 FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS:
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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?
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Should I use hairspray to remove a
ballpoint ink stain?
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How do you remove deodorant and
antiperspirant residue?
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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?
-
What can be done
to minimize pilling?
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Are fabric
softeners always OK to use?
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Why do some
designers and manufacturers use blended fibers?
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What are enzyme
cleaners?
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How can I keep my
whites white and the bright colors bright?
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.
Hairspray and water can remove ballpoint ink, but you may be trading one problem for another. That’s because hairspray could contain alcohol and oils such as resins and lanolin. The alcohol in the hairspray can cause color damage especially on silk; likewise, oils and other ingredients could lead to additional stains.
Many people do not realize that prolonged contact with deodorants and antiperspirants may cause permanent damage. Combined with the effects of perspiration, the damage can be extensive. The most frequent damage is caused by overuse of these products, or infrequent cleanings. This leads to the buildup of a stiff, caked-up residue or to fabric damage.
To prevent chemical damage, do not overuse the product and allow it to dry before dressing. Wear dress shield with silk garments.
To remove the residue on washable garments, wash as soon as possible after wear in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Soaking in a detergent containing enzymes or an enzyme presoak may be necessary. If the stain remains, try using three percent hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach, according to fiber type or care label instructions. Before using, test for colorfastness.
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.
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.
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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