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Frugal Fabric Care by Nikki Willhite Fabric is made from many different fibers, such as cotton, wool, and polyester. Some of the fabrics are from natural fibers, such as cotton, silk and wool, and others are synthetic, such as polyester and nylon. When fiber is made into fabric, it may be knitted or woven. There are also varying finishes or chemicals added to the finish that will add additional qualities to the fabric, such as making it stiffer, or stain resistant. With such diversity in fibers and fabric, it can be hard to care for fabric items. Each fabric has its own unique characteristics and must be treated differently. You are most likely to hurt fabric when you wash it. It is a good idea to always keep washing instructions attached to items made of fabric. If you remove them, keep the instructions in a notebook for reference. When you have no instructions, you have to use basic fiber care rules. HERE ARE SOME OF THE BASICS OF FIBER AND FABRIC CARE Color The first rule of washing fiber is to be mindful of color. Red is dangerous. You can put a small red item in a regular wash, and everything will come out pink. Synthetic fabrics don't usually run, but beware of cotton dyed red. Always test red items before you wash them by soaking them in warm water to see if the water changes color. Sometimes you have to wash red items by themselves. Bleach Bleach will whiten clothing, but it is also hard on fibers. Never bleach delicate items. You will also find that bleach will remove the color on inexpensive towels. Stains Always remove stains before you wash an item. Hot water will set stains in permanently. Cotton Cotton is a natural fiber. It is strong, but it shrinks when you wash it. If you buy a pair of sweat pants in 100% cotton, and the fabric was not pre-shrunk before sewn, they may end up at your knees after you wash and dry them. A lot of people just wash their 100% cotton items, and then lay them flat to dry to avoid shrinkage. Cotton will wrinkle in the dryer. You can try hanging it up wet to dry, but you will probably need to get out the iron. Cotton can be ironed at high heat. Quilters love cotton because it holds creases and is easy to work with. However with clothing a little polyester is usually added for additional strength and to make the fabric more wrinkle resistant. Wool Wood is another natural fiber with many of the qualities of cotton. It is best known for it's ability to keep in heat and keep you warm. Be careful when you wash wool. Quality wool clothing is usually dry cleaned. It can be put in the washing machine, but it will lose its shape. It may stretch, or it may shrink. My boys had a lot of item they used for camping that were purchased  at thrift stores. If you buy a used item, and it fits, it will probably stay the same when you wash it. Polyester Polyester is a synthetic fiber. It is very durable fabric. It will not stretch or shrink. Polyester washes well, and does not wrinkle in the dryer. No one likes the look of cheap polyester, but a quality polyester, made with a little rayon, can look like silk. If you have to iron a synthetic fabric, use the low-heat setting on your iron. There are many more fabrics, but the ones above are the most common. If you choose the fabrics for your clothing and home carefully, they will require less care and maintenance. Take care of them properly, and your clothing and other items will last longer, and you will save money. About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!

 

 

 

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