Taking Care of Clothing Teen Living Objective 11.03 Suggest specific techniques for care of clothing
Why should you take care of clothing? The clothing will last longer It will look better You will save money taking care of the clothing you own
Every Dare Care of Clothes Air clothes out Inspect clothes for repair or cleaning Separate dirty clothes
Seasonal Changes Clean clothes before storing them Prevent moth damage with moth repellents or by storing clothes in cedar Prevent mildew by completely drying clothes Use clothing bags to store clothes
Mildew Mildew is a fungus that grows on damp fabric Mildew causes stains that appear as small black spots
Snags A snag is a loop of yarn that gets pulled out of a knit fabric It can be repaired by pulling the yarn through to the underside of the garment with a crochet hook
Check the care label on clothes before washing The care label tells you: what the clothing is made of Best washing procedure Water temperature How to dry Special cautions such as do not bleach
Pretreatment Applying a stain-remover before laundering a garment
Sorting clothing for washing Keep in mind: Degree of soiling Color Weight Size Lint potential
Soap vs. Detergent Soap is made from fat and alkali Detergent is made from chemicals
Presoak Helps remove protein stains such as egg, meat juices, and blood
Disinfectant Kills bacteria
Water softener Softens hard water, which has mineral deposits that prevent thorough cleaning
Bleach Removes tough stains and acts as a disinfectant
Fabric softener Decreases static electricity and makes fabrics feel softer
Washing with cold water Using cold water saves energy
Fill the washing machine ¾ full with clothes If it is any fuller, water will not circulate well enough for cleaning the clothing
Best drying method for delicates and sweaters Dry delicate clothing and sweaters flat
Pressing vs. Ironing Pressing involves lifting the iron and setting it back down on the fabric Ironing involves sliding the iron over the fabric to smooth out wrinkles Press knits and wool so that it doesn’t stretch the fabric
Dry-Cleaning Dry-cleaned garments are cleaned with chemicals rather than with detergent and water
Taking care of borrowed clothes Inspect the clothing before returning it Avoid stains Launder the item before returning Return promptly