Some fabrics with both clothing and furniture require special care when cleaning and removing stains. Below are some very important tips to follow when cleaning these special products. I hope they help you as they have helped me. I welcome your feedback.
Suede
Some suede garments are now washable, but some can only be sponged or dry-cleaned. Make sure you look at the care label on these items and follow the instructions to the letter so as to not harm your item. Suede is a special fabric and special care needs to be taken to clean it. If you decide to clean suede, test any detergent or product in an inconspicuous area first, so if it has an adverse affect on the fabric, you will not be able to notice it. When you dry clean a suede outfit, dry clean all the pieces of the outfit all at one time because the suede will change color during the cleaning process. Rub suede occasionally with a suede brush or another piece of suede. In order to protect the finish, spray on a special suede fabric protector or have one professionally applied. I just use a brush to clean my suede shoes.
Silk
Silk thread, which is secreted from the larva of a moth, is actually the strongest of all natural fibers. It is usually wrinkle-resistant and elastic, holds it’s shape well, and, being cool and light, and is ideal in hot climates. Silk is a very delicate and special fabric. When the natural gum is not cleaned from the fiber, the material is called raw silk. Shantung, pongee, and tussah are all unevenly woven silks and are usually not dyed. A few special silk fabrics – crepe, chiffon, organza, voile, georgette, grosgrain, moiré, taffeta, and satin – are used for evening wear.
Most labels recommend dry cleaning because some silk dyes will dissolve in water, causing “bleeding” and color transfer. Some unlined silk items can be hand washed in lukewarm water using dishwashing liquid or another mild soap. If the label recommends hand washing, test for colorfastness first in an inconspicuous area. Knead the item gently in clear water to rinse, hang, and let air dry. Store in a dark place because sunlight can weaken the fabric and fade the color. Do not try to spot clean any stains on silk fabrics because it can weaken fabric and cause permanent marks. Never use bleach on silk.
Spandex
This is also known as the brand Lycra, spandex is used in swimwear, sportswear, underwear, and other garments and provides both shape and elasticity. This special fabric needs to be cleaned carefully also. Some fiber blends may be, dry-cleaned, but usually hand or machine washing is preferable. To ensure that spandex maintains its elasticity, hand-wash items in lukewarm water or machine wash on a gentle cycle, using a low temperature setting and a very mild detergent. Never wash spandex with chlorine bleach or a detergent that contains bleach. Be sure to rise well. Drip-dry, or use a low temperature setting on your dryer. It’s usually not necessary to use an iron on clothes made from spandex, but if you need to remove wrinkles, set the iron on the low temperature setting only and don’t leave the iron on one spot for too long, or it will burn the fabric.
Cotton
A “natural” product of the cotton plant, cotton is absorbent and comfortable, and helps keep you nice and cool when it is hot. The wide range of cotton fabrics includes canvas, chintz, percale, poplin, corduroy, jersey, and many more. Cotton wrinkles easily and may shrink, but cotton fabrics are usually washable, iron well, and are not vulnerable to moths. This special fabric is very versatile and comes in many blends. Cotton-polyester fabric combines qualities of both cotton and polyester in different proportions according to purpose and manufacturer. It’s more wrinkle resistant than cotton and breathes better than polyester, so it’s more comfortable. But, it can pill and it’s more likely to stain than cotton alone.
Cotton fabrics are usually washable and can be dry-cleaned, but read care instructions on care labels carefully. Unless a garment or other item made from cotton is “preshrunk,” it may come from out the wash to be several times smaller if you wash in anything but cold water. Cotton-polyester should be washed on the Permanent press cycle. Be sure to wash similar colors together, especially reds and other darks, because cotton tends to lose its color in water. Chlorine bleach is safe for white cottons, but use color-safe bleach on dyed cottons. To maintain shape, it’s best to air-dry cotton on a line, but if you must use a clothes dryer, set the machine for air-drying or very low heat. Use the Permanent press setting for cotton-polyester, and turn garments inside out to reduce pilling. Since 100 percent cotton fabric is not easily scorched, you can press it with an iron set to high. Sometimes 100 percent cotton fabric is treated with a wrinkle-resistant finish.
That is a list of some common, special fabrics and how to clean them. I hope you enjoyed these tips and that they were helpful to you.
