WASHING AND IRONING CLOTHES, LINENS AND FABRICS

Lesson 6

Laundering - is the process of washing, starching, and ironing clothes and linens. Because of innovations in technology, new kinds of laundry equipment and supplies, synthetic detergents are now available anywhere. Laundering(washing and ironing) clothes can be done daily or weekly or on schedule. Before doing the washing, segregate items according to colors, texture, size and defects.

Checking and Sorting Clothes, Linens, and Fabrics

1. Separate lightly soiled items from heavily-soiled ones. Wash items of similar colors together, separate white or light colored clothes from dark-colored. Wash them accordingly.

2. Attend to the clothes before washing. Remove stains, mend or repair tears, holes, missing bottoms, nips and others.

In washing, consider the extent of dirt. Heavily soiled items should be grouped together and lightly soiled ones washed together. Lightly soiled items are moderately washed with lesser detergent, while heavily soiled ones need more detergent and repeated washing until they are spotlessly clean.

White or light-colored items should be separated from dark-colored items when washing to avoid the white items from absorbing the faded color of dark-colored items. This will prevent discoloring the white clothes and fabrics; thus, making them look and appear immaculately clean and white.

Silk fabrics have delicate texture and are gently hand washed or dry cleaned, while cotton and linen items are soften when machine washed.

Clothing, linens, and fabrics with defects should be repaired before washing to prevent from getting worse.

Stains should be removed promptly. It is easier to remove new and fresh stains than old and hardened ones.

Types of Linens/Fabrics

Solid Cotton - the fibers of the cotton plant can be woven into a variety of fabrics; they can also be combined with other natural or synthetic fibers to create blended fabrics. In general, cotton is durable, comfortable, and easy to care.

1. Cotton velvet - it comes in many weights and is appropriate for upholstery, clothing and decorative accessories, clean velvet with a soft, dry-brush, or dry-clean. To avoid the pile, steam (do not iron) to remove wrinkles.

2. Muslin - is inexpensive plain-weave cotton and is usually un-dyed. It is often used as a lining or to make a practice version of a garment or slipover, to test for fit.

3. Terry cloth - most commonly used to make bath towels and robes. Terry cloth is absorbent because of its looped pile of thick cotton yarns. It can have a pile on one or both sides.

4. Flannel - can be made of cotton, wool, or a wool blend. Although it is popular for baby clothes and bedding, its softness makes it a nice choice for lining winter garments.

5. Chambray - is plain-weave fabrics made of cotton or cotton-synthetic blends. The warp threads are dyed and the weft threads are left white, as they are for denim. It is used for making clothing, especially shirts.

6. Poplin - durable cotton poplin has a tightly woven plain weave and slight horizontal ribs. It is a good choice for children’s and light weight adult clothing.

7. Cotton voile- lightweight sheer cotton voile is perfect for clothing and for breezy curtains.

Pattered Cottons

1. Ticking used to make mattress covers.

2. Dotted used for making curtains and clothing including children’s garments.

3. Gingham - distinct two-tone-over-white checkered pattern, used for lightweight summer clothing and household linens.

Silk - spun from the delicate threads of silkworms, originated in China. Used for interior decorations as well as in fashion, it is strong, lightweight and takes dye well, allowing for brilliantly colored fabrics with a natural luster. Some silks may be gently hand washed, although dry-cleaning is recommended for most.

Linens - it is made from flax, linen is one of the oldest textiles in human history. It is extremely strong and durable, and can be fairly heavy, yet feels light and cool against the skin.

Wool- are warm and insulating, wool is manufactured in many weights and styles, from lightweight suiting to heavy blanket cloth.

Repairing Defective Clothes, Linens and Fabrics

1.Mend rips and repair holes. Mending is straightening worn-out parts of a garment by re-stitching them. Darning is replacing and reinforcing worn-out and broken threads of a fabric to cover a hole. Mending and darning should be done before washing to prevent the tear or hole from getting worse.

2. Learn the simple ways of altering garments and linens.

3. Clothes look better and last longer if you mend rips and tears as soon as they appear. Depending on their size holes in a garment may be mended by patching.

4. Tears in clothing are commonly straight, diagonal, and three-cornered. Regardless of the shape of the tears, darns will hardly be noticeable if threads used in darning match the color of the cloth.(Source: Basbas et al. –Learning & Living 9, pp. 281-282)

Removing Stains and Spots in Fabrics and Linens

Blood - Soak in cold water for several hours. Wash in warm, soapy water. Rinse.

Candle - Scrape the candle with a dull knife. Wash in detergent solution until candle spot is removed. Rinse thoroughly.

Chewing Gum - Chill the spot with a piece of ice. Scrape off the gum. Wash in soapy water and then rinse.

Rust - Sprinkle stain with salt. Apply calamansi juice and dry in the sun. Let stand for three or four minutes. Then wash in detergent soap. Rinse thoroughly.

Scorch - Wet the spot with cold water. Dry in the sun. Apply a thin slice of onion on the spot.

Water Spots - Dip the garment in cold water and roll in a towel. Let stand for a few hours and press.

Coffee, Chocolate, Fruit Juices and Ice Cream - Soak the stained part in a warm detergent/soap solution

for an hour. Wash and then rinse.

● Ink - Soak in cold water, lime juice, or milk. Wash in warm, soapy water and then rinse.

Mud and Perspiration - Wash in soap solution and then rinse.

Oil or Lard - Soak stained part in hot water or warm soap solution. Let stand until grease is removed. Wash and rinse.

Paint or Varnish - Apply turpentine or thinner. Then wash as in ordinary washing.

Personal Protective Paraphernalia and Precautionary Measures

1. Safety Mask - protection from inhaling the unpleasant odor of chemicals used in washing.

2. Safety Gloves - hand protection against chemical absorption from washing detergents and chemicals used in removing stains.

3. Keep detergent and chemicals in a safe place out of children’s reach.

4. Check electrical wiring and connections of electric equipment to avoid electric shock.

5. Do not use electric equipment in wet surfaces.

Performing Laundry and Dry Clothes, Linens, and Fabrics

Laundry Machines

Laundry Supplies

Laundry Machines

Washer - this machine dissolves water soils thus removing the soil load in clothes, bed sheets, towels, blankets, pillowcase, and bath mat.

Extractor - this machine removes water in clothes and linens by 50% thereby reducing the weight of these items and makes them ready for dryer.

Dry cleaning machine - this machine is used for dry cleaning especially delicate fabrics with controlled vacuum pressure and steam pressure. Delicate fabrics include coats, trousers, barong tagalong, fancy or evening dresses, jackets, comforters and blankets.

Tumbler/Dryer - this machine dries garments and linens including towels, bed sheets, pillowcases, bath mat, and clothes.

Spotting Board - this equipment is designed to remove stains on specific spots applying stain remover on the affected portion of the garment or linen.

Pressing Machine - this machine is used to iron or press different fabrics.

1. Hand Flat Iron- this pressing machine is commonly used in households and ordinary garments like skirts, blouse, slips, dress, handkerchiefs, and scarves.

2. Flatwork Ironing Machine- this pressing machine is used to iron volume and big linens such as bed sheets, tablecloths, table skirting, bedcovers, and bed skirting.

Laundry Supplies

Detergent - specifically for washing machine

Alkaline - to break dirt in garments and linens

Bleach - to kill bacteria

Fabric Conditioner- to soften fabric and give it a fresh smell

Starch- to stiffen fabrics

Laundering Proper-Basic Washing Steps

1. Do not wash heavily soiled with lightly soiled ones. Wash items of similar color together, separate white or light-colored with dark-colored clothes. Wash them accordingly.

2. Pre-scrub all heavily soiled parts of garments. Remove stains, mend or repair defects of clothes or garments.

3. Loading of garments, clothes and linens in the washing machine using the right formula and required chemical dosage.

Flushing (about 2 Minutes) – wet the linen to dissolved water-soluble soil and reduce soil load in the succeeding suds steps.

Breaking (about 8 minutes) – performed before suds step with low water level, medium to hot water with a highly alkaline-break products added to break loose soil.

Sudsing (about 5 minutes) – involve actual washing step where detergent is added to the wheel.

Bleaching (about 8 minutes) – elimination of stains using chlorinated bleach added to the wheel that could not be removed by the detergents.

Rinsing (3 minutes) - rinse the linen of detergent and soil.

Intridictorextracting – process that spins soil-added detergent solution out of linen usually after the first rinse step to reduce the required number of deep water rinses.

Sour and soft step – final conditioning of the linen.

Extracting – process of reducing the moisture content linen by 50%.

Extract cycle:1. Extract (about 2 minutes) removes remaining

detergent and soil.

2. Softener (about 5 minutes) conditions the fabric.

3. Starch (about 5 minutes) to stiffen fabrics.

4. Final Extract (about 10 minutes) removes moisture.

Cleaning Washing area and Equipment

1. The floor must be thoroughly scrubbed to remove excess detergent or soapsuds, which make the floor slippery. Rinsed with clean water then dry with a clean dry mop.

2. After use the other equipment should be cleaned and stored in their proper place.

3. Remaining detergents and chemicals should be stored in a safe place.

4. After use, unplug the washing machine, clean the inside and outside of the equipment.

5. The equipment should have regular check up to prevent breakdown.

6. Do not expose electrical equipment to rain or water to avoid electric shock.

Ironing Clothes, Linens, and Fabrics

Ironing or pressing removes wrinkles and improves the appearance of garments. Clothes that have been washed, dried and sprinkled with water are ironed, while clothes that have been dry cleaned are pressed. Ironing is done by sliding a heated iron back and forth across a garment. The iron should be kept moving so that the material is not scorched. The iron board should be steady on its feet and should stand below the waist. A covering is necessary for efficient ironing and pressing. There are two types of electric iron that can be used- the electric dry iron and electric steam presser.

Ironing Techniques using Electric Dry Iron (for Households)

1. Before ironing, separate clothes, of which need to be sprinkled with water from those, which do not need sprinkling of water?

2. Pile all cotton clothes fully spread out on top of one another. Sprinkle each cloth with water lightly, then roll each carefully and place in a clean cloth. Wrap all the garments together and allow standing for at least half an hour until the dampness is distributed evenly.

3. Iron along the grain of the fabric. Going against the grain distorts the shape of the cloth and hampers ease of movement of the flat iron.

4. Start with synthetic fibers, which need less heat, moving to the thicker fabrics, which need more heat to dry.

5. Start with hanging parts like sleeves and collars before ironing the body or the other way around whichever is convenient and easy to do for you.

6. Dab a moist cloth over the parts that are rough before pressing the iron over them again.

7. Place the shoulder of the garment over the end of the iron board. Iron carefully as you move the garment around to reach both the front and back shoulder areas.

8. Slip the garment over the ironing board and iron the waist area. Iron the skirt first. If necessary, press the pleats.

9. Press embroidery designs on the wrong side.

10. Iron the small and light articles last when the flat iron has been turned off. The remaining heat can still be used to iron handkerchiefs, scarves and light synthetic materials.

11. Iron clothes all together once a week to save on electricity.

12. Fold the clothes carefully or put them on hangers and place them in their respective cabinets.

13. After ironing place the flat iron and ironing board in their proper storage.