How to Care for Fine Fabrics

Some clothing needs special attention to maintain its color, shape, size and texture. Here are some common fabrics that can be damaged by conventional washer and dryer care. Use these directions to ensure that you do not damage your garments.

But, if the tag of your garment says otherwise, follow those directions. Sometimes fabrics have special glues and adhesives to hold liners in place without using stitches and you may not be able to see them. Sometimes there are two types of fabrics that require different types of care, and therefore dry cleaning is absolutely necessary. Dry cleaning may also be recommended if fabrics do not have waterproof dyes, or for a long list of other reasons. It is important to follow the manufacturer's directions whenever possible and only use this tutorial as a guide.

Wool: Wool does not need to be cleaned very often. You can use a fabric brush or a damp cloth to refresh it after you wear it. If you get it stained, blot up liquids and then take it immediately to a dry cleaner. Heat sets stains on wool, so do not put hot water or iron a stained area.

Cashmere: Cashmere can be taken care of much in the same way as wool. Occasional brushings will keep pilling from occurring. If cashmere loses its softness over time, either from environmental pollutants or dry cleaning chemicals, you may be able to hand wash it. The biggest problem with hand washing cashmere is that the dyes can run more easily than on other fabrics. Hand wash cashmere alone and only if it is a solid color.

Silk: Silk care is a bit tricky. There are many different kinds of silk. Some are best hand washed, while others must be dry cleaned. Some will shrink badly, bunch up around the seams, or lose their sheen and softness. Some garments are not pre-shrunk and should never be hand washed or put into a machine. Silk should just about always be dry cleaned.

Rayon: Rayon garments are usually rayon blends. Anything blended with a synthetic fiber, such as nylon, acrylic or polyester, should be washed in cold and dried on low, or dry cleaned. Synthetic fibers will melt at fairly low temperatures. Pure rayon comes in different forms. Polynosic or modulus rayon will usually machine wash and dry just fine, while other types will shrink badly if they get wet. If your garment simply says "rayon" then you are best off having it dry cleaned.

When caring for fine fabrics and garments, it is always best to be careful. Hang items that are to be steamed or dried on clothing racks where they have plenty of air to dry. Don't put dry clean only fabrics in the sun. If you don't have a garment rack, you can hang your fabrics to dry in a closet. Just leave the door open and push other clothing away from it so that it has plenty of room to breathe. Do not cover the garment or close the closet until it is completely dry.