven wool garments on shaped or padded hangers. Store knits gently folded in drawers. Brush wool clothing to remove surface oil. Use a damp sponge for knits and finer fabrics. Refresh wool garments immediately after wearing or unpacking by hanging them in a steamy bathroom. Moisture from the steam removes wrinkles. If wool gets wet, dry the garment at room temperature away from heat. If there's a nap, brush with the nap. Remove spots and stains promptly.
2. HEMP: Hemp has been used in the making of clothing, rope and canvas fabrics for centuries. Before the Industrial Revolution, most textiles worn throughout the world were made using hemp. Fabrics made from hemp are traditionally stronger, more durable and more insulating and absorbent than many other materials available. On average, hemp fibres last three times longer than cotton. Traditionally, a coarser fibre was used to make canvas and rope; advances in breeding the plant have resulted in a much softer and finer fabric ideal for weaving into cloth for clothing. Never use bleach on hemp fabrics and avoid detergents containing Optical Brightening Agents (OBA's). Recommended water temperature of 120 degrees F. is fine for most colour-fast or undyed hemp fabrics. Tumble dry.
3. COTTON: Cotton is probably one of the most common fabrics you're likely to have in your home. Cotton is a natural fibre and is used in a wide variety of clothing and home furnishings. Cotton is easily washed and/or dry cleaned. Cotton has a tendency to wrinkle very easily, however cotton/polyester blends have gained popularity. Many people prefer the year-round "breathing" and lack of pilling of 100 per cent cotton.
4. SILK: Silk is a protein fibre, more similar to wool than to cotton. It is very similar to human hair. Remembering this will help when you think about how to wash or clean it. Silk is extremely strong, but repeated exposure to the sun will erode the fibre. As a result, silk fabrics are not the best choice for curtains and draperies. The colours in your silk will undoubtedly fade over time, even when permanent dyes have been used and they have been professionally set. Reds are particularly sensitive to running and fading. Store your silk away from exposure to light, especially direct sunlight. Washing silk may also cause excess dye to discharge. When in doubt, dry clean the garment or item.
5. RAYON: Some rayon fabrics should be dry cleaned, while other types of fabric and garment construction are such that they can be hand or machine-washed. For washable items, follow this guide: Use mild lukewarm or cool suds. Gently squeeze suds through fabric and rinse in lukewarm water. Do not wring or twist the article. Smooth or shake out article and place on a non-rust hanger to dry. Rayon sweaters should be dried flat. Press the article while damp on the wrong side with the iron at a moderate setting. Between wearings, rayon articles may be pressed with a cool iron. Steamers as opposed to traditional irons are perfect for rayon. Rayon is a popular choice for: Blouses, dresses, jackets, lingerie, linings, pants, sport shirts, sportswear, suits, ties, work clothes, bedspreads, blankets, curtains, draperies, sheets, slipcovers, tablecloths, upholstery.
6. LYCRA: Originally developed as a replacement for rubber, LYCRA®, by DuPont, is remarkable for its ability to stretch many times its original length -- and then snap back to its starting size with no loss to its spring. There is really no such thing as a commercially available fabric made entirely of Lycra; it is never used alone, it is always combined with another fibre (or fibres), both natural or manmade. As little as two per cent Lycra is enough to improve a woven fabric's movement, drape, and its knack for holding its shape. If the other fibres in the garment are machine washable and dryable, this should be the recommended method for cleaning. Dry cleaning is also an option. Avoid chlorine bleach when washing.
7. SATIN: Originally made from silk, most satin is now made with synthetic fibres. Follow instructions on care label: Hand wash, machine wash or dry clean. Iron washable satin, inside out while damp.
8. NYLON: Nylon fabrics are extremely strong, lightweight, smooth, and lustrous. They are also non-absorbent and have excellent wrinkle resistance. Often combined with spandex, nylon knits are very stretchy but recover their original shape. Nylon is used to make many items, including: lingerie, carpets, rainwear, and tents. Machine-wash sturdy articles in warm water with an all-purpose detergent. Hand-wash lingerie and hosiery using warm water and a light-duty detergent, or machine-wash in a mesh bag to prevent stretching or tearing. Tumble-dry nylon at a low temperature setting. Press at a cool temperature setting.
9. ACETATE: Acetate is made from cellulose and has a silk-like appearance. Closely related to rayon, it has good body and drapes well. Taffeta, satin, crepe, brocade, and double knits often contain acetate. Acetate is not very absorbent or colourfast and loses its strength when it is wet. If the care label specifies that the article is washable, hand-wash it in warm water using a light-duty detergent. Do not soak coloured items or wash them with white articles. Hang-dry acetate away from heat or direct sunlight. Press acetate at the coolest setting, on the wrong side, while the article is damp. Note: Nail polish remover and perfumes will permanently damage acetate.
10. ACRYLIC: Many acrylic weaves resemble wool's softness, bulk, and fluffiness. Acrylics are wrinkle-resistant and usually machine-washable. Often, acrylic fibres are blended with wool or polyester fibres. Acrylic's biggest drawback is that it pills. Blends will do this less than pure acrylic. Wash acrylic by hand or machine. Turn garments inside out before laundering to reduce pilling. Wash delicate items by hand in warm water, gently squeezing out the excess. Machine-wash sturdy articles with an all-purpose detergent, and tumble-dry at low temperatures.
11. FLEECE: The denser the fleece, the better the quality. Gently stretch fleece and let it relax. Does it quickly bounce back to its original dimension or does it wave and ripple? High-quality fleece has quick recovery. To give yourself a preview of how well the fabric will wear, rub the fleece roughly against itself, in a circular motion, on both sides of the fleece. If it looks a bit rugged, starts pilling, or distorts, it is a lesser quality fleece. High-quality fleeces go through multiple shearing and velouring processes to reduce pilling. Fleece fabrics are predominately made from 100 per cent polyester. To avoid unnecessary abrasion, launder garments inside out, separately or with similar garments. Use a powdered detergent in lukewarm water, gentle cycle. Liquid detergents may alter the effectiveness of the chemical treatment applied to some lighter-weight fleeces. Hang dry and do not use bleach or softeners. Softeners have an adverse effect on the chemical finish that is applied to the surface of some mid-weight and heavy-weight fleeces. Pressing is not recommended. Never place an iron directly onto the fleece. Direct contact may leave a permanent imprint or melt the fabric.
12. POLYESTER: A synthetic, manmade fibre produced from the polymerization of ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephalate or terephthalic acid. Some characteristics of polyester include: crease resistance, ability to dry quickly, shape retention in garments, high strength, abrasion resistance, and minimum care requirements. Polyester is a very important fibre in upholstery fabrics. Before washing, check the label but typically machine washing is acceptable. Avoid washing polyester in very hot temperatures as doing so may damage fibres.
13. SUEDE: Suede, by nature, has got its problems when it comes to cleaning. The best way to deal with suede is to care for it well. Always clean suede before storing it. Suede can be brushed with a damp, soft rubber or bristle brush, and baking soda. Do not rub too hard and do it in a gentle circular motion or back and fourth. Never use chemical fluid or spot remover on suede as the colour of the garment will run and leave light rings around the stain.
14. VELVET: Velvet is usually made from rayon or acetate, which is a dry clean-only fabric. Other velvets are machine washable; check the label and always launder inside out to protect the fabric from rubbing against other fabrics. If you need to have it pressed, take it to your local dry cleaner, or press it yourself by using what is called a needle board (available at your local fabric store). The top of the needle board has many needles protruding from the surface of a flat board. Put the needle board on your existing ironing board with the needles pointing upward, place your velvet fabric face down on the needles, and steam press with an iron.
15. FAKE FUR: Clean once a year. Choose a professional dry cleaner that specializes in fake furs. The dry cleaner can remove stains left by food, make-up or spilled drinks. Regular cleaning serves to keep moths away. Wear a soft scarf inside the neckline of the coat to prevent body oils and make-up from collecting and causing a stain. Between cleaning, treat small stains on the fur and lining. Use a good cleaning fluid that is specifically for use on fur and fake fur. Test a small spot on both the fur and the lining. Use a blow dryer on the dampened spot to prevent a ring from forming. Store the clean fur on a padded hanger in a fabric bag. Don't enclose a fake fur in a plastic bag. Like real fur, a fake needs to breathe.
Solutions is compiled from various sources: articlesbase.com, housekeeping.about.com, pajamashoppe.com, fabriclink.com, fibersource.comnabru.co.uk, regalfabrics.com, xtcapparel.com, kushtush.com. Similar information may be found elsewhere.
Solutions sleuth Reena Nerbas is a home economist and speaks professionally on the topic of household challenges; she is also the author of two national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions and Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets. She can be heard on radio programs across Canada and seen on the CBC TV show Living Winnipeg.
www.householdsolutions.org
