The most delicate clothes and other items in your wardrobe should be hand-washed rather than machine-washed to maintain their shape, colour, and general appearance, from underwear to cashmere sweaters. Check the care label on an item before washing it. If the clothing has a dry clean only label, always follow it and take it to a professional dry cleaner. The label indicates that the garment may be damaged by water or severe movement.
Wash and iron service suggested considering a structured suit: Even if the exterior fabric, such as polyester, is washable, the interior structure of interfacings that give the garment its shape may not. Some loose or soft products, such as sweaters with a “dry clean” label, can be hand-washed successfully. If you’re unsure, you should take the item to a reliable dry cleaner.
How Often Should Delicate Clothes Be Cleaned & Ironed?
Every three wears a clean delicate garment, such as a blouse, which is a good rule of thumb. Consider washing a delicate clothes worn near the skin, such as lingerie, every one or two wearings if you need to clean it.
What You’ll Need:
- Sink, tub, or large bucket
- Towels
- Drying rack
- Padded hangers
- Mild liquid detergent
- Cool water
#1 – Sanitise the sink:
It’s easy to overlook the importance of keeping the sink you’re using for hand-washing clothes sparkling clean. Grease traces in kitchen sinks can be transferred to clothing. Skincare items left behind in bathroom sinks may bleach clothes.
#2 – Fill water in the sink:
Before putting anything in the sink or tub, be sure it’s full of water. The force of rushing water can stretch some materials. If you need to add more water, use your palm or a cup to deflect the power of the water.
As per wash and iron service, the water should always be cool or warm when hand-washing delicate clothes, never exceeding 85 degrees. Colour bleeding or shrinkage can happen when using hot water.
Also Read: Know Caring And Washing Denim Jeans Myths
#3 – Add the detergent:
Use 1 teaspoon of gentle liquid detergent while hand-washing. To get clean clothing, you don’t need a lot of bubbles, and too much detergent means a lot of rinsing or a garment with detergent residue in the fibres.
Always add detergent to the water before adding the garments, and give it a quick swirl to make sure the detergent is dissolved completely and distributed.
#4 – Soak the garment and swish it around:
Submerge the fabric in the water, leaving sufficient room in the sink (never overflow it). Make sure the cloth is completely saturated before using it. Allow at least five minutes for the garment to soak before gently swishing it through the water. Twisting or scrubbing the cloth might cause it to stretch and warp.
#5 – Wash the clothing in the sink after draining it:
Drain the soapy water from the garment and remove it from the sink. Do not wring the clothing out. Fill the sink with clean, lukewarm water and place the clothing in it to rinse. Float it in the water and swish it around. Repeated the process until no suds were visible.
Also Read: Preserve Your Wedding Dress by Dry Cleaner in London
#6 – Absorb water that isn’t necessary:
If the garment is light and delicate, such as lingerie, it can be hung to drip-dry right after being washed. To avoid stains on the clothing, always hang it on a padded, non-rusting hanger. Put the freshly rinsed garment flat on a big white towel and roll it up to absorb the water for heavier items like sweaters. Repeat the process with a second dry towel if required.
#7 – Air-dry the clothes:
Let the item air dry on a surface level in a well-ventilated area. Do not use a hot clothes dryer or direct heat to dry. Before drying knitted materials, reshape the garment. Because of the weight, heavy things will stretch or leave marks on the shoulders from the hanger. When drying items on a flat surface, flip the garment a few times to speed up the drying process.
Last words:
Most wash and iron services agree that silk, synthetics with polyester, lace, fine knits, chiffon, velvet and other lightweight fabrics should be categorised as delicates. These unique fabrics require a different cleaning method than your regular clothing, from silk ties to lacy bras. Delicate materials must be handled with care to keep their shape, beauty, and durability.
If you’re unsure about washing your expensive and delicate garments at home, or if they have embellishments like embroidery, beading, fabric-covered buttons, or pressed creases, it’s best to leave them to wash and iron service like Hello Laundry.
