Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Home & Garden Fabric Care

Proper fabric care will help your fabrics last longer. All fabrics are not created the same, and each type of fabric requires a unique method of care.

• Whenever possible, follow the care instructions that came with the garment in question. This is especially important when caring for blended fabrics that use a variety of fibers.

The two main methods of cleaning fabrics are dry cleaning or home laundering – often via the use of a washing machine.

• Dry cleaning is a process that primarily used chemicals instead of soap and water as the cleaning agent. Many of these chemicals are carcinogens. After the cleaning process, many garments will retain smell and other residues of the cleaning process that can produce adverse reactions in some people. Dry cleaning can be very hard on fabrics, to the point of damaging or discoloring the fabric.
• Laundering is the traditional method of cleaning clothes. If due care is take most fabrics can be cleaned at home. New specialty soaps are now available that allows a person to wash dry-clean only fabrics at home. Be sure to read the product labels carefully before using such products, and follow the instructions religiously.

How you should care for a fabric will depend upon the type of fibers used to create the fabric. A partial list of fiber categories include:

Natural Cellulosic Fibers, this includes such fibers as cotton, flax, jute, ramie, and hemp.

• Cotton is not a picky fiber and can be laundered at any temperature, and it readily withstands bleaching.
• Flax fibers are also easy to care for, and withstand washing chemicals well.

Man-made Cellulosic Fibers, namely Rayon.

• Rayon, on average, requires the same care as cotton fibers, but should not be subjected to high heat when ironing. Some rayon fibers are specially treated in order make them fire-retardant. Such fabrics require special care, so be sure to follow the care instructions on the label.

Modified Cellulosic Fibers such as Acetate and Triacetate.

• Fabrics such as acetate have a propensity to melt when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, it is best have this fabric dry-cleaned. If you wash it at home, use warm or cold water, and a delicate cycle in the dryer. Never twist or ring acetate fabric when wet as it will cause the fabric to acquire permanent creases.
• Triacetate fibers are similar to acetate, however they can withstand higher temperatures and it holds it shape better.

Natural Protein Fibers, this includes such items as wool, fur, and silk.

• Wool is a versatile fabric. It does however have a tendency to shrink. Dry-cleaning is often the recommend means of cleaning wool fabrics because they can be easily damaged at home. When washing wool, handling must be kept to a minimum in order to prevent felting. Mild soap should be used, and the wool should be washed in cool water. Never use bleach on wool fabrics. Do not put wool fabrics in the dryer as this may cause the fabric to shrink, line dry, or lay the fabric on a towel and allow it to dry via evaporation.
• Furs and other specialty animal fibers such as cashmere, camel hair, and vicuna fiber, should only be cleaned by an individual who has experience handling such products as all these products have very exacting care requirements and can be easily damaged in unskilled hands.
• For silk, dry-cleaning is the primarily care method of choice. Silk can, however, be laundered at home if handled carefully. Use a mild soap or synthetic detergent and wash the garment in warm water. Rinse well, but do not wring the garment. Rather, roll the garment in a towel in order to get the water out, and than hang the garment in a dark, cool spot. Hand smooth out as many wrinkles as possible. Do not use chlorine on silk, as it will destroy the fiber.

Poyamide Fibers: Nylon and Aramid.

• Nylon is a tough fiber and withstands home laundering well. It can be washed in any water temperature desired. It can be tumble dry, however at higher temperatures it may have a tendency to wrinkle.
• There are two main types of Aramid fibers, Nomex and Kevlar. Both are specialty fibers and are seldom found in the home. Kevlar, for instance, is used for making bulletproof vests.

• Acrylic fibers make truly wash and wear garments. They are also often used in the making of knitting yarns and in making blankets. Follow the instructions on the label, but for the most part all acrylic fibers can be washed and dried at any temperature.
• Modacrylic fibers are often used in children's sleepwear and in the making of fake fur. It can either be home laundered or dry-cleaned.

Elastomeric Fibers, this includes such stretchables as rubber, spandex, and anidex.

• Spandex fibers, which are often used in the making of swimwear, can be home laundered, either by machine or by hand. It should be air-dried. If a dryer is used, use a low heat.

Polyester Fibers, i.e., polyester.

• Polyester is very easy to care for and it seldom wrinkles. Polyester can be sent through the washer and dryer without any difficulties.