Garment care tips

Always follow the care label when washing garments.

Sorting:-

Sort garments by colour and given washing temperatures. A coloured garment that’s meant to be washed hot can release excess dye if washed warm or by hand. It isn't’t always better to choose a lower washing temperature.

Washing:-

Soap is not the same as detergent. All detergents are soaps but not all soaps are detergents. Although soap has been improved over the years, it still leaves a deposit called "soap scum' in the shower or bath, and is difficult to remove from fabrics.
Detergents are chemical compounds that contain wetting agents and emulsifiers. Technically detergents are called Synthetic Detergents as they are not made from fats and lye from which soap is made.
To test hand washing detergent (or any detergent), dissolve recommended amount in water. Allow the detergent to stand for 24Hrs. If there is a "milky-ness" in the water, OR if there is a residue at the bottoms, this may be difficult to rinse out of your clothes.
Shampoos can also be used for hand washing. Do not use one that has a "conditioner" in it.
For hand washing, dissolve the detergent in the water before you add the garment. Avoid soaking. Squeeze the garment in the water, don't rub or wring. Rinse carefully.
It’s important to know whether the water in your area is hard (use more detergent) or soft (use less detergent). Call your local water authority if you’re not sure. Do not use detergent with optical whitening or bleaching agents on coloured garments, this is because the colours may fade.
If you overload your machine, your clothes may come out dirty or even bleached in areas where the detergent hasn't been diluted properly.
Keep light colours and dark colours separate in the wash.
Look on the care label to make sure you wash at the right temperature for your garment.
Wash your items inside out to protect fabric surface from the constant friction created during washing (especially important for soft fabrics like moleskin etc.).
Choose a wash cycle and detergent to suit the most delicate item in the machine to avoid damaging it.
Garments face the most amount of wear and tear during washing so the less you wash the item the longer it will stay looking new.
Use 'colour' detergents on all hand or machine washable garments, unless otherwise stated on the care label, to prevent colour loss and bleaching.

Drying:-

Using a de-humidifier in a small room (bathroom or drying room) can save on electricity and it is very kind to your clothes. If hung properly, your clothes retain their shape and "press" much better than tumble drying.
Spin drying reduces drying time - spin dry delicates in a pillowcase after hand washing, if you need to.
To maintain the garment's original look it is important to notice whether it can be tumble dried or not. Never tumble dry garments that cannot take tumble-drying!
If you choose to dry your garments in a drying cupboard you have to make sure that the temperature does not exceed the one given on the care label.
Tumble dry - Be careful as this can shrink clothes that shouldn't be dried this way.
Line dry - hang your garments on the line (the safest way to dry your clothes). Hang them carefully to avoid getting any marks or dents in funny places.
Heavy knits should be reshaped and dried flat.
Fleece should be dried horizontally.

Stains:-

Treat stains as soon as possible, if only by immersing in cold water
Do not just chuck it in a hot wash as this will set the stain FOREVER!
Identify the type of stain and what has caused it. Always start with the simplest method of removal first - i.e. try cold water first, then move onto stain removal products.
Remember that the stain needs to be taken off the surface of the fabric not driven in, so be gentle. Test the method that you're going to use on a part of the garment that doesn't normally show, then it doesn't matter if it makes it worse.
When treating a stain always work from the edge of the stain in towards the centre or you'll spread the mark even more. If it is particularly stubborn treat from below the surface on the underside of the fabric. If all else fails take the item to a specialist dry cleaner, and be totally honest about what you already tried.

Colour runs:-

A product in New Zealand called Run away for colours works well when colours have run into each other. Use as directed, except that you may have to double the dilution strength, i.e. twice as much product in the water.

Bleach:-

Use as directed. It should be safe to use on cotton, cotton polyester blends, and most man made fibres.

Softeners:-

Fabric softener is not only an unnecessary expense; it also contributes to needless environmental impact.
Some softeners can leave your whites on the greyish side after several washes. Softeners are wax based, which leaves a coating on the fibres, creating a soft feel.

Good advice:-

Clothes last longer, if treated kindly - don't over wash, don't stain.
Denim is given its characteristic look through a special dying method. Therefore tiny excess dye may be left on the surface and may cause dry rubbing. Wash your jeans inside out to maintain the colour and to avoid white creases.
Remove detachable details and close zippers and velcros before washing. Wash delicate items such as nylons in a washing bag.
Use tennis balls in the dryer when you're drying your down garment and you'll get an even division of the down.
Heavy knits should be dried flat to maintain their original shape.
Rain clothes should be hang dried. If you still choose to dry them in an airing cupboard you have to do this on a very low temperature.
Viscose is a natural material that easily shrinks when wet. You'll get the original shape back through ironing the garment while damp.

Uniform & garment care tips