If you are constantly wondering which clothes are washed at what temperature, ie whether you can wash a piece of clothing in a washing machine, whether it may be better to do it "by hand" or still have to dry-clean, this text could be useful. Get acquainted with the most common materials and their properties, most people have little knowledge of fabrics. Their knowledge boils down to the fact that silk is soft, that wool comes from sheep and that polyester is an artificial material. Knowing the properties of different materials can be very useful.
You may need this knowledge when choosing clothes to buy, and it is especially useful when washing things, because otherwise you can ruin them. It is not a bad idea to get acquainted with different types of materials, at least the basic ones, in order to take care of your clothes in the right way. We will be introduced to wool, cotton, polyester, viscose, silk...etc
Wool is obtained from various types of animal fur, mainly sheep. The material consists of small curly fibers that retain air between them, so wool is an excellent thermal insulator and excellent protection against the cold. Let the wool scratch to the touch, while there are also such combinations that are very soft and gentle. It is elastic, will quickly return to normal after you stretch it, it is resistant to wear and dirt. Wool absorbs water very well, it can absorb as much as 30% of water without being wet.
It is mostly bulky and heavy, but some types like combed wool can be very light and soft.
How is wool maintained?
Do not wash wool too often. Frequent washing will wear out the material and shorten its lifespan. Instead of washing, you can occasionally brush it, and you can also leave it in the bathroom full of steam after bathing, which will further refresh it. If you wash it in the machine, you should use a special wool program, and if you wash it by hand, you must not rub it. Also, never dry it in the tumble dryer.
COTTON
Cotton is soft and comfortable. Its best property is that it can "breathe", that is, it easily absorbs and releases moisture. Cotton is a very high quality natural material, it can withstand high temperatures and lasts a long time. Unfortunately, it is prone to creasing and if you want your clothes to look decent, you have to iron them all the time. The first time they are washed, they will gather, so you should pay attention to that when buying. Cotton is easy to maintain, you can wash it at high temperatures, with ordinary laundry detergent. It can be dried in the dryer, but you should be careful with dark-colored clothes, because it wants to fade faster, so it is better to hang it to dry gradually.
Cotton must be ironed regularly and care must be taken not to fold the material when ironing, as this will make folds that are difficult to remove later.
POLYESTER
This artificial material has a slightly bad reputation. However, today, polyester fabrics are made that are very comfortable to wear. Its best feature is that it is resistant to creasing and retains its shape, which is why it is often added to cotton fabrics, so that they do not crumple so much.
Polyester is a very resistant material, it is difficult to damage, it lasts a long time and it is easy to wash.
Fabrics made from 100% polyester can be very soft and delicate, almost like satin.
You can machine wash it and tumble dry it at a lower temperature, but you can simply leave it to dry naturally. Polyester usually does not require ironing, but if needed, do not iron it at high temperatures.
VISCOSE
Viscose is a natural material, similar to silk, it breathes well, like cotton, it is light and has a beautiful, elegant "fall". Its disadvantage is that, just like cotton, it is very easy to crease, so you have to keep it on a hanger and iron it often. How is viscose maintained?
Viscose is sensitive when it comes to washing. If it is a T-shirt or something similar, you can wash it in the machine on a light wash program, and it is better to wash dresses or some important pieces of clothing by hand in lukewarm water, without twisting too much so that it does not tear. Iron it at a medium temperature, always with steam.
SILK
Silk is a natural material made from fibers obtained from the silkworm cocoon, which are spun into a very delicate, smooth and shiny fabric. Silk absorbs moisture well, so if worn in winter then it warms, and in summer it cools and a high degree of absorption makes it very receptive to all possible colors. Silk is the most luxurious of all materials, it does not wrinkle, retains its shape and has a very elegant "fall" that phenomenally emphasizes the figure. How is silk maintained?
Silk maintenance depends a lot on the type of silk, so it is recommended that you carefully study which silk it is. If it is not explicitly stated that it can be washed in the machine, wash it by hand, with water and a mild detergent, do not rub it roughly and rinse it with cold water. Some types of silk need to be worn for dry cleaning. Care should also be taken when drying. It is best to dry it on a towel first, so only when most of the water has evaporated and the fabric is no longer heavy, then put it on a hanger to get an elegant “fall”. Do not dry it in the sun as it may fade or turn yellow. If necessary, iron it at a low temperature.
ACETATE
Synthetic material with a nice shine that falls slightly. It is similar to silk. It is widely used as a lining in coats, jackets, etc. Acetate is not very firm and weak under the influence of chemicals. When washing is very crowd. It is washed at a temperature of 40 °C. It is ironed at lower temperatures.
ACRYLIC
Also known as "Dralon, Orlon and Courtelle". Resistant to sunlight and many chemicals. Durability is close to that of nylon or polyester. Washing loses its shape. Wash at 40 ° C and a gentle cycle is recommended washing. It is not suitable for drying in the tumble dryer.
CHIFFON
Its transparency, lightness and vibrancy make it sought after for wedding dresses. It is made of silk, so it should be treated that way, which means very gently! It is often recommended to wash by hand or wash at 30 ° C in a gentle wash program with a detergent for particularly fine laundry. Be sure to dry naturally, not in the dryer.
DAMASK
Named after Damascus where Marco Polo transhipped goods. Follow the labels with instructions for maintaining the material from which it is made. Damask is a special type of weaving, so damask fabric can be made of different materials such as silk, cotton or polyester. The original damask was always made of cotton. Later, silk was also used, silk damask is also known as "Jacquard", according to the French inventor of the method of weaving. Today damask can be found made as a blend of textiles, for example with polyester.
DENIM - JEANS
"Cowboy" (western) material. Dense weave of cotton or a mixture of polyester and twill with oblique embroidery. Treat denim like dyed cotton because the quality of the textile dye determines the washing temperature, usually 40 ° C. Always wash the inside as well, possibly ironing as well. Dry in the dryer or naturally...
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