Science of Fabric Care | How to Take Good Care of Fabrics

Fabric care is incredibly important for preserving textiles. With the right care process, your textiles can hold their shape, color and integrity for a long time. Proper care helps you use your textiles for generations to come.

Care guidelines vary based largely on a fabric's interaction with external factors. Let's discover how fabrics interact with their environment and how this relationship shapes the care process.

Proper Fabric Care | Why and How to Apply Care Instructions

Fabric care has two intentions. The first one is protecting the fabric from damage. The second one is preserving the physical properties of the fabric. Both preventative care and repair instructions are tailored to the specific way different fabric types interact with their environment. 

A modern day individual wears a clothing item 7-10 times before throwing away. Our wardrobes are packed with all sorts of different textiles, calling for several care processes at place.

The correct washing temperature, ironing and drying method, use of detergents, and other conditions vary based on what kind of fabric you have at hand.

That's why care labels are important. Garments' care instructions are designed to make sure you avoid possible shrinkage, felting, color bleeding, fading or degradation.

Following care instructions automatically extends the lifespan of your textiles. So how do you understand and apply care instructions on a label?

Let's dive into the care labels, what they mean and how to apply them.

Fabric Care Symbols

People often overlook care tags but they provide every piece of information you need. 

The International Association for Textile Care Labeling -a.k.a. GINETEX has a standardized care symbols guide. It covers instructions for laundry management from washing to drying, iron and bleaching fabrics. Here's how the chart looks:

Ginetex Table of Textile Care Symbols

But sometimes labels go missing or get washed out on aged and well-worn items. In this case, it is best for you to have at least basic knowledge on how to care for different fabric types. So, what is the most essential fabric care knowledge for you to keep your products as new as possible?

Care Tips for Different Fabric Types

Some fabrics are so widely used that the correct care steps are well-known and applied properly even in households. Here are some generic, well-established instructions that suit most fabrics under a certain fabric category.

Cotton Care Instructions

Cotton is one of the most used materials across clothing categories. It has continued to grow in popularity for thousands of years. Basic knowledge on how to care for cotton is essential. 

Cotton is a natural, plant-based material. It is naturally soft, breathable, and skin-friendly. With the right care, cotton garments can last for a lifetime, or sometimes even longer.

Without a doubt, each piece of garment has its own specific instructions that must be followed. But there are a few points that most cotton garments call for.

The right temperature for washing cotton clothing is usually between 30ºC - 40ºC. If it is heavily stained, you can pre-trait stains before the washing cycle to avoid using higher temperatures.

For a sharp look, line drying the item is ideal. But some cotton pieces allow tumble drying in a low-heat program. If the care tag allows tumble dry, make sure to remove items while they are still slightly damp. It will prevent over-drying that may cause shrinkage and degradation. 

Cotton is more likely to wrinkle compared to synthetic fabrics. Yet it’s relatively easier to iron compared to linen. Quick iron on a medium heat is usually enough.

Linen Care Instructions

Made from flax, linen is a natural fabric that's incredibly breathable and excellent at moisture-wicking. Linen clothing and home textiles are widely popular across countries and continents. It's an elegant, premium quality fabric that can last for generations. But applying the right care process is critical if you want to have long-lasting garments. 

When washing linen textiles, refrain from exposure to extreme temperatures (extremely hot or cold). It may damage fibers' elasticity and original color. Some detergents and softeners may leave a residue that linen doesn't react well to. Check the garment's care tag for definitive instructions.

Tighter weaves are more prone to shrinking, and pre-treatment history also plays a decisive role in fabric behavior. High-quality, pre-softened linen typically minimizes shrinkage to between 3% and 5%. Untreated or lower-quality fabric can lose as much as 15% of its original size. 

Make sure to iron your linen garments on a low temperature setting while they are still slightly damp.

Polyester Care Instructions 

Polyester is a synthetic fabric that we come across frequently. Polyester has a popularity that comes from its durability. But it needs proper care to last that long. 

Wash polyester fabric at maximum 60ºC. Higher degrees can cause fiber damage and heat-induced wrinkles. Because it has a synthetic structure, it generates static electricity. To avoid that clinginess caused by static electricity, use fabric softener. 

%100 polyester fabric dries very quickly. There is no need to put polyester clothes into the tumble dryer. 

Another great feature about polyester is that it is wrinkle resistant. But if the wrinkles get out of hand, you can use iron at the lowest setting, but be sure to place a cloth between the fabric and the iron. That way you can prevent possible damage that may occur from heat. 

Viscose Care Instructions

Viscose is a semi-synthetic fabric that’s super smooth to the touch. It mostly behaves like cotton. Viscose is generally breathable, great at wicking moisture, and it has a nice drape.

Does viscose shrink, is a very common question. The short answer is, yes, it does. Washing viscose garments at high temperatures may cause shrinking. Most viscose clothing is hand wash only, some also suitable for delicate machine cycles. Using a laundry bag and washing inside out will help garments hold their shape even on a slow speed, low heat setting. 

To prevent shrinkage and distortion, go with line-drying for your viscose items.

The care process also affects the glossy look of viscose. Make sure to iron viscose textiles at cooler temperatures. Apply steam to smooth out wrinkles.

Stain Removal

Stain removal can be tricky in many cases, regardless of the fabric type. The right way to treat a stain depends on the fabric as much as it depends on the stain itself.

Different fabric type and stain combinations require various stain removal processes. But there necessary cautions that apply to every treatment method.

First of all you want to deal with stains as early as possible. Although older stains can be successfully treated, removing a stain is way easier if it hasn't sat for too long.

Chemical stain removers can help you remove specific stains. Yet it's crucial to check if the remover is suitable for the specific fabric type.

Stain Removal Guide by The American Cleaning Institute is a good source for detailed instructions on how to treat specific stains on various fabric types.

Sustainable Fashion Beyond Sustainable Production

The discourse on sustainable production methods across sectors is certainly valid. Growing concerns over the sustainability of the fashion industry is especially logical, as it's a behemoth of an industry.

But consumption, use and care are also equally important. Using more and wasting less, preferring environment-friendly care steps over ones that prioritize convenience, or opting for long-lasting, premium quality fabrics are the decisions we all make, and effect us all.

Feel free to reach out to us for further information about fabrics.

Contact Us