Why Should We Clean Certain Fabrics in Certain Ways?
Have you ever thought about how your plain cotton T-shirt appears smoother after a hot wash or why your much-loved black jeans do not shrink much when you wash them in cold water? The answer lies in understanding the physical and chemical characteristics associated with various types of fabrics. Their behavior towards water temperature, detergents, and methods of drying. By knowing the science behind these processes, you will be able to preserve your clothes as long as possible and have them shiny.
In this blog post, you will learn why certain fabrics need special treatments, what the hot and the cold water wash does to your clothes, and how tumble drying preserves fabric quality.
Hot Water Wash: For Softer Fabrics and a Deeper Clean
Hot water washing is mostly recommended for cotton, bed linens, and even for towels. But have you ever thought why?
1. Loosens Fibers for Softness - Cotton is a natural fiber with the properties of absorbing water and when exposed to heat it increases in size. Heat encourages natural fibers to open up the texture they form after each wash, making the fabric softer. This is why your cotton bath towels feel so good on your body after washing them or rather after you have used them.
2. Removes Stains and Kills Bacteria - Water heated beyond 60°C (140°F) easily dissolves grease, oil soils, and bacterium. Some protein properties are found in sweat and food stains that precipitate when heated. As a result, the detergent removes them. This is especially suitable for clothing pieces such as gym fits, baby apparel, or kitchen towels, that are likely to come into contact with dirt and difficult stains.
3. The Downside - Hot water easily shrinks polyester or nylon fabric. As a result of this, these fabrics can lose their elasticity. Similarly, additional fabrics such as silk and wool will also shrink or lose their shape when they are exposed to high temperatures.
Cold Water Wash: The Protector of Colors and Fine Fabrics
Cold water around 20°C or 68°F is good for the majority of the fabrics.
1. Prevents Color Bleeding - Have you ever washed and found your red shirt alongside your white socks looking pinkish? This occurs because warm water increases the rate of dye molecule's diffusion from the core of the yarns. Cold water reduces this cycle. Thus, the brightness of the colors avoids what is known as color transfer.
2. Maintains Fabric Strength - Wool, silk, and lace should be washed in cold water as hot water weakens the protein-based fibers. This is because cold water greatly reduces instances of fiber movement which might lead to shrinkage or damage of the fabric.
3. Effective with Modern Detergents - People used to think that cold water cannot clean very well. Although, today’s advanced detergents which work best when used in cold water. Proteins in these soaps help remove oil, sweat, and grime in cool temperatures as well.
Tumble Dry: Fluffiness vs. Wear and Tear
Tumble drying is usually one of the last steps which is performed after washing the clothes. However, this step is not implemented on all fabrics.
1. Enhances Fluffiness - The tumbling motion blends with warm air lifts fibers, and produces softness on towels, cotton clothing, and also on blankets. That is why when you take the dried clothes, it feels great to wear them because the fabric feels so soft.
2. Potential for Damage - It also adversely affects different types of fabric. For example, natural fabrics such as wool make clothes shrink and synthetic fabrics such as spandex or polyester make clothes melt or lose elasticity at high dryer temperatures. In the same way, tumbling can lead to fading of sheer fabrics or they can shrink, get misshapen, or become creased.
3. Air Drying: Air drying is usually the safer option for delicate products.
This means that hanging clothes offers a great chance for fibers to settle down without any possibility of heat damage. Moreover, its ability to cut down on energy utilization is considered an environmentally friendly product.
Understand the Chemistry of Detergents and Water Temperature
The efficiency of detergent depends on the water temperature. Many detergents today come with enzymes such as protease, which attacks proteins, and amylase, which attacks starches. These enzymes work best within specific temperature ranges:
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Hot Water (Above 60°C): Effective for emulsifying oil and grease but may denature some enzymes.
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Cold Water (20-30°C): Protects the activity of enzymes introduced for modern and cold-water detergents.
Check out the Tips for Smarter Laundry Care
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Segment the clothes based on their fabric type and color. It will avoid color transfer and fiber damage.
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For delicate clothing such as lingerie or small items use mesh bags so they do not snag.
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Read care labels to find out the washing and drying specifications of the fabric.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, it can be concluded that washing clothes is not just a household activity, it is a science that protects your clothes and ensures they have a prolonged life when washed correctly. It’s important to note that laundry care can help you be selective on how to handle different types of clothing materials to have the best look, feel, and durability of the clothes that you wear. To know more about it, you can check Trendy Canvas for such informative updates. The next time you do laundry, remember it as the science behind taking care of your fabrics and watch your clothes be cleaned perfectly!