Caring for Fabrics: Fabric care explained
With so many fabrics jostling for space in your average wardrobe, you can bet your cotton socks that it pays to know your acetate from your acrylic and your polyolefin from your polyester.
Try this simple guide to keeping your clothes and household fabrics in excellent shape.
Acrylic
General: Acrylic garments can be washed or dry cleaned.
Washing
Use a warm water setting and add a fabric softener during the final rinse cycle
Wash delicate items by hand in warm water
Drying
Tumble dry at low temperature
Remove from the dryer as soon as garments are dry
For delicate items, squeeze out water, smooth or shake out garments and let dry on a non-rust hanger
Sweaters and circular knits should be dried flat
Ironing
If ironing is required, use a moderately warm iron
Additional care points
Cut static electricity by using a fabric softener in every third or fourth wash
Cotton
General: Cotton fabric is typically easy to care for.
Washing
Cotton is easy to wash and can take high temperatures
Drying
Set the dryer hotter for cotton as it takes much longer to dry than less absorbent fibres
Ironing
Cotton can be ironed with a hot iron, and does not scorch easily
Since cotton fibres are fairly in-elastic, cotton fabrics can wrinkle easily and may need frequent pressing
Additional care points
Chlorine bleach can safely be used on cotton whites. Use colour-safe bleach on dyed cottons
Linens
General: Some linens are washable, while others are dry clean only, so make sure you check the label. Usually, dry cleaning is recommended for linen curtains, upholstery and decorative household items.
Washing
Washable household linens, handkerchiefs and linen clothing can be washed easily and become softer with use
Drying
White linens should be dried in the sun if possible, to help preserve their whiteness
Ironing
Linen fabrics may need frequent pressing, unless they've been treated for crease resistance
Nylon
General: Most items made from nylon can be machine washed and tumble dried at low temperatures.
Washing
Use warm water and add a fabric softener to the final rinse cycle
Drying
Use a dryer sheet when tumble drying to minimize static electricity
Remove garments from the dryer as soon as the cycle is finished
Ironing
If ironing is required, use a warm iron
Polyester
General: Most items made from polyester can be machine washed and tumble dried or dry cleaned.
Washing
Use warm water and add a fabric softener to the final rinse cycle
Drying
Tumble dry at low temperature setting and remove garments as soon as the cycle is complete
Ironing
If ironing is needed, use a moderately warm iron