![]() ![]() Cashmere, flannel, and silk are often ironed on a medium setting with no steam, and the garment is usually turned inside-out while being ironed.ġ6. Again, dial your iron to the appropriate level and test an inconspicuous patch of fabric, just to be safe. IRON ON MEDIUM: An iron symbol with two dots indicates the item can be ironed with medium or average heat. Generally, synthetic fabrics are best ironed with low heat and no steam.ġ5. Set your iron to its lowest temperature and test an inconspicuous corner of the fabric to see the reaction before you iron the entire piece. IRON ON LOW/COOL: If your label has an iron with one dot inside, it can only tolerate cool ironing temperatures. When in doubt, iron it out-unless the label tells you not to.ġ4. Most clothes come out of the dryer looking ready-to-wear, but not all fabrics are created equal. There’s almost never a need to dry clean cotton, so the more of it that you have in your wardrobe, the less often you’ll need to make a trip to the cleaners to keep your clothing fresh. ![]() DO NOT DRY CLEAN: On the other hand, some clothes aren’t meant to withstand the chemicals used in the dry cleaning process. Many silk, wool, velvet, taffeta, and acetate items require dry cleaning.ġ3. DRY CLEAN ONLY: For clothes with this symbol, it’s best to leave the cleaning process to the professionals, since they may fade and shrink in your laundry machines. Silk, wool, suede, and high-spandex fabrics can’t usually survive a run through the machine without losing shape.ġ2. DO NOT TUMBLE DRY: Putting a “do not tumble dry” item into the dryer could ruin it entirely, so always air dry any garment with this symbol. If the icon has no dots in the middle of the circle, homeowners can dry the garment on any heat setting. Cotton, polyester, and nylon typically require low heat, while spandex, linen, and microfiber pieces are best left to tumble dry on a cool temperature.ġ1. Two dots indicate a that the item can handle a maximum of medium heat, while three dots signal that high heat may be regularly used. If the circle has one dot in the middle, low heat is preferred when tumble drying. TUMBLE DRY: This symbol signifies that the item can safely run through a cycle in the dryer. To prevent winding up with a pile of ruined clothes, be mindful of your label’s drying instructions. This symbol indicates that homeowners can safely use a hydrogen-based product on a garment, but make sure the bottle clearly states that it’s color-safe. ONLY USE COLOR-SAFE BLEACH: Color-safe bleach uses hydrogen peroxide as its primary ingredient instead of chlorine bleach, and it often contains other chemicals that brighten colored clothing. ![]() ![]() Most white cotton and synthetic fabrics are able to handle bleach without catastrophe, but if you dare go against a laundry label’s warning, beware the potential consequences.ĩ. If using any type of bleach, add a capful to your machine’s bleach dispenser never apply it directly to the fabric.Ĩ.BLEACH IS NOT OK: It’s not advisable to use bleach on any item that bears this symbol on the tag, since splotches or discoloration may occur. Bleach is rarely safe on wool but often safe on cotton. BLEACH IS OK: Bleach effectively whitens whites, and oxygen bleach is a gentler alternative that can add an extra cleaning kick to your laundry load. The answer lies with three triangles, which can tell you when it’s safe and when it’s not advisable.ħ. “To bleach or not to bleach” is a common question when you’re loading up the washing machine. That’s why hot water is preferred for towels, sheets, and other durable materials that get a lot of day-to-day use. WASH IN HOT WATER: Hot water, which runs above 130 degrees Fahrenheit in washing machines, helps soap work more quickly and effectively-especially on stained and soiled items. This symbol doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t wash them cold water rather, it signifies that your clothes are safe in warmer water as well.Ħ. WASH IN WARM WATER: Warm water (usually around 110 degrees Fahrenheit) works best for everyday clothes in need of basic cleaning and odor removal. Linen, silk, rayon, and wool items tend to require cold water (typically somewhere between 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 degrees Fahrenheit), as does cotton that hasn’t been pre-shrunk.ĥ. WASH IN COLD WATER: Some fabrics shrink in warm water, meaning you’ll want to keep them cool, whether you’re washing by hand or with a machine. ![]()
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