This series was born when my good friend Caramea
suggested that I would make a post about cleaning and stain removal tips
for lolitas. However I decided to make it proper series about garment
care, starting from this and moving on to ironing and storage and even
little fixes. I hope you will find this useful. Any questions on the topic and suggestions for post will be welcomed.
First things first
The style of cleaning a piece of clothing depends on it's material.
Most brand pieces are marked to be washed on a dry cleaning place but in most cases you can just forget the pesky tag and jug the thing to the washing machine. I only use dry cleaning for delicate pieces (More on that later) and prints that I know will run. In general most
lolita clothes can be washed at home. It's matter of following certain
principlas when it comes to fabrics and washing.
If your dress is cotton and the laces and the fabric are the
same colour and there is no print there shouldn't be a problem with
washing it at home. This also goes for polyester.
On prints always consult the list of what can and can't be washed on EGL before proceeding. (Link provided at the end of this post.)
Silks and wools should only be washed with products
designed for them to keep them nice an perfect. I generally take my
winter coats to dry cleaners and wash silks at home.
Always separate darks, ligths and colours. This way everything comes out from the washing machine the rigth colour.
When
in doubt (or scared that the washing machine mith ruin your clothes
anyways) wash by hand. This way you see what is happening to your
clothes.
Ultimate guide to materials
Different
materials call for different techniques. Some simply can't be washed at
home while others will survive just about anything. And if that wasn't
enough different materials need to be dried differently. So next up a
handy dandy guide to fabrics.
Acetate:
Dry clean or machine was on a cold tempature. Don't wring or put it
through a spin cycle. Hang or dry flat. No tumble drying. Iron this
while damp on a cool tempature.
Acrylic: Machine wash. Hang or dry flat. Iron with a cool tempature.
Corduroy:
Wash as the material dictates (usually cotton), turning the inside out.
Tumble dry is okay but will dry hanging too. Leave inside out for
ironing.
Cotton: Separate darks and lights and
machine wash. Whites may be washed on hot tempatures, colours just warm.
Hang dry and iron on a hot tempature while damp as the wrinkles will set
quickly.
Denim: Wash as cotton but first time do
this alone as the colour will bleed. Turn inside out to discourage
fading. Hang to dry to avoid shrinkage.
Leather: Sent to a specialist dry cleaner. Spray with protective product once back.
Nylon:
Wash by hand or in machine with a cool tempature with close colours.
Nylon will revert back to it's natural greyish hue if mislaundered.
Rayon: If washing instructions are missing dry clean only.
Silk:
Dry clean or wash by hand in a cool tempature with a gentle product. Do
not rub as this may break the silk fibres resulting in chalku blooms.
Hang or dry flat. Take care with spot removal as this may leave rings.
Steam or iron with a cool tempature on the reverse side.
Suede: Again trust the experts and spray with an appropriate protector once back.
Wool and cashemere: Dry clean or hand wash. Machine wash if your machine has a special wool program.
Coats should always be dry cleaned but sweaters and knits can be washed
home. Use a gentle soap for example baby shampoo and only
The reasons to take the garment to the dry cleaners:
- You don't know what fabric it is.
- The garment has two or more fabrics
- The Garment is beaded or has metallic thread
- The fabric is velvet or taffeta or othervise very dressy
- What the blaces is that stain?!
-
If the garment is cotton or linen and you think it migth shrink. I must
however tell that these fibers migth hold on to particles of the dry
cleaning solution which isn't really healthy for your skin.
Although
there are dry cleaners solution to use at home I would recommend taking
it to the cleaners as they know what they are doing and have the
appropriate equiptment.
Stains are
annoying. The dress is othervise perfectly fine but you managed to drip
some whipped cream on it? Worry not. Stains can be removed.
For
items that absolutely require dry cleaning, try to remove the stain with
a white paper towel (no rubbing!) and take it to the cleaners.
The basic techniques of stain removal are as follows:
1. Using a storebougth prewash product and then laundering.
2. Bigger stains: Just launder it.
3. Soaking. If the material is fragile (silk or wool) only do this for a few minutes.
Always
test your stain remover on a none visible part of the garment to make
sure that the fabric dye wont bleed. We all know how easily some brand
prints do this.
Basics:
Non greasy stains
Rinse
as soon as possible under cool water. Put some soap to the stain and
press suds through. Rubbing migth make the situation worse. Rinse again
under cool water. Let it dry. If you are out of the house utilize the
hand drier in the ladies room keeping the fabric away from the heat.
Launderin as soon as possible is recommended if the stain is rather bad.
Greasy stains
Use talcum powder to
soak up the stain and let it sit for twenty minutes. Gently brush of.
Apply stain removing product (which you have ofcourse tested before
hand). Even after this grease stains should be laundered as soon as possible in the hottest tempature the fabric can take.
For combinations (chocolates, dairy products...)
Treat
as a greasy stain but if it persists use an all purpose product..
Launder again as soon as possible in the hottest tempature the fabric
take.
These above are good general ideas but next I
will tell you some more spesific techniques that may come the way of
your lovely frills.
Tea and coffee: Rinse in warm wather and then wash in warm soapy water. On wools and silks apply glyserine and let it stand and rinse with warm water.
Alcohol: Even
colourless alcohol will turn into a nasty brown splotch if left
untreated. Sponge several time with white vinegar diluted 1:1 with warm
water. Launder.
Blood: Soak as soon as possible in cool heavily salted water, then dap with liquid laundry soap. Launder as usual.
Ink: Immediately
flush the garment with cold water then treat the stain with hand soap which is most effective against ink stains. Rinse and reapeat if
necessary.
Candle wax: Put the garment into a garment back and toss it into the freezer for an hour. The peel of the hardnened wax. Launder as usual.
Grass: Treat with liquid soap rubbed in to the stain and if the stain is persistent sponge with denatured alcohol (again test before hand).If all else fails, dry cleaners.
Mud: Let the mud dry completely first. Remove dry mud wit a brush or a cloth. Presoak and launder.
The nasty stuff that forms around the collar of your blouse: Rub with a damp cloth soaked in laundry soap gently. If the stain persist launder.
Nex time: Ironing.
Mademoiselle Parapluie
P.s. I really need to draw an Auntie Mims icon. Or maybe commission one. We'll see.
