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Article
Laundry

Fabric Fundamentals

By HC Staff

Categories: Laundry
Tagged: Clothes, Dry Cleaning, Dryer, Drying Clothes, Fabric, Ironing, Laundry, Washing Clothes

Approach the laundry room with confidence! Here is a basic rundown of several fabrics and what to watch out for during the laundering process. These are generalizations. Variations in fiber size, weave, chemical treatments and blends make a difference in a fabric’s ability to undergo exposure to water, detergent or heat, or to bounce back from a wrinkle. So read clothing labels and believe what they say.

 

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FabricSourceLaunderingDryingResiliencyIroning
SilkAnimal fiberDry cleanDry cleanResists wrinkles somewhatIron wrong side with intervening cloth
WoolAnimal fiberDry cleanDry cleanResists wrinklesIron wrong side, medium heat
LinenPlant fiberGentle cycleDrip dryWrinklesIron on hot
CottonPlant fiberMachine washableTumble dryWrinklesIron on hot
PolyesterManmadeMachine washableTumble dry permanent pressResists wrinklesIron on low to medium heat
SpandexManmadeMachine washableTumble dry low/drip dryResists wrinklesIron on low
NylonManmadeGentle cycleTumble dry lowWrinklesIron on low to medium heat
RayonManmade from celluloseDry cleanDry cleanWrinklesIron on low to medium heat
AcetateManmade from celluloseDry cleanDry cleanResists wrinkles somewhatIron wrong side on low to medium heat
Reference: Cheryl Mendelson’s Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House

 


Fabric Fundamentals:  Created on October 4th, 2005.  Last Modified on January 21st, 2014