How to wash summer clothes properly always seems surrounded by a great deal of mystery. It can be challenging to wash summer clothes by hand or in a machine. It’s even more problematic because labels on some of our favourite summer clothing items, including silky camis, linen trousers, and cotton dresses, specify various washing techniques.
To effectively increase the life of your summer clothing, especially as we get ready to store them to make room for our fall stuff, our professional laundry services have created a guide, which is full of tips on when to wash standard seasonal fabrics like cotton, linen, rayon and more as well as folding and hanging them correctly. Think of this as your go-to resource for maintaining the sharp look of your summer clothing into upcoming seasons!
How to Wash Different Summer Clothes & Fabrics:
#1 – Cotton:
As cotton is so flexible, clothes can be machine-washed in any detergent and bleached as needed. Cotton items should be machine-washed regularly in warm water for optimal results.
Use a low tumble dry setting. Professional laundry services suggest using bleach in hot water to wash white cotton.
Use half the detergent and give cotton towels, robes, and washcloths an extra rinse cycle to keep them fluffy (detergent residue may reduce softness). Cotton can be ironed at the highest heat setting but wrinkles easily.
#2 – Linen:
According to laundry services, linen is better used in hand or machine washings than in dry cleaning, and it gets softer with each wash. The best temperature to wash linen is lukewarm or cool, ideally gentle.
The best washing cycles for linen are gentle ones with very light soaps. You can put your linen clothes in the dryer on low, but take them out while they’re still a bit wet because overdrying might cause the fabric to become rigid.
To dry, put flat or hang. Although thin linen wrinkles quite quickly, it improves the look. Iron on low while the clothing is still moist if your pieces are highly creased.
Also Read: Advantages Of Mobile Laundry And Dry Cleaning Services
#3 – Rayon/Viscose:
Rayon is lightweight, flows smoothly, breathes like cotton, and has a silky look and feel. Using steam and iron on the medium is advisable as they wrinkle readily. Handwashing special or highly embroidered garments in excellent to lukewarm water is a good idea. Twisting is necessary—hanging damp things completely wet will avoid creasing and ensure the garment maintains its shape.
#4 – Polyester:
As polyester produces static cling, most can be machine-washed and dried in warm water with an additional fabric softener.
Always check the tag because some poly-blends require dry cleaning. If needed, use a moderately warm iron when drying the clothing. While locks stain, polyester is easy to maintain.
Before washing, apply stain remover to the affected area and let it sit for ten to twenty minutes. If your clothing is white, you might want to soak it in a gallon of water with 1/3 cup of automated dish washing soap for a whole day before putting it in the washing machine.
#5 – Workout Clothes:
Always add two or three tablespoons of baking soda to each trainer after working out to absorb extra moisture and odour. Workout trainers should be replaced by intense exercisers every three to six months. Wash your equipment right away after using it if it gets sweaty.
To prevent stains and aromas from settling in, hand wash them if there isn’t a nearby machine. If you can’t wash your sweaty workout clothes right away, hang them up instead of bunching them up and throwing them in the hamper, which will lead to mildew.
Let the items soak for an hour before washing them; technical workout clothing can be machine-washed in cold water with a small amount of extra detergent; air-drying spandex and lycra workout clothing keeps elasticity; if you choose to use a dryer, make sure it’s on the lowest setting.
Also Read: 5 Things You Don’t Know About Washing Your Gym Clothes
#6 – Silk:
For simple silk items, dry cleaning is OK, but hand washing is preferable to preserve their integrity—Handwash silk in cold or warm water with a small amount of dissolved shampoo or mild detergent. Like most natural fibres, Silk is not temperature sensitive; therefore, use warm or chilly water throughout. Don’t ever let silk air dry! Instead, carefully press the water out of the thing by rolling it up in a towel.
Put in a mesh bag and use the mild cycle in the washing machine to clean items labelled as “washable silk,” such as tank tops and undergarments. Using a padded hanger, let it dry.
Add up to three teaspoons of white vinegar for every two quarts of water to preserve the silk’s colour and condition. Pressing silk should be done when it’s still wet.
Use a low ironing temperature and avoid using steam, which might cause watermarks. Silk must always be kept in a dry, dark environment; it should never be kept in plastic, as the fabric needs to breathe.
Conclusion:
Absolutely! Keeping your summer clothes clean and fresh is key to staying warm. Understanding how to wash various summer fabrics extends their lifespan and keeps them looking their best. If Laundry feels like a burden, Hello Laundry can help! Our convenient and professional laundry services free you up to enjoy summer while we take care of the cleaning.
