A complete guide to drive away your washing woes.

A guide for leather jackets, denim, pajamas, bell bottoms, halter necks, skater dresses, mesh gowns, sweaters, trench coats, the list goes on…….Today we have so many fashion choices, perhaps we have more types of clothes than the days in which to wear them. Zara, H&M, Mango go on making hordes of new clothes for every season, every occasion, every year.

Fashion is fun but what is not fun is washing so many clothes made from a diversity of materials with each having its own washing regimes. And if you don’t respect the regimes, well the clothes won’t respect you and will wear out early.

And let’s not kid ourselves that we read the washing tags behind and even if we do we hardly understand a thing beyond 100% cotton.

But, fret not. Here’s a complete guide that will drive away all your washing woes.

Warning: Read the label carefully even though you hate it because you love your clothes.

The following is the guide for different fabrics:

Cotton

Called the universal fabric, cotton makes up for most of the world’s clothes.

It is durable, easy to manufacture and safe for the skin since it is a natural fibre.

Washing regime:

• It can be machine washed with any detergent and bleached when required.
• Washing it in warm water on a normal cycle bears good results.
• Match the right water temperature to the instruction on the tag
• Tumble dry on low setting

Drying

• Do not over dry cotton as they shrink
• To keep cotton towels and washcloths fluffy use half the amount of detergent and put them on an extra rinse cycle.

Ironing

• To avoid wrinkles, iron on the highest heat level.

Silk

Silk is luxurious and it is always on our favourite’s list.

Washing regime :

• Check the instructions
• Handwash is preferred using mild detergent such as woolite or shampoo dissolved in water.
• Cool or lukewarm water and make sure there shouldn’t be temperature changes
• Underwear or tank tops labelled washable silk can be washed in the washing machine in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle.
• For preventing color loss and maintaining good condition, add up to three tablespoons of white vinegar for every two quarts of water.
• Never use chlorine bleach

Drying

• Roll the cloth in a towel and press the water out.
• Warning: Don’t wring it.
• For machine wash, hang dry on a padded hanger
• Do not dry in direct sunlight
• Do not tumble dry.

Ironing

• Press silk when still damp on a low setting without using steam as it can leave watermarks.

Storage

In a dry dark place. Fabric has to breathe so don’t keep in a plastic as it suffocates.

Linen

Linen keeps you cool during swelter weather. It is a natural fibre made from the flax plant. I know it is mostly instructed to be dry cleaned but if you are washing it at home, you better do it right.

Washing regime :

• Use soft, tepid cold water
• Can be both hand and machine washed
• Use mild detergent or super mild soaps
• Do not wring, scrub or twist the cloth.
• Gentle wash cycles
• Don’t overcrowd linen clothes in the washer as it absorbs more water than most fibres

Drying :

• Put it on the dryer on low and take out when slightly damp.
• The fabric becomes stiff on overdrying
• Lay it flat or hang it to dry
• And as much as possible, air-dry it.

Ironing :

•  It wrinkles easily so ironing is a must.
• Turn the cloth inside out and use a hot iron with a steam setting.

Viscose/rayon

It is a synthetic fibre made from wood pulp and is usually mixed with other fibres.

Washing regime :

• It is advisable to dry clean it in most cases.
• In case you are washing it, hand wash it instead of machine wash
• Use mild detergent
• Use cold water or lukewarm water

Drying :

• Air dry
• Do not wring or twist to ensure the garment does not crease. Hang it fully wet.

Ironing :

• Medium setting with steam
• Iron when slightly damp

Viscose/ rayon tends to shrink and fade so be careful. Read the label carefully, dry clean if instructed.

Nylon

It is a synthetic fibre, easy to maintain.

Washing regime :

• Machine wash with warm or cold water
• For white fabrics use cold water
• Do not mix with other clothes
• To remove stains, use non-chlorine bleach

Drying :

• Use low heat or line dry as they wrinkle easily.

Polyester

This is another synthetic fiber. It is made from recycled soda bottles and is not as durable as its counterpart nylon. Guide to wash

Washing regime :

• Check the tag whether it needs to be dry cleaned.
• Use warm water
• As it is prone to static cling, use fabric softener
• If it is stained rub stain remover on the area and allow it to sit for 10 to 20 minutes before washing
• For white stained garment, soak the fabric for around 24 hours in a gallon of water and 1/3 cup of automatic dishwashing soap before throwing it in the machine.
• Warm wash cycle

Drying :

• Drying Low temperature is preferred
• This is because it is prone to wrinkles

Ironing :

• Use low heat setting
• Use moderately warm iron

Leather/Suede

Leather jackets are style statements and suede shoes are cooler. But, you need to put in efforts to maintain it because they get dirty and dehydrated easily. Guide to wash

Cleaning regime :

• Use a leather dressing to keep the leather soft and fresh.
• Wipe it with mild soap and warm water
• For suede, use suede protector for water repellent boots.

Spandex

Spandex is used in workout clothes. It is a synthetic fibre and can be stretched upto 5 times its length.

Washing regime :

• If it is very sweaty then wash it immediately to stop stains and smell.
• If the perspiration scent persists in the sports bra or clothes, soak them in the sink with either one part vinegar to four parts water, or a quarter cup of Borax mixed with water. Let them sit for an hour before running them through the wash.
• Use sports detergent
• To avoid bleeding of colours separate light and dark spandex.
• Avoid hot water and chlorine bleach

Drying :

• Hang the clothes to dry if you can’t wash it and don’t toss them together as it can cause mildew
• If you decide to use a dryer, use it on low setting because

air-drying spandex and lycra workout clothes maintains elasticity.

• Avoid machine drying

Ironing :

• Spandex – blends pucker or bubble due to heat from the dryer
• So only if it is necessary to iron then press the item quickly with a warm iron.

Denim

Made from cotton or a blend of it, denim does not need to be washed after every use. Guide to wash

Washing regime :

• Check the label and separate it from others to avoid colour bleeding
• Turn it inside out
• Use cold water and laundary detergent.

Drying :

• Read the drying instructions
• Take them out of the dryer slightly damp and dry it on a flat surface or hanger

Tip : wash denim only when necessary. Frequent washing is detrimental to its maintenance

Wool

Wool is an insulating fibre that is saviour from the harsh winters.

Read the label instructions carefully and wash only if instructed or else get it dry cleaned.

Washing regime :

• Wool may shrink in warm water and cold water so wash in lukewarm water
• Use mild detergent
• Use delicates or wool washer options if your machine has one.

Drying :

• Air dry woollen garments

So, there you go. Now, you know how to take care of your wardrobe at home without spending huge on dry cleaning.

This is the guide to wash different fabrics.

With that being said, Dhobi G is a go-to help for anything related to laundry. You may browse many more similar tips at https://blog.dhobig.com/. Visit Dhobi G at www.dhobig.com. Make sure to check them out on Facebook as well at https://www.facebook.com/DhobiGOnline/.