You’re staring at the tag on your clothing and wondering, “What the hell is spandex (or linen or viscose or linen or whatever)? How should I clean it?”.
We have all been there – at least those of us who do our own laundry.
In this post, I am going to talk about how to wash and care for some of the commonest fabrics, from wool to spandex and acrylic.
Clothing comes in all sorts of fabrics from cotton and leather to spandex and cashmere. Knowing how to wash all these different fabrics can be daunting. If you do it wrong, you will end up ruining your clothes, something many of us don’t want.
It’s not fun to lose your favourite clothing, not to mention the expenses of having to replace clothes now and then.
As a rule of thumb, you ought to check the tag on your garments before washing them to know the fabric you’re dealing with.
Let’s dive in.
How to Wash 12 Common Fabrics Correctly
1. Wool
You know those soft and wooly warm winter clothes? They’re often made of a fabric called wool. Wool is natural fibers sheared off of sheep.
Common warm clothes made of wool include coats, blankets, scarves, shawls, and jackets.
How to wash:
Wool is very similar to cashmere, and almost the same rules apply.
Wool tends to attract dirt quickly, so avoid exposing it to dirt. Washing it frequently, on the other hand, causes wool to deteriorate, so you got to avoid that.
Typically, wool fabrics can be safely cleaned in the washing machine. Just be sure to use the wool or delicates cycle. Also, ensure the detergent you’re using is gentle.
If your wool fabric has tough stains, consider using an enzymatic cleaning product to remove them.
2. Cashmere
Ever heard of the cashmere goat? That is the creature from which the cashmere fabric is obtained. The material is the silky undercoat of this goat.
If you own a cashmere garment, you probably know that the material is quite expensive. According to HuffPost, rearing cashmere goats is not easy, and besides, it takes 4 of these goats to make a single sweater. That’s why cashmere garments are costly.
You can usually find cashmere in some of the most comfortable sweaters and scarfs.
How to wash:
Wash cashmere in the ‘delicates’ or ‘wool’ cycle of your washing machine. But, be sure to put the garments in a mesh lingerie bag beforehand.
If you prefer to wash them by hand, use cold water. Add a little baby shampoo or another product suitable for washing delicate fabrics. If the clothes are very dirty, soak them in cold water for half an hour before washing them.
Caution: don’t wring cashmere garments. Also, avoid drying them in the dryer. It is best to turn the clothes inside out and dry them flat. Feel free to remove excess moisture with a salad spinner before laying the garments down to dry.
3. Acrylic
No, it is not acrylic nails. The basic substance (acrylic acid) making up acrylic nails is the same as the one that makes up acrylic fiber, but acrylic clothing is not the same as acrylic nails.
Acrylic fabric has been there for quite a while – since the 1940s. It is frequently used to make sweaters, especially the ones we wear during winter, due to its insulating capabilities.
How to wash:
Wash acrylic fabrics in the washing machine, using medium heat setting. Normally, you can wash it with other fabrics.
If need be, feel free to iron acrylic fabric, but use medium to low heat.
Caution: acrylic fabrics tend to peel, so you got to handle them with care. You might want to keep a lint shaver.
4. Cotton
Cotton is one of the most loved fibers. That’s because it is inexpensive and durable, and at the same time, natural.
This fiber grows in tufts on seedpods, and is very easy to manufacture, hence the low price.
How to wash:
Washing cotton is a piece of cake and the rules are flexible. You can wash the fabric in the washing machine, using cold or hot water. You should, however, check the tag to get the exact temperature limits for your clothing.
You can dry cotton using your dryer. The wrinkles can be ironed out.
Note: cotton tends to shrink. Therefore, be sure not to over-dry it.
5. Leather and Suede
One of the things that made us love the alpha vampires of the Vampire Diaries was the leather jackets they wore. They looked really cool, didn’t they? If you haven’t watched the show, you should; it’s fantastic.
Well, we all love leather jackets. They’re cool, aren’t they?
Suede is a variety of leather that has a napped finish. You will commonly find it in shoes, purses, and even shirts.
According to Mahi Leather, there are 2 major factors that cause damage to leather – chemicals, and abrasion. The damage can be in the form of peeling or cracking.
Drying out is another major cause of damage.
How to wash:
Caution: do not machine wash leather. It is best to wash it by hand to give it the kind of delicate treatment needed.
To wash, make a solution of soapy water. Be sure to use mild soap and don’t add any other cleaning products.
Dip a lint-free towel in the solution and use it to wipe down the parts of the clothing made of leather.
You can agitate by hand the parts of the garment made of another fabric other than leather. For instance, if you’re washing a leather jacket, you can wash the collar and most extreme parts of the arms.
As for suede, you can use the portable washing machine for camping (or any washer for that matter), but be sure to apply the delicate cycle to prevent abrasion.
6. Denim
Denim is a variety of cotton. It is essentially cotton that’s been blended with other fibers. One distinguishing trait is the twill weaving aspect, where the fibers run in parallel and diagonal ribbing fashion.
One good example of denim fabric is jeans.
How to wash:
The main idea is to clean them without fading or shrinking the fabric, as these are the main problems.
Denim should be washed in lukewarm or cold water.
To prevent fading, turn the fabric inside out and presoak it in cold water for 45 minutes to an hour. By adding a tablespoon of vinegar and salt in the water, you treat the denim and keep it from fading.
From there, wash the jeans in the gentle cycle to prevent fading and shrinking.
Pro tip: wash your jeans as few times as possible. You might even want to wash it after three to five wears to preserve it.
Chip Bergh, CEO of the American clothing brand Levi & Strauss Co., surprised the world by saying that you should never wash jeans.
7. Linen
Linen is one of the oldest fabrics. If you’re into medieval films, that’s the linen you see most of the people wearing therein.
High-quality linen from the flax plant is quite beautiful and long-lasting. It is also easy to clean.
How to wash:
One thing to note is that linen absorbs lots of water, so washing too many linen clothes together or washing the fabric with other fabrics is usually not a good idea.
Wash linen in cold water and leave it enough room to expand as it absorbs water. Go ahead and dry it in the dryer or air dry it.
The main issue with linen is that it wrinkles a lot. Thus, you want to keep an iron nearby.
8. Nylon
Nylon is a plastic-based synthetic fabric. It is commonly used in the manufacture of jackets, dresses, stockings, underwear, and handbags.
What makes nylon a preferable choice for clothing is its machine-washable, rugged, and water-resistant nature. It is also quite inexpensive.
How to wash:
As nylon is sturdy, it can be washed in the washing machine. Use warm water and some mild detergent.
One issue that typically affects nylon items is stretching and tearing. To prevent these, consider putting the garments in a mesh bag.
Nylon fabric can be dried in the dryer. To get around the problem of static electricity, put in a little fabric softener.
Note: if you decide to use a dryer, ensure you use the low heat setting to prevent wrinkling. Otherwise, air dry the garments.
9. Viscose/Rayon
Viscose is a kind of synthetic fiber. Obtained from wood pulp, this fabric is often found in women’s dresses.
This is a delicate fabric that is prone to shrinking and fading, so you want to be very careful how you wash it.
Ideally, you should wash rayon/viscose by hand, but you can use the washing machine as long as you’re careful. Either way, be sure to use cold water.
If you’re using the washing machine, first turn the garments inside out. Them put them in a mesh bag and launder on the delicate cycle.
It’s a bad idea to dry the clothes in the dryer. You want to air-dry them.
1o. Spandex
I have reason to believe the Spiderman and Superman outfit is made of spandex.
If you’re a workouts person, it is very likely that the outfit you put on when working out is spandex. It is the most common gym and workout fabric. You will find it in swimsuits.
The special trait of spandex is the flexibility. It’s a very stretchy material.
How to wash:
While spandex can be machine washed, it is not a good idea, as this can make it lose shape and flexibility.
If you decide to use the washing machine, set it to the gentle cycle and use cold water. One thing though: you should never dry spandex in the dryer.
Handwashing is the ideal way to wash spandex clothes. Use cold or lukewarm water and agitate gently. Use only mild detergent.
As mentioned, don’t dry the clothes in the dryer. Then again, don’t wring to remove excess water. Instead, knead them gently and air dry.
Pro tip: workout clothes are prone to odors, majorly from perspiration. If you’re looking to fight odors, presoak the garments in a solution of water and baking soda overnight before washing them.
11. Polyester
Like nylon, polyester is a synthetic fiber. It is also a favorite choice for clothing for its inexpensive nature. Unlike nylon, polyester is resistant to wrinkling, so it’s easier t handle.
Often, the fabric is combined with other fabrics, especially cotton, to make common clothing such as shirts.
Polyester is often found in t-shirts, raincoats, and hiking pants. It’s a preferable choice for weatherproof clothing.
How to wash:
Polyester is quite sturdy, so the rules are more flexible. You can wash it by hand or using the washing machine.
Warm water works best for polyester. Add a little laundry detergent as needed.
You can use bleach on polyester, but be sure to check the label first.
An alternative to bleach would be to soak the fabric. If you’re washing white polyester garments, consider soaking them first. If you soak them overnight in water containing half a cup of dishwashing detergent, you can make the stains go away and make the white look even whiter.
You can dry polyester in the dryer or air dry it. If using a dryer, consider adding some fabric softener. This will keep static electricity at bay and prevent tearing.
12. Silk
There’s no doubt that silk is one of the most luxurious fabrics. It’s the reason why the prices of silk clothes are usually so high.
How to wash:
Although many laundry experts, including Ariel UK, recommend washing by hand, silk can also be machine-washed. Just be sure to use the gentlest cycle and apply cold water.
When washing by hand, you can use either cold or lukewarm water. Add a little mild laundry detergent and agitate for a few minutes before rinsing.
If the clothes are very soiled, you can soak them in soapy water for 30 minutes before washing.
Like with other delicate fabrics, don’t machine-dry silk. Air dry it instead.
To remove excess moisture from the clothes without the risk of creating wrinkles, roll them in a dry towel. That will remove the excess water and allow the clothes to air dry faster.
Note: silk is quite vulnerable to fading. As such, you should think about the colorfastness of the clothes before using any forms of shampoo or special detergents.
For very expensive silk clothing, I would recommend sending the laundry to the dry cleaners.
FAQs: Washing Different Fabrics Properly
What does wash & wear mean?
Also called “easy care”, wash & wear is used to mean fabrics that you can wash, dry, and wear without having to iron. Wash & wear fabrics are those that are not prone to shrinking. These include nylon, spandex, and polyester.
Can I wash upholstery fabrics in the washing machine?
Most of the upholstery fabrics that are removable can be cleaned in the washing machine. As with any other fabric, you should first check the label to see what kind of fabric you’re dealing with, then wash it appropriately.
As for fabrics that cannot be removed, use a vacuum machine to clean without wetting the fabric. Then, put some water in a bucket and add a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and a tablespoon of vinegar. Then, soak a lint-free towel in the solution and use it to blot any stained parts of the fabric.
What fabrics can shrink when I wash them?
It is crucial to comprehend your fabrics before putting them in the portable washing machine and dryer. That way, you will be able to preserve their shape.
Natural fiber fabrics are the most prone to shrinking. These include cotton, wool, linen, and silk. Of these, cotton is the most vulnerable to shrinking.
The way to prevent clothes from shrinking is to wash them using cold water and to wash them by hand. If you have to use the washing machine, ensure you use only the gentle cycle.
A portable washing machine non electric version like the Avalon Washer might be a good choice for delicate fabrics.
Refrain from putting clothes that can shrink easily in the dryer.
Which is the easiest to clean fabric?
The materials that are easiest to clean are the ones that are least absorbent, meaning they don’t keep water. These include vinyl and pure leather, which can easily be wiped to clean.
Will my cotton shirts shrink if I wash them frequently?
Cotton is arguably the fabric that is most prone to shrinking. So yes, cotton shirts will shrink if you wash them frequently.
Consider using cold water to wash your cotton shirts and wash them by hand instead of using the washing machine. If you want to use the washer, be sure to set it to the gentle cycle.
Can I wash 100% cotton clothes?
Certainly. It is recommended that you hand wash cotton and avoid agitating very much to prevent shrinking. Use cold water to prevent shrinking. If you use a portable washing machine, set it to the delicate/gentle cycle so the shrinking effect is minimized.
Can I put pure cotton clothes in the dryer?
Putting pure cotton clothes in the dryer is not a good idea, as that will accelerate the shrinking. 100% cotton clothes should be air dried.
Final Word
As we come to the end, it is my hope that my work has been helpful. My list is not exhaustive, and has not covered all the different types of fabrics there are, but I am positive I have covered the common ones that most people encounter.
Like I have said repeatedly, it is essential to read the tag on your clothes before washing them. That way, you will know the kind of fabric you’re dealing with.
And subsequently, you will be in a position to apply my tactics correctly.