Fabric Identification
CAUTION. WARNING. BE CAREFUL!
This should only be done by skilled burners! Make sure there is a bucket of water nearby and that you burn in a metal bucket or non-plastic sink. To identify fabric that is unknown, a simple burn test can be done to determine if the fabric is a natural fiber, man-made fiber, or a blend of natural and man-made fibers. The burn test is used by many fabric stores and designers and takes practice to determine the exact fiber content. However, an inexperienced person can still determine the difference between many fibers to “narrow” the choices down to natural or man-made fibers.
This elimination process will give information necessary to decide the care of the fabric. Blends consist of two or more fibers and, ideally, are supposed to take on the characteristics of each fiber in the blend. The burning test can be used but the fabric content will be an assumption. WARNING: All fibers will burn! Asbestos treated fibers are, for the most part fire proof. The burning test should be done with caution. Use a small piece of fabric only. Hold the fabric with tweezers, not your fingers. Burn over a metal dish with soda in the bottom or even water in the bottom of the dish. Some fabrics will ignite and melt. The result is burning drips which can adhere to fabric or skin and cause a serious burn.
Cotton:
Cotton is a plant fiber. When ignited it burns with a steady flame and smells like burning leaves. The ash left is easily crumbled. Small samples of burning cotton can be blown out as you would a candle.
Linen:
Linen is also a plant fiber but different from cotton in that the individual plant fibers which make up the yarn are long where cotton fibers are short. Linen takes longer to ignite. The fabric closest to the ash is very brittle. Linen is easily extinguished by blowing on it as you would a candle.
Silk:
Silk is a protein fiber and usually burns readily, not necessarily with a steady flame, and smells like burning hair. The ash is easily crumbled. Silk samples are not as easily extinguished as cotton or linen.
Wool:
Wool is also a protein fiber but is harder to ignite than silk as the individual “hair” fibers are shorter than silk and the weave of the fabrics is generally looser than with silk. The flame is steady but more difficult to keep burning. The smell of burning wool is like burning hair.
Product Type
Shirt:
Hand wash is recommended. If you use the washing machine, please do not use high temperatures or large numbers of spins. High temperature of dryers might cause color change, shrinkage and reduce product’s life time.
Trousers:
Dry-cleaning is recommended. If that’s not regularly possible, please hand wash your trousers. In case washing machine needs to be used, do not use high temperatures and large number of spins. High temperature of dryers might cause color change, shrinkage and reduce product’s life time.
Jackets / Vests:
Dry-cleaning is recommended. Hand-wash or machine-wash is strictly not recommended. Please send a set of Jacket/ Trousers (and/ or) vest together, to the dry cleaners, and not separately.
The Basics of Removing Stains
Alcoholic Beverages:
Rinse stain immediately with cold water or soak stain 30 minutes in cold water. Apply detergent or dishwashing liquid to any trace of stain while still wet. If safe for the fabric, wash in hot water using chlorine bleach.
Baby Food, Formula:
Rinse with cold water. Soak with an enzyme soaking product. Rinse. Wash as usual. If stain remains, apply a pretreat product and wash again.
Treat stain immediately:
Treat stain immediately. Soak 30 minutes or more in cold water. Rub detergent into stain. If stain persists, place a small amount of household ammonia on the stain and rub again with detergent. If safe for fabric, wash in hot water and chlorine bleach if traces of the stain persist.
Candle Wax:
Rub with ice and scrape off excess wax. Place stain between paper towels and press with warm iron. Then place stain face down on paper towels and sponge with rubbing alcohol, if safe for fabric (refer to WARNING above). Let dry, wash. If traces of color remain, wash with commercial color remover (Rit, Putnam,* etc.) or, if safe for the fabric, hot water and chlorine bleach.
Wool Fabric Care Tips
Basic Tips:
- Allow 24 hours before wearing a wool garment again. The natural resiliency of wool fabric will allow wrinkles to fall out and the original shape to bounce back.
- Soil and dust can be removed from wool fabric by brushing lengthwise with a garment brush. Wool garments with heavily napped surfaces should be brushed regularly. Finer wool fabric should be restored using a damp cloth instead of a brush.
- If a wool garment gets damp, hang it out of direct sunlight. Be sure to brush it after it is dry.
- If a label says “Dry Clean Only” take the garment to a professional dry cleaner for the best results. You may choose to hand wash the garment instead.
Removing Stains from Wool Fabric:
- Try to treat stains immediately to prevent them from setting into the fabric.
- With a clean white cloth, blot to remove as much of the stain as possible. Do not rub.
- Take garments with stubborn stains to the dry cleaner as soon as possible. This includes stains caused by paint, dyes, nail polish, etc.
- Have a bottle of stain or spot removal solution on hand for oil based stains such as oil, make-up, or chocolate. Make sure that the product you use is safe for wool fabric. Test the solution on an inconspicuous area before using on the stain.
- Be sure to remove stains before pressing. Heat can cause stains to set in wool fabric.
Hand Washing Wool Fabric:
- Clean wool fabric using a mild detergent in lukewarm water. Never use hot water! Do not use bleach. bleach dissolves wool fabric.
- Completely cover the garment in water and soak for 3 to 5 minutes. Gently squeeze to allow water to penetrate the fabric. Do not wring the garment.
- Rinse thoroughly with cool water to remove all traces of soap.
- Squeeze gently to remove excess water. Do not wring the garment.
- To dry, lay the garment on a flat surface, reshaping if necessary and allow to dry away from direct sunlight and heat. Do not hang to dry. This will cause the wool fabric to stretch from the weight of the water that has soaked into the fibers.
- Never put wool clothing in the dryer! The combination of heat, friction and pressure will cause shrinkage.
Ironing Wool Fabric:
- Set iron for WOOL setting.
- Add water to the iron. Always use steam heat when pressing. Never iron wool fabric dry.
- Squeeze gently to remove excess water. Do not wring the garment.
- Press garment on the inside of the garment to avoid surface shine.
- Use a pressing cloth when top pressing. A clean white handkerchief or cotton cloth may also be used.
- When pressing napped fabrics, place a piece of the same fabric or a thick terry cloth towel on the ironing board to prevent crushing.
- If napped wool fabric is slightly scorched when pressing, rub lightly with an emery board. A diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide may be used for a more severe scorch. Be sure to test on a hidden area first.
- Shine created by pressing may be reduced by sponging white vinegar on surface of wool garment. Rinse thoroughly.
- Some recommended notions for someone with a lot of wool to press are a steam iron, a tailor’s ham for pressing curved areas such as collars and lapels, a seam roll for pressing seams open without making a visible seam edge, a point presser for hard-to-reach places, and a press cloth.
Wool Fabric, Clothing, and Blanket Storage:
- To prevent the invasion of the clothes moth, brush wool with a fabric brush before storing.
- Clean the garment or blanket. Food stains and body oils attract moths. Dry cleaning or laundering kills moth eggs and larvae.
- Store cleaned wool fabric in airtight bags or containers with tight-fitting lids. When folding, add white tissue paper between folds to prevent wrinkling.
- Have a bottle of stain or spot removal solution on hand for oil based stains such as oil, make-up, or chocolate. Make sure that the product you use is safe for wool fabric. Test the solution on an inconspicuous area before using on the stain.
- Add mothballs to the container. Do not put them directly on the fabric. Hang them in small loosely woven cloth bags near the fabric. Clothing will need to be aired out after removing from storage to remove the mothball odor.