One of the most basic instructions when caring for clothes is to use the correct washing, drying, and ironing method to avoid shrinking or expanding the fabric. Not only will this allow you to save money by making your clothes last longer, but you will also look your best because even a cheap shirt can look great when cared for properly.
Read the Care Label Instructions
Not only do the care labels contain instructions for washing and bleaching options, but they also include drying, ironing, dry cleaning, ironing, and steaming instructions. If you’re opting for a laundry pick up and laundry delivery service, you can leave instructions for the staff especially if you have an expensive piece that needs cleaning. Most laundry service staff, however, will make it a point to inspect your clothes and linens when sorting the items. Your 24 hours laundry service will also remind you which clothes can be washed, dry-cleaned, dry clean only, or spot-clean only in case you’re sending items that need special care.
Choosing Between Air-Dry and Tumble Dry
Drying can potentially set any remaining stain permanently on the fabrics; that is why before sending your clothes to a fast laundry service in Singapore make sure to inspect the items for stains. Using the tumble dryer isn’t also ideal for clothes that are prone to wrinkling such as uniform laundry and wool, while delicate materials such as silk can shrink when exposed to high temperatures. Delicate fabrics should be air-dried but not exposed directly to sunlight.
Some fabric blends are ideal for tumble-drying, but make sure to follow these pointers:
• Use low heat when tumble-drying acrylic, but take the clothes out before they’re fully dry.
• Cotton can shrink, but pre-shrunk cotton is mostly safe, as well as some cotton blends such as most materials used in uniform laundry. When towel washing, take out the item before it’s completely dry to avoid damaging it.
• Linen can shrink and will also leave permanent creases when over-dried.
• Microfiber can be tumble-dried, but use the coolest setting possible.
• Nylon can be placed in the dryer, but use the lowest heat setting and place the item in a washing bag.
• Polyester is also used in most uniform laundry and can be safely dried in a low heat cycle.
• Spandex should be air-dried instead of machine-dried.
• Wool can shrink when exposed to heat. Lay the item on a flat surface to dry it.
• Silk, rayon, lace, and embellished clothes should not be tumble-dried. These fabrics are ideal only for wash and fold services.
How does the laundry service shop dry my clothes if some of them should be air dried? Cool or delicate cycle is used by the laundry service for hand-wash only items such as lingerie and woolens, while fabrics that are prone to shrinkage are dried using the warm or permanent press cycle.
For the rest of your clothes, the commercial laundry services will use the warm, hot or regular wash cycle. Permanent press is ideal for uniform laundry while the regular cycle is used for jeans and towel washing. As for dry cleaning services, the dry cleaning machine usually includes a drying process that will evaporate the dry cleaning solvent from the fabric.
