Buying clothes is one of the most exciting and fascinating shopping activities for both men and women. Adding new clothes to your wardrobe is exciting. It's important to know how to clean them properly to keep them in good condition. The type of fabric differs from one cloth to another, as do the stain removal and washing instructions for each.
Most premium clothing brands provide washing instructions, often recommending a specific water temperature or whether to use a front load washer or a top load washer. However, with other clothes, especially synthetic fabrics, you might not find exact washing guidelines.
Therefore, we have compiled a list detailing which clothing materials need heavy-duty cleaning or can be managed with a lighter approach, like cold water in a washer and dryer. This guide also includes tips for the dry cleaning process, managing lightly soiled garments, and understanding cycle times and drying times in your laundry room.
Additionally, it's crucial to regularly check the lint filter to ensure optimal performance. Whether you're dealing with a challenging stain removal or just regular upkeep, this guide covers all the essentials for keeping your wardrobe fresh and clean in the United States.
Normal Washing vs. Dry Clean
There is a significant difference in the process of washing compared to dry cleaning, especially when dealing with different clothing materials. The way the cloth is treated varies greatly between these two methods. Incorrect treatment of clothing might lead to irreversible damage. Understanding which type of treatment different clothes require is crucial because once you ruin a garment, you cannot restore it.
The first step in this process is to check the label, as it can be surprising to find out that clothes you thought needed dry cleaning may not, and vice versa. This is particularly true when considering how to effectively remove stains without damaging the fabric. Now, let's delve into the types of clothes that require dry cleaning and understand their specific needs in the drying cycle. Visit Hamperapp for more information.
Clothes that Should be dry-cleaned
Following are the different types of clothing materials that require dry cleaning:
- Linen – Linen-based clothing materials that are embellished should be dry cleaned for sure. Other types of linen fabrics do not require dry cleaning. Embellished linen fabrics are really hard to maintain because they could wrinkle easily; hence, opting for a dry clean and then pressed to perfection will make it look smooth and clean. If you try to do it all by yourself, then you are only going to damage the linen fabric and waste your valuable time in the process.
- Rayon - Rayon is one of those semi-synthetic materials that require dry cleaning. There is no point in washing this kind of fabric at home because you won’t be able to make them clean. If any of your rayon clothes are washed at home, you might end up with a cloth that is shrunk, misaligned and with a major dye bleeding problem, all of which cannot be corrected.
- Silk - Silk is one of the natural and delicate clothing materials you can ever find. All types of clothes made of silk should be dry cleaned without fail. This should be done after every use because if not, you will lose the naturally soft and smooth silky feel of the material. Dry cleaning will help maintain your silk clothes in their original sheen and silkiness.
- Woolen clothes - Wool tends to shrink if washed the wrong way; most of you who have many woolen clothes would already know this. Shrinking is quite common in wool and so in order to maintain its original size and quality, you need to get them washed from a dry cleaner.
- Leather - Washing leather and leather-based clothes are a bit complicated than the usual washing procedure. Leather clothes are prone to stains and soils. Any minor stains and soils can be washed at your home, but it is very difficult to get rid of major stains at home. At a dry cleaner, you’d be able to get your favorite leather jacket and other clothes washed without cracking or any damages. Having spent so much money on your leather clothing, dry cleaning would be the wise way to go about it.
- Clothes that have a lining - If you have clothes that have a lining on them, then you should get them washed only from a dry cleaner. If you wash such clothes at home, they become fragile and you soon start feeling uncomfortable wearing them. The original shape of the clothes will be lost, which will be disappointing.
- Heavy and fragile clothes - If you have designer clothing that is large and does not normally fit in a washing machine, it should be taken to a dry cleaner. It is also very difficult to dry such large and heavyweight clothes. Clothes that have embroidery, beading, feather, and other accessories in them should also be given to a dry cleaner. Premium fabrics such as velvet, chiffon, etc. should also be dry cleaned.
Clothes that Need No Dry Cleaner
Certain types of clothes are best washed at home or under a normal wash. Most of you might know the clothes that come under this category, but let us keep you updated:
- Cotton - This is the number one clothing material used by most of us and we all have one because it is comfortable and easy to maintain. Our day-to-day clothes are mostly cotton. But make sure to check the washing instructions on the clothes because the water temperature at which cotton should be washed will differ from one type of cotton to another. If you wash the wrong way, then you’d end up with a shrunk piece of clothing.
- Denim – Denim-based clothes are meant for casual occasions and made to take a tough beating, so you need not take them to a dry cleaner. You can clean them using a normal wash cycle and they can be washed along with your regular laundry.
- Synthetic fabrics - All kinds of synthetic fabrics, which include nylon, spandex, polyester, etc., can be washed at home. The only two things to note when you wash them at home are - set the wash cycle to low or delicate and once they are done, hang them to dry and avoid using the dryer. This will help you keep these clothes as new as possible.
We have discussed so far about which clothing items you should and shouldn’t dry clean. If you are still unaware of the kind of washing required for any of your clothes, contact an expert to know more. By knowing the type of washing required for all your favorite clothes, you can maintain them in their best shape for a longer period of time. Visit us now to Hamperapp.
