Textile Care: Caring for Clothes and Household Textiles

2. What I Will Learn • To discuss how to care for clothing and household textiles • To understand care labelling • To prepare clothes and household textiles for laundering • To use a washing machine • To explain how to remove stains • To choose detergents and conditioners • To use a dryer and an iron correctly • To apply this knowledge in a practical way

3. Textile Care • Clean clothes that are well cared for look better and last much longer, so it is important to learn about fabrics and how to care for them. • Textiles get dirty and stain easily. It important to clean them before the dirt and stains become ingrained into the fabric, because then they are more difficult to remove.

4. Caring for Clothes Clothes that are well looked after last longer and look better. • Wash soiled or stained clothing as soon as you can. The longer they are left, the harder it will be to remove the stains and dirt. • Hang clothes straight after use on shaped or padded hangers; close any zips and buttons. • Fold knitwear and store it flat. • Mend clothes before storing, e.g. fix hems, sew on buttons. • Polish shoes and leather accessories to preserve them and keep them looking smart. • Store clothes in a wardrobe or in drawers.

5. Caring for Clothes (continued)

6. Care Labelling • Care labels are found on most clothes and household items. • Care labels may contain written instructions or symbols devised by the International Care Labelling Scheme. • They can be on a woven or printed label that is sewn into a garment. • Labels show the manufacturer’s name, the size, fibre content and care information.

7. Why Are Care Labels Important? • They help you make an informed decision when buying clothing. • They provide useful information that can save you time and money. • Your clothes last longer if you know how to care for them properly. • A garment that can only be dry cleaned could end up being very costly. • Care labels tell you what fibres are in garments so if you have an allergic reaction to certain fibres (e.g. wool), you can avoid them.

8. Care Label Law • Clothing and other textile products for sale in the EU must be labelled with the fibre content, e.g. ‘100% cotton’ or ‘50% wool, 50% acrylic’. • Manufacturers do not have to put the country of origin or any wash symbols on the care label – although most do.

9. Care Labelling Instructions • A washtub showing the washing temperature to be used • A triangle which indicates if chlorine bleach can be used Many of the care label instructions are in symbols. The International Care Labelling Scheme has five basic symbols:

10. Care Labelling Instructions (continued) • A square containing drying instructions • An iron with dots to indicate the temperature to be used • A circle for dry cleaning instructions for the dry cleaner

11. Drying Symbols • Tumble dry • Dry flat • Line dry • Do not tumble dry • Drip dry

12. Ironing Symbols • Cool iron • Hot iron • Warm iron • Do not iron

13. Bleaching Symbols • Bleach may be used • Do not bleach

14. Dry Cleaning Symbols • Do not dry clean

15. Washing Instructions There are three factors to consider when machine washing textiles: • Water temperature:Written inside the washtub symbol. • Wash action: How fast the machine moves the clothes around during the cycle. • The bar symbol under the washtub tells you the correct wash action and spin length for the item you are washing. • No bar indicates maximum washing action and spin • One bar indicates medium washing action and a short spin • A broken bar indicates minimum washing action or a wool cycle spin • Spin length: Spin (full) or short spin.

16. Washing Symbols

17. Washing Symbols (continued)

18. Washing Symbols (continued)

19. Washing Symbols

20. Stain Removal Most stains can be removed from fabrics by washing. However, some stains can be difficult to remove so another method of stain removal treatment will depend on: • The type of stain • The type of fibre • If the fabric is washable or not

21. Guidelines for Removing Stains • Act quickly or the stain will set. • Remove excess by blotting gently, but do not rub. • Check the care label to see if item is washable. • Remove stains before washing. • Always start with mild treatments, like soaking in cold water. • Always test commercial stain removers on a part of garment that will not be seen, e.g. inside seam or hem. • Try ‘Green’ stain removers first.

22. Guide to Stain Removal Get rid of this … Using this … Get rid of this … Get rid of this … Did you know that many household stains can be removed with other household items?

23. Guide to Stain Removal (continued) Get rid of this … Using this … Get rid of this … Using this …

24. Guide to Stain Removal (continued) Get rid of this … Using this … After treating the stain, wash according to the instructions on the care label.

25. Commercial Stain Remover If you need to use a commercial stain remover, it is important to: • Follow the instructions on the product. • Use a well-ventilated room, as many are dangerous to inhale. • Use gloves and wash your hands. • Not use it near flames. • Store it upright, in a cool dry place, away from children (why?)

26. Stain Removal Activity See Activity 28.7 in the TRB Work in pairs for this activity. • You have each been given fabrics with two different stains. • Treat the stain using the ‘green’ cleaners – e.g. lemon, baking soda, vinegar – to see which cleaner works best on which stains. • Feed back your results to the class and have a discussion on stain removal.

27. Preparing a Wash Repair any clothes that need mending. Remove stubborn stains. Close up zips and buttons. Empty pockets. Turn t-shirts and sweatshirts with ironed-on logos inside out (why?). Sort clothes according to their colour and their care labels – the colour in some clothes is colourfast, meaning it will not run. Other clothing has colours that are non-colourfast. These clothes need to be washed separately, as their colour will run into other clothing in the wash.

28. Delicate Fabrics • Wash by hand • Use a mild detergent • Rinse twice • Squeeze to remove excess water • Roll in a towel to remove water • Drip or dry flat

29. Detergents • Detergents are available in powder, liquid, liquitab or tablet form. They are made from a mixture of chemicals including enzymes, bleaching agents, optical brighteners, and perfumes. Some have added conditioners.

30. Detergent Research Activity Did you know that there are things we can do to make our laundry routines more eco-friendly? Do some research to find out how to do laundry in an environmentally friendly manner. Investigate eco-friendly detergents and compare the ingredients, cost and packaging information with another detergent on the market. Present your findings to your classmates in a creative way.

31. Fabric Conditioners • Fabric conditioners are added to the final rinse to: • Reduce static electricity • Soften clothes • Give fabrics a pleasant smell • Make ironing easier

32. Activity: Examination of Laundry Products Working in pairs, examine the laundry product in front of you. Complete the worksheet with the product information. Feed back information to your class and discuss the environmental impact of various laundry products. See Activity 28.9 in the TRB

33. Drying Clothes • Line drying costs nothing and clothes remain soft and smell fresh. It is the most eco-friendly method of drying. However, Irish weather is not always suitable for drying outside. • Clothes horses are used when the weather is bad but it causes condensation so the room must be well ventilated. • Clothes can be dried on a clothes line outside, on a clothes horse inside or by using a tumble dryer. (Which method do you think is best? Justify your answer.)

34. Drying Clothes (continued) • A tumble dryer contains an element that heats the air coming into the machine. • The clothes are rotated gently in the warm air and the moisture is removed through a vent in the wall, or is condensed from steam back into a water tank, which can be emptied. • Tumble dryers are costly to run, but they remove wrinkles and reduce the need for ironing.

35. Ironing • Check the care label and select the correct heat setting. • Iron clothes while they are still slightly damp or use a steam iron for a smoother finish. • Iron some items inside out (why?). • Iron carefully to avoid creasing. • An iron contains a heating element that heats the shiny base plate. • A thermostat controls the temperature, and a light turns off when the correct temperature is reached. • Irons contain a small water tank that creates steam, which is released through the base, making it easier to remove creases.

36. Quick Quiz • Suggest a stain remover for each of these stains: (a) blood, (b) egg and (c) ink. • What guidelines should be followed when washing and drying a linen dress? • List four guidelines to follow when ironing clothes. Give three reasons why care labels are attached to textiles. Sketch and describe a care label for: (a) a wool jumper and (b) a pair of denim jeans.