HOW TO WASH, DRY AND CARE
Cotton, Linens, Denim, Woollens, and Silks:
The advent of modern technology has gifted the boon of washing machines. No more crouching on the bathroom floor, relentlessly taking out your frustration on your poor clothes. But with every boon comes the corresponding bane; washing machines also have multiple combinations and permutations of settings (water level, duration, detergent used, soft/tumble/wool/cold washes) which can be a nightmare to deal with, if you don’t understand the fabric you’re washing and the kind of care it needs. Worry not! Follow the steps below and make sure your precious fabrics don’t wrinkle, crinkle, or lose their color and shine. As always, do pay serious heed to the care labels attached to your clothes. These should serve as your primary guides for wash, dry, and care for your garments.
Cotton
Cotton is one of the most commonly used fabrics in India, especially because it is so comfortable, easy-breezy and helps keep cool on warm summer days. It is also highly versatile and is used widely in different kinds of garments.
Cotton fibers have a tendency to shrink unless the fabric has been processed for anti-shrink results. Many complain that cotton starts to shrink right from the very first wash, and keeps shrinking to a point where the cloth is no longer identifiable or wearable.
If preshrunk, cotton should be washed depending on the instructions on the care label. Before you begin washing the entire garment in the machine, pre-treat any stains with detergent and cold water. White and light-coloured cotton should be washed in warm or hot water, with a dash of chlorine bleach to remove stains and to keep the whiteness/brightness of the fabric intact.
Coloured cotton needs to be washed in cold water, with a non-chlorine bleach to keep the colour lively and bright and to avoid transferring of colour. Cotton jeans can be washed in cold water to protect their deep blue colour. Do not over-dry your cotton fabrics, it will make them shrink. Dry them in tumble dry setting, at low heat and remove them from the dryer while the cloth is still cool. You can now let the clothes dry naturally, on a chair or hanger.
Linen
Linen is a natural fabric that is made out of fibers of the flax plant. It requires delicate care. If the label says the linen is machine washable, follow the instructions to the T. Use the required amount of water, and protect against overcrowding in the washer and dryer (as linen soaks up
more water than other fabrics and tends to bloat while washing). Always steam iron linen once it dries.
Wash linen in cold water to protect the color of the fabric and to protect against dye transfer. Use a fabric conditioner to fight wrinkling and crinkling. Remove the garment while still damp and remove excess moisture through air drying.
Silk
Silk is one of the oldest fabrics. Rich and lustrous in color and feel, it is a laundry challenge. It may often need to be dry cleaned and an attempt to wash it at home, in the washing machine, may lead to severe damage and subsequent decline in the visual appeal of the fabric.
If the silk is hand/machine washable, use mild baby shampoo or products made for delicate hand washing. Do not tumble dry silk. Instead, roll the fabric in a towel to get rid of moisture and then hang it out to air dry. Do not dry silk garments in direct sunlight as it can cause the colors to fade.
Never wash silk with chlorine bleach as it will damage its natural fibers. Do not wash silk with heavy pieces of clothing like jeans, make sure you sort and categorize the laundry. To protect against abrasive damage, place silk items in a mesh bag before putting them in for a machine wash. If you are hand washing silk, do not rub the fiber against itself. Just use your hand to
carefully rub the fabric and get any stains out.
Wool
Wool keeps us warm in the winters. It is a strong, durable, and naturally insulating fabric. If the wool garment is a machine or hands washable, use a ‘delicates’ detergent and wash as mentioned on the label in lukewarm water or cold water. Treat small stains through spot cleaning. Rinse the stains in cold water and blot them dry with a clean cloth.
Do not tumble dry your woolens, this will cause the shape of the garment to go askew and possibly damage the fibers. Dry wool naturally. To freshen up a wrinkly woolen garment, place it in a steamy bathroom.
Denim Jeans
Denim jeans are tough, durable, and fitted. They look and feel great but also need to be washed carefully to avoid dye transfer and weakening of the fabric.
Turn your jeans inside out before throwing them in for a machine wash. Use cold water and laundry detergent to maintain the quality of the fabric and to protect from discoloration and fading.
Do not wash jeans with light-colored clothing, at least in the first few washes. Otherwise, the jeans will either soak up the color of other clothes or and more likely, transfer their own color onto lighter clothes.
While drying, make sure to take the jeans out of the dryer while still cool. Now, hang up the jeans on a clothesline to help the fabric recover from the stress and stretch that it undergoes while you’re wearing your jeans. Try to wash your jeans as little as possible. If they’re washed too often the fibers will wear down.
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