The basic rule regarding the care of clothes is to follow the instructions indicated on each fabric, taking into account different concepts to understand why certain changes may arise when washing clothes.
Classification of the different types of fabrics according to their composition and care of the garments:
- Natural fabrics
They are those whose main component is plant fibres, among which we find cotton, flax and hemp. These types of fabrics are those that are extracted from the hair of some seeds such as cotton, from the stems or bast (ducts that transport the sap to the plants) such as flax, hemp which is composed of fibers from husks such as coconut and cabuya which is the product obtained from fique.
This type of natural fibres are the ones that best absorb colour; that is why the care of garments or elements that are made of this type of material is simpler, as it is only necessary to wash the garments at a maximum of 30 degrees so that they do not shrink, separate the colours and dry in the air. If certain types of garments need to be ironed, this should be done by moistening them a little.
- Fabrics of animal origin
They are those composed through threads or fibers of animal origin such as wool or silk. The care of both wool and silk garments requires more attention, since they are very delicate materials; the washing of wool garments should be very infrequent; but the type of silk garments requires more frequent washing. In both fabrics, special attention should be paid to the washing temperature, no garments made of silk or wool should be twisted, and they should be dried naturally.
- Artificial or synthetic fabrics
They are fabrics that are made from different fibers or threads, such as polyester, acetate, viscose, acrylic and lycra among others. Care of this type of garments is relatively easy, as they do not require ironing for the most part. Garments made from this material may be washed by machine or manually with a soft soap, drying is fast and the type of fabric does not tend to become deformed.
There is an important point that requires attention regarding the washing of fabrics and their composition, such as determining if they are raw fabrics (without coloring), white or with strong or soft colors, since the type of detergents used depends on this; if they have whitening compounds in the case of whites or the use of more neutral detergents for better care of colored garments, reducing the temperature of the wash.
Another important aspect to take into account regarding the care of the garments is the use of centrifugation with more or less intensity and also the use of the dryer, since some fibers such as silk or wool do not admit this type of treatment. In fact, not only this type of fabric, but any fabric in general, should not be dried in the sun, but in the shade, since white can become yellowish and the colours lose their intensity.
When the first washing of garments is carried out, the shrinkage rate that fabrics can experience lengthwise and widthwise should be considered. The label usually indicates the care of the garments, the temperature of both washing and ironing, and the specifications for washing the coloured garments separately, as there may be dye left in the water.
The clothes that are made nowadays are made with materials that mix natural, artificial and synthetic fibers at the same time, which makes them more resistant and whose characteristics change completely when the clothes are taken care of. For example, silk mixed with polyester results in a fabric with more shine and softness that does not crease and can be washed at home.
Characteristics of each fabric based on its composition
- Synthetic: They are resistant to abrasion and the action of chemicals. This type of garments can be elastic, glossy and admit some dyes, so the care of the garments is light since they are easy to wash, are not absorbent and dry quickly.
- Vegetable fiber: Its main characteristic is that they are fresh and breathable fabrics, with perfect fall and elasticity. The care of this material for washing is based on the use of water with very little soap; as for the ironing it resists temperatures up to 200 degrees.
- Animal fiber: Its texture is very soft and comfortable and the care of garments produced in this material, depends exclusively on the use that is given and counts times the garment is washed, since the less is made, more duration has.
C.I GLOBO S.A.S is a company that offers a wide portfolio of products; we are specialists in the treatment and care of the garments and each one of their fabrics, for an optimum quality finish.