Q. The care label on a sweater indicates it is hand washable. Can I
wash it in a machine on a delicate cycle?
A. There is some risk
involved in using any care process not recommended by the manufacturer. Hand wahsing
involves manual removal of soils with water, detergent, and a gentle squeezing
action. A care label that calls for machine washing, in a delicate or gentle cycle,
indicates the soil can be removed with water, detergent or soap, slow agitation,
and reduced time in a washing machine.Hand washing is a restrictive care process
that minimizes the amount of abrasion a garment receives in cleaning. If hand-washable
garments are machine washed in a gentle cycle, agitation may be further minimized
by putting the item in a net bag. Even this procedure is in violation of the care
label instruction, however, and places responsibility for damages on the launderer
rather than the manufacturer.
Q. Should I use hairspray to remove
a ballpoint ink stain?
A. Hairspray and water can remove ballpoint
ink, but you may be trading one problem for another. That's because hairspray
could contain alcohol and oils such as resins and lanolin. The alcohol in the
hairspray can cause color damage especially on silk; likewise, oils and other
ingredients could lead to additional stains.
Q. How do you remove
deodorant and antiperspirant residue?
A. Many people do not realize
that prolonged contact with deodorants and antiperspirants may cause permanent
damage. Combined with the effects of perspiration, the damage can be extensive.
The most frequent damage is caused by overuse of these products, or infrequent
cleanings. This leads to the buildup of a stiff, caked-up residue or to fabric
damage.
To prevent chemical damage, do not overuse the product and allow it to dry before dressing. Wear dress shield with silk garments.
To remove the residue on washable garments, wash as soon as possible after wear in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Soaking in a detergent containing enzymes or an enzyme presoak may be necessary. If the stain remains, try using three percent hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach, according to fiber type or care label instructions. Before using, test for colorfastness.
Q. How should I clean my rayon
garments?
A. First we must remember that rayon is a manufactured
fiber composed of regenerated cellulose derived from wood pulp or cotton linters.
It is absorbent and comfortable to wear. There are different forms of the fiber
know as rayon, viscose, cuprammonium, high-wet modulus and lyocel sold as Tencel™.
With the exception of lyocel, rayon is very sensitive to water. Many dyes applied to rayon are not colorfast and will bleed or migrate upon contact with moisture. In addition, manufacturers often add sizing to rayon in order to achieve a desired body or drape. Some sizings are water-soluble, and washing will distort the shape of the garment. drycleaning is recommended for most rayon garments. Although substantially similar in chemical composition to rayon, lyocel can be either drycleaned or washed. However, when caring for garments made of lyocel it is important to follow the care instructions carefully. If a garment made of lyocel is washed when should have been drycleaned, it may result in excessive shrinkage and a wrinkled appearance.
Q.
Does frequent drycleaning shorten the life of a garment?
A. On
the contrary, frequent cleaning prolongs the life of a garment. Not only do stains
set with age, making the garment unwearable, but ground-in dirt and soil act as
an abrasive, like sandpaper, causing rapid wear of fibers. Also, insects are attracted
to soiled clothes and will cause further damage.