The arrival of autumn means it's time to put away the summer clothes and get out the wrap-around sweaters. Here are our tips for looking after your clothes and keeping them looking good for a long time.
Pictograms on clothing labels
When you buy a garment, the first thing to do is to read the label carefully to find out whatthe garment is made of . This information will help you to know whether machine washing is prescribed or whether dry-cleaning at the cleaners is required. Don't cut off the labels - they'll come in very handy at the cleaners.
Source: P&GEveryday
Then check the shrinkage percentage. If you need to make alterations to the garment, we recommend washing it before taking measurements.
Natural-fiber garments
Many of the garments in your wardrobe are probably made from natural fibers. These fabrics are very easy to care for, as they can almost all be machine-washed.
Machine-wash cotton garments in warm or hot water. Although cotton tolerates heat well, it is advisable not to wash printed cotton at over 60°.
linen garments can also be machine-washed, but at a lower temperature (maximum 40°), with little or no spin-drying. Avoid the dryer, of course! The same goes for hemp garments , which can be lightly drained and ironed wet.
As for bamboo garments, you'll notice that they become softer and more absorbent with each wash. Simply machine wash in cold water on a gentle cycle and hang to dry.
For a wool coat, dry-cleaning at the cleaners is often recommended. That said, for some sweaters and other wool garments, you can use the washer on the wool cycle (with a net of detergent to protect it) if the pictogram on the label allows. Wool is a natural material that must be treated meticulously, away from hot water and the dryer (as heat shrinks and permanently damages wool).
mohair knitwear should be hand-washed, then soaked for around 20 minutes in lukewarm water (maximum 30°). They should then be wrapped in a towel to remove excess water and carefully laid out to recover their shape, away from any source of heat.
A scarf, sweater or other cashmere garment can be sent to the cleaners for dry-cleaning or carefully hand-washed. Use cold water with just a few drops of detergent designed for wool. Gently rub the garment during washing, then rinse as required. Wrap the garment in a towel to wring it out (avoid wringing) and leave to dry flat on a dry towel (not on the tumble dryer).
Synthetic garments
Many of the clothes we wear are made from viscose, a textile fiber manufactured from wood cellulose. Light, soft and flowing, viscose is comparable to artificial silk.
If you have a viscose scarf, sweater or tunic, care must be taken to ensure that the garment retains its shape and finish perfectly. Wash the viscose inside out in cold water, preferably by hand, separating the colors. Then air-dry on a broad-shouldered hanger - no dryer! To restore the suppleness of viscose garments, iron at low temperature ("silk" program) using a pattemouille, also known as an "ironing net" (a damp cloth used for ironing).
polyester is also widely used in the manufacture of dresses, shirts and jackets. Often, the washing symbol on the label recommends dry-cleaning the garment at the cleaners. However, it's good to know that all synthetic garments such as polyester, viscose, acrylic and nylon can be washed by hand or machine in cold or lukewarm water, except acetate.
Acrylics can be washed in the washing machine in cold or lukewarm water ( ). Then let dry on a hanger or in the dryer at low temperature, if the label on the garment permits.
Remember that it's very important to know the composition of a garment in order to care for it properly over time. A garment washed with care will retain its shine and always look its best!
