September 2, 2024
25% fading, 25% shrinking, and 50% confusion. When looking at a laundry care tag, it may seem like a bunch of random symbols and instructions, which to the untrained eye, mean nothing. If you care about your clothes, you need to put in a little bit of work to keep them in one piece. As professional dry cleaners and launderers, we know how to care for every textile you have. Here’s a list of how we recommend each textile be cleaned.
Cotton
Cotton garments are machine-washable but are often prone to wrinkles. Wash your cotton garments on cool to lukewarm water and air dry to avoid excessive shrinking. A good rule of thumb is to wash your colored fabrics in cold water and your white fabrics in warm to hot water. If your garment is 100% cotton, is it safe to iron.
Silk
With such a delicate fabric, you need to take precautions. We recommend bringing it to the dry cleaners to be washed to prevent permanent damage. Silk should never be put in the washer or dryer. Handwash your garment with mild soap in lukewarm water. After washing, hand dry, and don’t wring out your clothes. Do not iron, as the fabric is too delicate.
Linen
Handwash or gently machine wash your linen on cool. Wash separately from your other clothes, and do not twist or wring your garment. Linen can be dried, but keep it cold and tumble dry. If you prefer to hand dry, do so in a shaded area to prevent fading. If you are unsure about how to handle your linen, bring it in for us to handle.
Rayon/Viscose
Semi-synthetic cellulose fabrics like rayon, lyocell, modal, viscose, and bamboo viscose are textiles that have been spun with processed plant pulp. Some semi-synthetic fabrics are prone to shrinking and bleeding, so we recommend washing separately on cold for the first few washes. We also recommend air drying your garments.
Wool
Be weary! Wool is extremely prone to shrinkage. Dry cleaning is just about the only option when caring for a wool garment. If you are insistent on doing it yourself, wash your wools on the wool setting or on cold-water delicate. Do not put it in the dryer, but lay flat.
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Lace
Lace is an extremely delicate fabric and needs to be handled by professional dry cleaners.
Velvet
Velvel is a dry-clean-only fabric. With such a delicate fabric, we would not recommend spot cleaning or ironing either. If your garment is creased, use a handheld steamer and hold it at least 4 inches away.
Synthetic Fabrics (Nylon/Polyester/Spandex/Acrylic/Acetate)
Wash your synthetic fabrics in cold water to decrease decomposition and release of microplastics into the water. Synthetic fabrics are quite resilient and can be washed on regular cycles and can withstand medium heat tumble dry settings.
Cashmere
Cashmere should treated similarly to wool products. Wash your cashmere on a delicate cycle with old water and a gentle detergent. Place your cashmere garments in a mesh garment bag before your wash. Do not wring the garment dry, place on flat surface.
Leather/Suede
Leather and suede materials can go longer between washes than most fabrics because they are animal products. For leather, clean with a soft brush or clean cloth. For serious dirt, use a leather cleaning solution and spot-treat the affected area. Suede is a bit more tricky, as it is more sensitive to water. Use a suede brush to wipe away dirt and debris. For spot-cleaning suede, lightly blot with a clean cloth.
Looking for dry cleaning or laundering services in Charleston, South Carolina? Contact us to start with us. We have been trusted cleaners for Charleston for over 50 years. Our longstanding history of quality services makes us a favorite in our community.
