Clothes that are not properly taken care of can lose their shape and color over time. For example, incorrect washing methods can cause shirts to pucker, get loose threads, or fade. You must put in a little extra effort to care for them to prevent any of that from happening.
Avoid Low-Quality Detergents
The detergent used to wash your clothes should not be made from chemicals that could damage them. For example, using a low-quality detergent with a pH level that is either too high or too low could damage your clothes.
Not only are detergents that are above or below a safe pH level harmful to your skin, but they can also leave behind a layer on the fabric even after the wash, which can cause skin problems, such as irritation or itching. You should also avoid using detergents that include bleach or similar ingredients. Such ingredients can be harmful to the clothes and bad for the environment as they may not be biodegradable.
Pay Attention to Care Labels
There are several types of fabric, and each requires a different approach to washing and drying. For example, if you have a t-shirt made of silk, you would have to lower your washing machine and dryer’s temperature settings because it can damage the fabric.
According to Universal Cleaners – Dry Cleaning in Carmel, IN, most shirts have care labels with instructions on washing and drying them. These instructions can also include what type of detergent you should use when washing the garment. Always double-check and follow the care labels when doing laundry to prevent your clothes from shrinking or experiencing any damage.
Cut Down on Dry Cleaning
Using a dryer may be more convenient when doing the laundry, but dryers can cause a lot of damage to multiple types of fabric, including shirts that have prints on them.
In dry cleaning, a chemical or a liquid solvent instead of water is used to clean the clothes. However, this process is typically carried out at high temperatures, which can negatively impact clothes. Therefore, pick a reputed and reliable cleaning company whenever you choose to dry clean.
Some delicate items even have instructions on their care labels indicating that this item should only be dry cleaned and not washed any other way. But, you should avoid dry cleaning to protect your shirts and seek other eco-friendly cleaning options.
Hang Your Shirts To Dry
The best way to prevent a shirt’s fabric from getting damaged is to air dry them. Unlike tumble drying, simply hanging clothes in an open area to dry them will not cause any damage to their fibers.
Also, ensure that you hang your shirts in the shade and not directly under the sun, especially if they are printed. Direct sunlight can cause printed clothes to fade.
Store Properly
One thing that can damage your clothes once they are out of the machine is folding and storing them in a warm or damp area. Before you store your shirts, ensure they are properly dried out. If you own any knitted shirts, hang them instead of folding them. You should also store your clothes in a cool, dry place and avoid overfilling the wardrobe.
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