Cotton is used for clothes and filling garments. Great for sensitive skin, it is much softer, those with sensitive skin tolerate 100% cotton better than polyester. Also, cotton will shrink with the first washing and drying. Biodegradable: Cotton will break down over time. It isn’t as durable as polyester in the long run.
Advantages, control moisture, insulate, hypoallergenic, weatherproof and is a durable fabric.
Disadvantages, not a strong fabric, shrinkage after wash, absorbent, highly flammable, easy mould, poor elasticity
How to take care of cotton fabric
- Recommend wash below 60 degrees to avoid shrinkage.
- For stains on cotton, pre-treat with the required amount of detergent on stains before loading the clothes in the washing machine.
- Remove it from the machine after wash and shake it, to avoid wrinkle occur.
- Use a hot iron to remove wrinkles.
- Safe keep in cool and dry places to avoid mould.
- Send it to a professional cleaner using delicate detergent for optimum maintenance.
Silk is used for sheets, pajamas, dresses, scarves. It can relieve certain skin condition and may help to improve skin appearance. Creating the look of silk curtains without as much risk of fading
Advantages: Versatile, durable, easy to dye and soft to the touch.
Disadvantages: Wrinkles easily, can stretch or shrink when wet.
How to take care of silk fabric
- Place the silk garment in cold water with a mild silk-friendly detergent.
- Leave to soak no more than 5 minutes
- Swish the garment slowly and gently
- Rinse with fresh water
- To help keep its hydrated feel, use a fabric conditioner in the final rinse
- Rinse well in cold water
- Ball the silk together to remove excess moisture, then lay it flat and roll it in a towel to absorb any lingering moisture.
- Lay flat to dry
- Send it to a professional cleaner if you are not sure how to handle this delicate material.
Advantages: strong, resilient, lightweight, wrinkle-resistant, colorfast, crisp, and hold pleats and creases well.
Disadvantages: does not stretch, does not absorb sweat, does not breathe, may pill when rubbed, and may yellow with age. Fabric shine can be unattractive
How to take care of a polyester fabric
- Turn the garments inside out before washing to prevent snags.
- Machine wash in warm water using detergent, use chlorine bleach if necessary.
- Soak overnight in a mixture of half cup dishwashing detergent and 1-gallon warm water. After wash, add half cup vinegar to the final rinse.
- Tumble dry at a low-temperature setting. Do not overly dry polyester, this will cause gradual shrinkage.
- Press polyester fabrics at a moderate temperature setting or steam ironing.
How to Clean a Polyester Formal Gown
- Inspect polyester gown for stains
- Turn the garment inside out before washing
- Fill the washer with warm water and place on the gentle cycle.
- Put in a half cup of mild detergent and let the washer cycle until the garment spins dry.
- Place the gown in the dryer on a low heat and tumble dry.
- Consult a professional cleaner for proper handling of your delicate clothing.
Nylon is used in the manufacturing of clothes, apparel, carpet, upholstery, and luggage. It is popular material because it dries quickly and doesn’t absorb moisture. Nylon is heat sensitive, cannot tolerate hot iron, it causes the fabric to glaze and melt.
Advantages: dry fast, low moisture absorbent, resistant to heat, lightweight, exceptional strength, abrasion resistant, easy to wash, resist shrinkage and wrinkles, resilient, pleat retentive, can be dyed in a wide range of colour, resists damage from oil and many chemicals, insulating properties
Disadvantages: easily losing its shape, static, and piling, poor resistance to sunlight, heat sensitive
How to take care of nylon fabric
- Lay the garment on a flat surface. Place a piece of paper towel under the stained area to prevent any bleeding
- Rinse the liquid laundry soap from the stain.
- Dip the corner of a white washcloth or a clean soft-bristled brush into the oxygen bleach mixture.
- Launder the nylon coat according to the label’s directions. Cool to moderate water temperatures. Make sure that the water temperature does not exceed 160 degrees Fahrenheit, if not it could damage the nylon fibers
- Always separately from other types of fabrics, to avoid heavy washing and automatic drying
- Hand wash and naturally dry delicate
How to Whiten Nylon Fabric
- Pour on1/2 cup lemon juice into a spray bottle.
- Spray all the yellowed areas of the nylon fabric completely.
- Hang the nylon fabric outside on a clothesline.
- Leave the nylon fabric in the sun for 30 minutes to three hours, depending on the thickness of the fabric.
- Repeat Steps 2 to 4 until all yellowing is gone.
- Wash the nylon fabric as usual once the yellowing is gone. This removes the lemon juice from the fabric.
- Find an experienced cleaner who can handle your nylon clothing, as once nylon changes shape or overheated, there is no returning back to the original state.
Viscose is a soft material used for very similar to cotton and silk. It is commonly used in dresses, linings, shirts, shorts, coats, jackets, and other outerwear.
Advantages: Inexpensive, luxury look with more economical price, known for its silky look and comfortable like cotton, breathable, absorbent, dyes easily and produces beautiful, vivid colours
Disadvantages: Generally need to be dry clean, usually will be shrinkage or lose it shape when wash in warm water, the manufacturing process is harmful to the environment, fabric is weak, prone to stretching and bagging, absorbs moisture which may result in spots, spot treating can lead to permanent marking.
How to take care of viscose fabric
- Follow the label instructions and stick with dry cleaning as the preferred method of viscose.
- For some garments like unlined dresses, tops or scarves can be hand washed must using cool water and mild detergent.
- Hand washing it gently to prevent damage, never wring or twist when its wet.
- After wash, gently squeeze out excess water
- Place the wet garment on thick cotton towel and roll it up to absorb the water.
- To hang to drip dry or lay it on flat surface to air dry.
- If choose to use washing machine, must select the gentle cycle and use the low final spin cycle speed to avoid damage the fabric.
- After washed, gently pull and shape it back to its original shape and size, to air dry it.
- Never leave it in crumple, wrinkles are difficult to remove.
- Talk to an expert cleaner if you face any issue maintaining your clothing.
Wool is used for bedsheets, pajamas, shawls. It is breathability and moisture-wicking properties help regulate body temperature, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Wool is all natural, surpassing synthetic fill in terms of quality and durability. Wool is a great choice if dust mites concern you.
Advantages: soft and comfortable, absorb large quantities of moisture, stains and odour resistant, stretch and easily snap back into shape, easy to take care as this is machine washable
Disadvantages: It can be scratchy, uncomfortable, itchy to wear, heat and moisture can cause it to felt, the sewing points out, It will be pills or forms small balls of fuzz, sensitive to climate.
How to take care of the wool fabric
- Fill a bucket with water and mild detergent
- Put the garment inside out, soak for 10 minutes in cold water
- Gently rub out anywhere that needs extra cleaning
- Remove and press out excess water
- Rinse and fill the bucket with clean water
- Swish the wool item in clean water and repeat rinsing if necessary
- To shaped and air dry
- The best way to handle wool is to dry clean it and it has to be done in an industrial setting.
- Follow the instruction of the care labels, for coat and jackets should be send for professionally dry cleaned.
