Gristy’s Fabric Care: Dry Cleaning and Laundry in Lubbock

Your clothing is an investment, so it’s important to know how to properly care for distinct types of fabric in your wardrobe. It can be easy to just throw stuff in the washer, but there are some steps you should take before shoving a dirty shirt into the washer.

• Check all pockets to make sure they are empty
• Close zippers, hooks, and drawstrings to prevent snags
• Load sizable items first
• Don’t wash single items
• Brush heavy soil, dust or hair off fabrics before washing
• Separate whites and colors to prevent colors from running onto white fabric

Additionally, you should consider the different types of fabric and the specific instructions required to take care of your clothes.

Common Fabrics & Their Care

There are many types and combinations of fabric. Below is a brief list of a few of the most common fabrics. Keep in mind, you should always check the clothes label for laundry care instruction before you take any other step.

• Acetate- Man-made fiber that is often found blended into other fabrics. Acetate is prone to color running. Most clothing items with acetate are dry clean only.
• Cashmere - Check the label before laundering. Cashmere is a very sensitive material. It is always best to trust a professional with
• Cotton – The world’s favorite comfortable fabric found in a casual t-shirt. This casual fabric does well with home laundering. Remember, cotton will shrink unless fabric is processed or preshrunk. Remove from dryer while still cool as to avoid any excess shrinkage.
• Linen – Dry clean is best for this fabric. If it is machine washable, wash according to label instruction.
• Nylon – Nylon garments should be machine-washed in warm water with a low-temp setting when tumble drying.
• Polyester- Polyester should be fine to launder at home. Machine wash on cool with a low heat dry, but check the label to ensure you are taking care of the fabric in the correct way. Use cool iron for any touchups.
• Spandex – This elastic fiber can be incorporated into any type of clothing to add stretch and comfort. When washing, avoid hot water and chlorine bleach as this will damage the fabric. Try to avoid ironing if possible.
• Silk- Dry cleaning may be required for this type of fabric. Some silks are hand washable, but never dry silk in a dryer. Silk looks best when dry-cleaned.
• Lined Wool – This fabric looks best when dry-cleaned once a season.

If you have any questions or aren’t sure what type of fabric an item is, give us a call at Gristy’s. We would love to help you!