What are the best practices for fabric care and maintenance?

2 Sort and separate

The next step for fabric care and maintenance is to sort and separate your fabrics before washing or cleaning them. You should sort your fabrics by color, weight, and type. For example, you should wash whites separately from colors, heavy fabrics separately from light ones, and natural fabrics separately from synthetic ones. This will prevent bleeding, pilling, or snagging of your fabrics. You should also separate delicate fabrics like silk, lace, or wool from rough ones like denim, corduroy, or canvas.

3 Choose the right method

The third step for fabric care and maintenance is to choose the right method for washing or cleaning your fabrics. Depending on the type and properties of your fabric, you may need to use different methods such as hand washing, machine washing, dry cleaning, or spot cleaning. For example, you should hand wash fabrics that are delicate, prone to shrinking, or have embellishments. You should machine wash fabrics that are durable, colorfast, or easy to wrinkle. You should dry clean fabrics that are sensitive to water, heat, or chemicals. You should spot clean fabrics that have stains, odors, or dirt.

4 Use the right products

The fourth step for fabric care and maintenance is to use the right products for washing or cleaning your fabrics. You should use products that are suitable for the type and properties of your fabric, such as detergent, bleach, fabric softener, stain remover, or vinegar. For example, you should use mild detergent for fabrics that are delicate, natural, or dark. You should use bleach for fabrics that are white, cotton, or linen. You should use fabric softener for fabrics that are stiff, rough, or static-prone. You should use stain remover for fabrics that have stains, grease, or ink. You should use vinegar for fabrics that have odors, mildew, or hard water.

5 Dry and iron properly

The fifth step for fabric care and maintenance is to dry and iron your fabrics properly after washing or cleaning them. You should dry your fabrics according to the label instructions, such as air drying, tumble drying, or line drying. For example, you should air dry fabrics that are delicate, prone to shrinking, or have embellishments. You should tumble dry fabrics that are durable, colorfast, or easy to wrinkle. You should line dry fabrics that are sensitive to heat, sunlight, or lint. You should also iron your fabrics according to the label instructions, such as using the right temperature, steam, or pressing cloth. For example, you should iron fabrics that are cotton, linen, or silk. You should avoid ironing fabrics that are wool, polyester, or nylon.