Cleaning of fabrics is a crucial process, which if done correctly, helps in the preservation of clothes, making them to last longer. However, many myths exist regarding the proper care of fabrics and consequently, most often the clothing is harmed. Read on this blog to learn the truths and dispel myths about cleaning garments and proper care of your clothes.
Myth 1: Hot Water Cleans Better Than Cold Water shrink clothes
Fact: That this is true hot and warm water even with cold water may still come as a surprise to many people.
Hot water conservation is one of the biggest myths where people believe that hot water is essential for cleaning. Despite the fact that hot water helps to remove some kinds of stains and also can sanitize cloth, it is not a universal solution. Most of today’s detergents are developed to perform optimally in cold water, which does not harm the fabric, or cause the decolorization of clothes. Also, using lukewarm, warm or hot water, to wash the clothes, will also assist in the conservation of energy and also charge you less money on electricity bills.
Myth 2: More Detergent Equals Cleaner Clothes
Fact: This Is Because Too Much Of The Detergent Pops Up And Creates Some Other Issues On The Fabric.
Another myth is that more detergent creates fewer stains and dirt and the clothes will be cleaner. In fact, with too much detergent you are most likely to find your clothes coming out stiff and harsh to your skin due to the remaining detergent on them. It also tends to cause soap scum build up on your washing machine, thus, lowering on its efficiency. Alway ensure that you go by the recommendations of the detergent manufacturer, as regard to the quantity to be used depending on the size of the load or how dirty the clothes are.
Myth 3: Bleach is Safe for All Fabrics
Fact: Bleach can actually harm some of the particular fabrics.
Bleach is very effecting when it comes to whitening fabric but it is not effective for all types of fabrics. Chlorine bleach is particular hazardous as it may degrade fibers and give items a yellow look when used on delicate or synthetic fabric. If you are in a situation where the fabrics require bleaching to gain desired color or disinfection, oxygen-bleach should be the best option as it does not tarnish fabrics as chlorine bleach does. It is recommended to look at the care label of your clothes to figure out if bleach can or cannot be utilized.
Myth 4: Dry Cleaning is the Only Way to Clean Delicates
Fact: Most of the Delicates Can Be Washed at Home
The fact indeed is that dry cleaning is safe for most delicate fabrics, but it isn’t the only method for their cleaning. Most fabrics like silk, lace, wool, and the likes can be washed at home using mild liquid soap. Take water that is warm but not extremely hot and submerge the fabric without rubbing it hard or shocking it with cold water. When washing is done, it is recommended that the garment be spread flat to dry since hanging may pull it out of shape.
Myth 5: Fabric Softeners Are Essential for Soft Clothes
Fact: Fabric softeners are not good for health and are also toxic to your skin.
They are sold to the consumer as essential in achieving soft, non-static clothing but they are actually counterproductive. They are based on the adherence of chemicals on fibers to produce a thin external layer that tends to decrease the absorbent capacity of water temperatures the towels and the efficiency of the athletic wears in absorbing sweat. On the same note, there are some fabric softeners that have added fragrances and dyes which are very allergic to the skin. As an option, it is better to turn to white vinegar as an organic fabric softener.
Myth 6: All Stains Should Be Treated with Hot Water
Fact: Hot Water Can Set Some Stains
Interesting, people always believe that the use of hot water is the most effective way of washing stains out, but such is not true. With some types of stains like blood, it is actually worse to wash with hot hot or cold water, because this starts to set the stain deeper into the fabric. Ideally, cold water is the most recommended water temperature to use at the early stages of stain treatment. To remove the stain, do not rub it with a cloth but dab it with a cloth then proceed to use the right stain remover to treat the stain before washing.
Myth 7: Clothes Should Be Washed After Every Wear
Fact: Perhaps unexpectedly, and washing towels too frequently can in fact harm the fabrics.
However, to avoid straining your fabrics after every hot or warm water you wear it is not advisable to wash clothes after each wear. Most of the clothes people wear can be worn more than once without washing; this includes jeans, sweaters and jackets, among others, but then, one should realize the extent of perspiration and contact with dirt before washing the clothes. Other actions that are useful to prolong the time to wash include spot washing of garments and letting the clothes breathe.
Myth 8: High Heat is Necessary for Drying Clothes
Fact: Heat likewise negatively impacts a material due to shrinkage.
If pressed with a choice, a large number of individuals would advocate for the use of the high heat setting in the dryer, which would guarantee a fast and efficient way of drying. But high heat have drawbacks like shrinking of clothes, fading of colors, and the damage fibers, especially for the so called ‘delicate fabrics.’ If it can be done at a lower setting then that should be used or alternatively the clothes should be left to air dry. There are no compromises to energy use because apart from ensuring that the fabrics retain their quality, air drying is energy conserving.
Myth 9: Ironing is the Only Way to Remove Wrinkles
Fact: In as Much As This Is the Case, there are Other Ways Which Can Be Used to Eliminate Wrinkles
Ironing is one of the most utilized techniques to eliminate wrinkles, yet it is not the only way. Steaming on the other hand is a much softer process warm and hot water can also work wonders in eliminating wrinkles and other types of heat affects without the menace of burning or tearing the fabric. Guaranteeing that a plenty of fresh air penetrates to the clothes may also help the fibers to relax and to eliminate wrinkles, for instance, by hanging the clothes into the bathroom while showering. An even faster way to iron a piece of clothing is to fold the wrinkled garment and put it in a dryer along with a wet towel for about five minutes.
Myth 10: All Clothes Should Be Stored the Same Way
Fact: It means that various kinds of fabrics must be stored in different ways because of their specific characteristics.
Pest control is a very important factor in perfect conservation of clothes and also many clothes have many differences in their types of fabric. Clothes that are sensitive to stretching such as knitwear should be folded in a way that will not affect their shape while those that are sensitive to creasing should be flattened such as the silk and laces. The type of garment that can be hung includes most of the garments, however, there is need to be careful when hanging so that the garments don’t lose their shape this can be enhanced by use of appropriate hangers. Now, when it comes to such garments as delicate fabrics, it is recommended to use padded hangers; on the other, hangers made from wood are perfect for such garments as coats and suits.
Myth 11: Vinegar and Baking Soda Can Replace Detergent
Fact: Here Are Daily Household Products That Are Frowned Upon When Used To The Extent
Some people are looking for eco-friendly options to laundry detergents and vinegar and baking soda are the commonly recommended natural cleaners. Although vinegar can assist in removing odors and softening fabrics; baking soda is a detergent booster, none of them can match today’s powder laundry detergents cleaning abilities. Nevertheless, they work best when employed as the additional cleaning products to the regular laundry detergents.
Myth 12: The More Frequent the Washing, the Cleaner the Clothes
Fact: Particularly, the washing technique or frequency may potentially help in increasing the wearing cycle time of the particular textile item.
Excess washing leads to the breakdown of fabric resulting to shortening of clothes’ durability. If a washing machine is used and detergents are added, then there will be stress on the fibers and mechanical breakdown over time. For the purpose of getting more usage out of garments and therefore extending the lifespan of the garments, one should wear the ‘less-changeable’ garments such as jeans and outer-wears more than once before washing them shrinking clothes. Some ways of washing clothes with care are restricting any contact with body surfaces, washing out the dark parts, and frequently giving the clothes air to breathe.
Myth 13: Dry Cleaning is Environmentally Friendly
Fact: Impacts of Traditional Dry Cleaning Business on The Environment
Typical dry cleaning employs a liquid called perc, which is dangerous to the environment and toxic to human beings. Thankfully, green dry cleaner services which clean garments using solvents other than PCE or those that make use of water based cleaning solvents are available. Choose dry cleaners that proclaim that they are environmentally friendly and inquire about the methods they use when cleaning cold water temperatures.
Myth 14: Hand-Washing is Always Better Than Machine Washing
Fact: Present Day Machines have Gentle Cycle for the Delicate Fabrics
To an extent, it is true that hand washing is more delicate on some types of fabrics but present-day washing machines also have facilities such as ‘delicate or hand wash’ buttons which attempt to replicate the way washing is done by hand warm water shrink clothes. Purchasing these cycles and mesh laundry bags can meet delicate fabrics’ requirements and still spare time and energy. It is prudent that one should always ensure they look at the label of the garment before washing to know the correct way to wash the garment wash cycle.
Myth 15: All Fabric Dyes Bleed
Fact: Dye bleeding is therefore avoidable if garments are well taken to avoid the mixture of the two types of dye.
The primary issue of dye bleeding depends on new, bright-colored garments and can occur quite frequently. Nonetheless, the adherence to right washing procedures lessens the probabilities of obtaining such infections hot water shrink clothes. Rinsing new clothes with cold water and washing them separately also helps in preventing the color from bleeding when washed together with other clothes, making the new color set properly, a cup of white vinegar added to warm water during the rinse can also be useful. Most of the fabrics once washed for a few times get stabilized with color and can be washed with other materials.
Conclusion
Knowledge on these facts contributes to the efficient care of fabrics which are maintained in perfect conditions for longer periods thus reducing the frequency of purchase on new clothes. With help of the following myths discrediting, you will be able to make the right choices for the proper treatment of the clothes and accessories and have your garments looking like new for a long time. To effectively wash clothes, it is advised to always read the labels, use the proper products and techniques and always remember that most clothes do not need to be treated roughly because doing so significantly reduces the fabric’s durability.
