textile science

17. INTERNATIONAL CARE LABELING

INTRODUCTION

In our last few topics, we looked various ways of laundry textile products. We learnt that some fabrics can be washed by water, while others are damaged when in contact with water. We also saw that some fabrics run color when in contact with water, while others do not .earlier on, we learnt that different fibers require different types of care. The variety of fabrics in the market makes it very difficult to tell the type of care labeling code was first developed in 1972 to help consumers understand how to launder a garment or textile article correctly .It is useful in avoiding damages caused by incorrect laundering. The code rules were revised in 1984 to ensure the care labels had more detailed information and were more uniform globally.

The code contains words and symbols which mean the same the world over .it is based on five symbols, usually presented in the same order. These are the washing, bleaching, ironing, dry –cleaning and drying symbols.

The combination of symbols varies with both the fiber content, finish and fabric structure. They are found on the neckline, waist seam, side seam or any other convenient place in other textile articles. The symbols and or signs maybe arranged vertically (UK) or horizontally (European). Most care labels contain the size, brand and fiber composition of the garment as well.

WASHING SYMBOLS

Washing is indicated by:

i. A tub for hand washing only; hand is drawn in the water.

A cross on the tub means the article should not be cleaned with water. A bar under the tub indicates the group of fibers to be selected on the washing, whereby one bar is for synthetics and synthetic blends, two for wool and /or silk, none is for cotton.

Machine wash, dental or delicate means articles should be laundered with gentle agitation or reduced time

Machine wash, permanent press. Means the articles may be laundered only on the setting to preserve the permanent press. Give a cold rinse before a reduced spin time.

A comprehensive care label also provides information on:

· The maximum washing temperature that should be used.

· The method of agitation that should be used during the wash, and

· The method of water extraction that may be used.

Let us look closely at these instructions:

The maximum washing temperature of water.

There are various temperatures of water that can be used. The choice depends on the type of fabric being cleaned. They include:

· Cool – 30⁰C - feels cool to the touch

· Warm - 40⁰C - feels pleasantly warm to touch

· Hand hot - 50⁰C – as hot as the hand can bear

· Hot – 60⁰C – hotter than the hand can bear

· Very hot -95⁰C – near boiling temperature

· Boil – 100⁰C – boiling

The method of agitation during the wash

Three types of friction may be must used. They are:

· Minimum wash – least movement possible (20% -30%) of the maximum agitation.

· medium wash – 40% - 60% friction

· Maximum wash – greatest friction possible.

Methods of water extraction

These include

· Do not wring- either by hand or machine

· Do not hand wring- may wring by machine but not by hand.

· Short spin or dry spin- spin for up to 20 seconds only or hang drip dry

· spin or wring- can spin dry at high speed or wring by hand or machine

BLEACHING SYMBOLS

Bleaching is indicated by a triangle. The bleaching symbols are as follows:

i. House hold bleach (chloride bleach) may be used

ii. May bleach

iii. Do not use chloride bleach

iv. Do not bleach

IRONING SYMBOLS

Ironing is indicated by an iron box. The number of dots in the ironing symbol indicates the correct temperature setting. The fewer the dots, the cooler the iron setting. Ironing symbols are as follows.

i. Cool Iron/low temperature

ii. Warm iron/medium temperature

iii. Hot Iron

iv. Do not iron

v. Steam

vi. Do not steam

DRY –CLEANING SYMBOLS

Dry –cleaning is indicated by a circle. The letter in the circle refers to the solvent which may be used in dry –cleaning.

Dry cleaners use chemicals, heat, and steam to clean and press clothing and other fabrics. While helping their customers look spotless, dry cleaners need to be aware of their workplace hazards.

The use of chemicals is the primary hazard in a dry cleaner. Almost all dry cleaning is done with perchloroethylene (PERC), a solvent. Inhaling PERC can lead to serious health effects such as liver and kidney damage, dizziness, headache, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, difficulty in speaking and walking, unconsciousness, and death. PERC is also a suspected carcinogen.

Safety precautions during dry cleaning

a. Wear safety shoes with non-skid soles

b. Do NOT allow open flames or smoking on the premises

c. Check periodically electrical equipment for safety and call a professional electrician if needed

d. Install effective ventilation and air conditioning to control excessive temperatures or humidity

e. Protect hands with chemical-resistant gloves; if impractical, use a barrier cream

f. Use tongs when handling clothes treated with chemicals

g. Wear protective clothing such as dust coats, face mask etc.

The symbols are as follows.

i. Dry –clean

ii. Do not dry clean

iii. Dry clean all solvent

The letters P and F in a circle are for the different solvents used in professional dry cleaning.

iv. Dry clean any solvent except tetrachloroethylene (PCE)

v. Gentle cleaning with PCE

vi. Very gentle cleaning with PCE

vii. Dry clean petroleum only

viii. Gentle cleaning with hydrocarbon solvents

ix. Very gentle cleaning with hydrocarbon solvents

x. Dry clean short cycle

xi. Dry clean no steam

xii. Wet clean

xiii. Do not wet clean

xiv. Wet clean delicate

xv. Wet clean very delicate

DRYING SYMBOLS

Drying is indicated by a square. A circle in the square symbolizes a clothes dryer. One dot requires drying at reduced temperature and two dots for normal temperature. The crossed symbol means that the clothing does not tolerate machine drying.

The drying symbols are:

Natural drying

i. Drying symbol

ii. Line dry

iii. Dry flat

iv. Drip dry

v. Dry in the shade

vi. Line dry in the shade

vii. Dry flat in shade

vii. Drip dry in shade

Tumble drying

i. Tumble dry

ii. Tumble dry (low temperatures)

iii. Tumble dry (Normal)

iv. Do not tumble dry

LAUNDERING DIFFERENT FABRICS

Introductions

Textile products are given laundry treatment in order to prevent them from deteriorating to maintain their appearance or to improve their performance. For one to be able to perform these tasks successfully, it is important to have some knowledge on fabrics and expected performance on end use.

The different treatments given to products are determined by the fiber content, type of yarns used, fabric construction method, the fabric finishes used, as well as the use of the article. In this topic, we are going to look at how to launder fabrics from different fibers .let us first remind ourselves how fibers8956 are classified

Textile fibers are classified as follows

Regenerated fibers

- viscose .e.g. viscose rayon

- acetate /triacetate .e.g. tricel

Synthetic fibers

- Polyamides .e.g. Terylene

- polyolefin .e.g. polythene

- Polyoacry lonitriles e.g. acrylics

- polyurethanes e.g. lycra

- polyvinylS e.g. ,PVC

Natural fibers

- animals e.g.

Wool, silk

- Vegetable .e.g. linen cotton

- Mineral e.g. asbestos, gold

Textile fibers

A. LAUNDERING COTTONS

- Cotton is the most common vegetable fiber .some of the fabrics made from cotton are calico ,denim, jinja flannel, corduroy, lawn, voile, terry toweling ,gingham and drill. Cotton if often used to make school uniforms, adult garments, bed and table linen, towels, kitchen cloths and children’s wear it is also used for industrial or protective wear such as overalls and aprons ,cotton is available in a variety of colors and finishes and is commonly blended with other fibers. Laundering of cotton is divided into that of white cottons, colored cottons and loose colored cottons. Cotton & linen have similar characteristics and therefore, they are laundered similarly

Characteristics of cotton that influence its laundering

· It is a strong fiber, especially when it is wet .This makes it making is suitable for boiling, and using friction method of washing.

· It is highly absorbent making it suitable for towels is baby napkins, mops and table wipes.

· It is not damaged by alkalis or grease solvents; therefore, most detergents can be used without harm.

· It can withstand high temperature, therefore, can be boiled, bleached and ironed with a hot iron.

· It creases badly unless given a crease resistant finish, this makes it consume more heat and time when ironing /pressing.

· It is affected by mineral acids, therefore strong bleaches and stain removers should be used with care.

· It is affected by fungus such as molds and mildew; therefore, it should not be stored when damp, or soaked for a long time.

· It loses strength when dry, making it easy to tear.

Laundering white cottons

The main challenge we face when caring for white and colored cotton articles is to maintain the color.

· Shake the article to remove loose dirt.

· Soak in cold water for about 30min or less to soften dirt and starch as well as remove soluble stains. Heavily soiled article e.g. overalls should be soaked separately overnight.

· Wash in hot, soapy water by friction method.

· Rinse thoroughly in cold water to remove all traces of detergent

· Starch and blue if necessary.

· Dry in direct sunlight the right side (R.S) out. This will enhance the whiteness due to bleaching by the sun.

· For apparels, remove before it is completely dry, or it is dry, damp it and roll to spread moisture evenly.

· Iron with a hot iron

· Towels, handkerchiefs, babies’ napkins and stickpersons, bedding, may be boiled to bleach and kill germs.

· Do not store damp as it may cause mildew to develop.

Laundering colored cottons.

The main challenge we face when caring for colored cotton articles is to maintain color .To do this, we need to do the following:

· Wash similar colors together, to avoid colors bleeding in to one another.

· Wash in lukewarm water with a mild detergent to avoid bleaching the color .this fade from the cottons.

· Kneed and squeeze gently between hands.

· Rinse well to remove all detergents.

· Add table salt to the last rinse to fix the color.

· Dry with the wrong side (W.S) out, under a shade .this reduces the bleaching effect of the sun.

· Iron or press from the W.S so as to avoid glazing or shining of the fabric, or use an ironing cloth.

Laundering colored cottons

Loose colored fabrics are those that release color when they are in contact with water. They are also termed as having ‘running color’. The main challenges in washing are to reduce the loss of color and to avoid blending of colors from different articles.

To do this, we need to:

· Do not soak as this would encourage further loss of color from the fabric.

· Wash each article separately to avoid mixing different colors.

· Apply little friction by using kneading and squeezing method.

· Add some salt to the final rinse water to fix color on the fabric for the next wash.

· Add vinegar, or lemon juice to the final rinse water so as to brighten the color.

· Hang/press on the W.S or use an ironing cloth to avoid glazing

B. LAUNDERING LINEN

This is a plant fiber obtained from the bark of the stem of flax plant. Some examples of linen fabrics are lace, brocade, gingham organdie, velvet and seersucker. Linen is used for table linen, bedding and personal garments. Linen has similar characteristics as cotton; therefore, it is given the same treatment as cotton fabrics, but linen will require higher temperatures than cotton during ironing.

C. LAUNDERING WOOL

Woolen fabrics are manufactured from the hair of animals such as sheep’s, goats, camels and rabbits. They are generally expensive, but prices vary according to the quality of wool. In Kenya the use of wool is slowly being replaced by synthetics fibers mainly acrylic, which has been made to imitate the warmth and crimpness in wool .wool is mainly used for knitted garments such as shawls, cardigans, pullover, scarves, and socks, woolen suits ,blankets and personal wear. It is also used for carpets, rugs and seat-covers .examples of wool fabrics are gabardine, whipcord and serge, made from worsted yarns. While tweeds, wool georgette, jersey cloth and flannel are made from woolen yarns.

Properties of wool that influence its laundering.

§ Wool absorbs a lot of moisture which makes it stretch thus spoiling its original shape. It should, therefore be kept under water while washing, and do not lift it above the water unnecessarily.

§ It is affected by sudden changes in temperature, resulting to felting and hardening, no cold rinse.

§ Wools is weaker when wet when dry, making it stretch out of shape if hanged wet.

§ It is affected by strong alkalis, therefore, mild soaps or soap less detergents should be used and bleaches should be avoided.

§ Woolen fibers interlock and felt easily, therefore, kneading and squeezing method should be used while washing.

§ It should be rinsed thoroughly with warm water to remove all detergent, and then rolled in a towel to remove any extra moisture.

§ To avoid strengthening, woolen articles should be dried under shade and spread flat on newspapers or towel, spread it to shape. To remove creases, use pressing rather than ironing, to prevent stretching.

§ It tends to turn yellow when exposed to high temperatures: therefore, if any pressing is to be done, then it should be with a warm iron to avoid ‘yellowing ‘of the fibers.

Laundering wool fabrics.

The following precautions should be observed when washing articles made of wool:

§ Shake and brush woolen garments after each wearing.

§ Air the garments often to prevent development of bad odors on the fabrics.

§ Dry clean unless labeled washable to prevent matting, shrinking or stretching.

§ Measure or draw woolen articles before washing and when drying to ensure they do not stretch or shrink during laundering.

§ Do not soak as this may cause stretching or shrinking.

§ Use kneading and squeezing method.

§ Avoid high heat when laundering .use a warm iron and warm water.

§ Do not use cold water in the final rinse as this may cause felting. Instead, use lukewarm water.

§ Dry flat under a shade to prevent stretching and bleaching by the sun.

§ Roll out excess water in a towel to reduce stretching.

D. LAUNDERING SILK

This is an animal fiber produced by the silk worm.

It is lustrous and luxurious fabric, which requires a lot of care to maintain its lustrous appearance .silk is rarely used in this region due to its high cost and complication in care: however, it has been replaced by polyester satin which is produced to imitate the characteristics of silk to a large extent. Silk can be use for making apparel such as shirts, blouses, jerseys, stockings, underwear, ties and dresses, evening wear and garments for special accessions, glove linings, lace and other types of trimmings.

Properties of silk that influence its laundering.

· It is light in weight and absorbent therefore, easy to clean.

· It is a strong fiber, but looses a bit of strength when wet.

· It is crease resistant due is high resiliency and elasticity, therefore .it is easy to iron.

· It can be laundered or dry cleaned easily.

· It is damaged by strong alkaline and acidic substances: therefore, strong detergents should be avoided.

· It decomposes with very strong sunlight.

· Discoloration may occur with temperatures.

Laundering Silk

The following precautions should be observed when washing silk articles.

§ Use warm, soapy water.

§ Use a mild detergent such as soap flakes and bar soap.

§ Use kneading and squeezing method.

§ Use cold water in the last rinse so as to renew the gloss and spring of the fabric

§ Do not soak, boil, rub or twist.

§ Do not use household bleach.

§ Remove moisture gently and drip dry it in moderate sun or under a shade and ensure they dry completely.

§ Use a cool or warm iron box and do not sprinkle water marks.

§ Do not machine wash as this may damage the fabric.

§ Dry cleaning may be done without damaging the fibers.

E. LAUNDERING SYNTHETIC FABRICS (NYLON & TERYLENE

Synthetics are made from raw materials that do not suggest fibers in nature. They are made from coal and petroleum products, Which are heated to form a polymer then produced in to yarns .examples of these fabric are polyester ,such as Dacron or Terylene , kodel, fortel and crimplene ; nylons such as nylon 6, nylon66,acrylics such as orlon, acrilan, courtelle and mod acrylics.

Nylon fabrics are used for making apparels, carpets, curtain, table and beeline, such as blankets. They are not good for bed-sheets as they do not absorb moisture, moisture, making them cold and slippery in use. Examples of nylon fabrics include brocade, damask, gabardine, lace, net satin, seersucker, taffeta, velvet and knitted fabrics (jersey).

Terylene is used in the making of general apparel such as underwear and rain wear, household articles such as curtains, damask table cloths, candlewick bedcovers and carpets.

Properties of synthetics that influencing their laundering

· They are strong, resilient and spring back to shape easily

· They are not damaged by alkalis insects or fungus

· Have high an abrasion résistance, therefore they can be scrubbed and rubbed depending on the fabric type and use.

· They can be heat-set to get pleats /retain them.

· They wash and dry easily

· They need little or no ironing, especially if drip dried.

· They loose color with continuous exposure to strong sunlight /heat

· They accumulate static electricity, which makes them uncomfortable to wear next to the skin, as well as attract dirt easily.

· Unless blended, some may melt with high temperatures.

Laundering Nylons

· For colored nylons, use hand hot water

· For whites ,use very hot water

· Wash whites separately as nylon pulls color from other fabrics

· Drip dry under shade ,inside out ,as it is deteriorated by sunlight

· Use a warm iron when almost dry

· Do not bleach

· Do not boil as it may crease permanently

Laundering Terylene

· Sort out articles according to their colors, washing bright colors first.

· Articles do not require soaking as most dirt does not penetrate in to the fibers, making them easy and quick to wash.

· Use warm water as hot water or boiling will crease the garment.

· Dissolve powdered soap in to the washing water or if bar soap is preferred, put the articles into water and ensure soap has been applied on to all the parts.

· Kneed and squeeze gently but badly soiled parts can be rubbed, though this depends on the type of weave.

· Rinse thoroughly in cold water until all traces of soap have been removed.

· Do not rub, twist, wring or dry flat, as this may create creases and wrinkles that cannot be removed.

· Drip –dry by handing on a smooth hanger or a cloth –line pegging along the strong point of the garments. Hang the article under a shade .This is because it is more vulnerable to sunlight deterioration when it is damp.

· If necessary press with a warm iron, when it is either dry or damp.

Laundering acrylics and mod acrylics

acrylics are synthetic fibers ,manly used for making knitted garments ,lining fabrics, baby shawls ,scarves ,blankets ,bedcover, carpets ,rugs and furnishing .It has replaced the use of wool due to its affordable cost and easy care properties, although it similar to wool in its feel and appearance .Mod acrylics are closely related to acrylics ,and are used for making furnishings in public building ,children’s nightwear ,racing drivers’ overalls, wigs and hair pieces.

Properties of acrylics and mod acrylics that influence their laundering.

· Fabric is light in weight.

· They are resistant to heat and chemicals

· They are strong and hard wearing.

· They are easy to wash and dry as they do not felt or shrink

· They are safely dry cleaned.

· Acrylics melt with high temperatures

· knitted articles stretch out of shape

Laundering acrylics and mod acrylics

· Prepare warm lathered water using a mild detergent

· Wash by kneading and squeezing taking care not to lift the article from the water especially if it is knitted .This will prevent stretching.

· Squeeze extra if the garment is highly soiled

· Heavily soiled articles can be soaked for a few minutes.

· Hand squeeze carefully to remove much of the soapy water.

· Put it into the rinsing water, and rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of soap.

· Do not wring as this damage the fibers and the shape of the article

· Use cold water to rinse & freshen the garment and to void creases

· If the fabric is not knitted, drip –dry it by hanging it on a cloth line. Hang under shade .if knitted, dry flat under shade.

· If knitted roll it in a towel to remove extra moisture, then dry flat on surface to retain the shape.

· Use a warm iron to finish it when dry or almost dry.

F. LAUNDRY REGENERATED FIBERS

Regenerated fibers are processed from natural substances, such as cotton lint, treated with chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide. Examples of regenerated fibers include viscose rayon, acetate rayon’s and triacetate rayon. Rayon’s are quite versatile and therefore ,it is used for apparel, industrial clothing and household furnishings such as table linen ,curtains, carpets, blankets and bedspreads .example of rayon fabrics include crepe ,damask, flannel ,brocade ,gabardine ,jersey ,lace taffeta and velvet.

Properties of regenerated fibers that influence their laundering

· Rayon’s are readily absorbent.

· They are quite strong

· They can damaged by strong acids and bleaches

· They can be dry-cleaned comfortably

· They are damaged by twisting, friction and wringing .Therefore, machine washing and tumble drying should be avoided.

· Acetates are weaken by long exposure to sunlight.

Laundering regenerated fibers

· Rayon is weak when wet. Therefore handle it with care and do not soak

· use kneading and squeezing method

· Iron on the W.S to avoid shinning

· Rayon dries slowly, so give it enough time.

Laundering acetate rayon

§ Check if washable or dry cleaned

§ Avoid over soiling –wash frequently and quickly

§ Do not use chlorine bleach, may use sodium per borate bleach.

§ Do not wring –use kneading and squeezing.

Laundering triacetate rayon

§ When washing triacetate rayon fabrics

§ Use kneading and squeezing method

§ Do not wring but dry instead

§ It can be ironed with a steam iron or when it is very damp.

THE HOUSEHOLD WASH

The weekly, or house hold wash is a term used to refer to clothes and articles that accumulate during the week and require laundering .however, the household wash is not necessarily done only weekly .depending on the convenience of the homemaker ,as well as the family needs, it may be done daily or even bi-weekly .articles that need laundering may include apparels ,bed- linen ,table –linen ,towels ,aprons ,school bags ,uniforms napkins and general apparel .it this topic ,we are going to look at how to do the household wash.

Preparing for the household wash

Ø Select an appropriate day when you have enough time for the task .this may be a day when you do not have visitors, have minimum cooking to do, the weather is favorable ,water is available ,etc.

Ø Start early, so as to make maximum use of the sun.

Ø Ensure that all the necessary materials, agents and equipment are ready a day before the wash is to be done. This will help in saving time and energy on the material day.

Ø Sort out all the clothes and articles to be cleaned.

Ø Do all the necessary repairs

Ø Remove stains where necessary.

Ø Soak any clothes than need overnight soaking.

Order of the household wash

· Prepare starch if needed and store.

· Soak articles that require brief soaking.

· Wash delicate fabric, such as silks, synthetics and rayon. This is because they dry faster, giving you space on the lines to hang more clothes.

· Wash the heavier and knitted articles, as they take longer to dry.

· Wash colored cottons, then white cotton and linens, this is because they often need a lot of treatments, hence requires more time. As you wash them, the other articles are already drying.

· Wash handkerchiefs separately .soak in cold, salty water first, then wash in hot soapy water. Add some disinfectant to the water. Alternately, rinse in cold water, boil for 30mins, rinse again in hot water then in cold water to freshen. This will disinfect them effectively.

· wash household articles such as tablecloths separately

· Clean all the equipment used; dry and keep away

· Check and remove dry clothes from the lines as you go on with the washing. Finish all articles appropriately.

Disinfecting Clothes.

It is advisable to disinfect handkerchiefs, towel, bed sheets and pillowcases where possible. Linen and personal garments used by sick people must be disinfected to reduce chances of spreading infections to other people. Items to be disinfected should be treated separately. To disinfect

· Soak the clothes in a bucket of water which has disinfectant, egg ditto. salvon, for 12hours.

· wash as appropriate ,and then boil for about 30minute if the fabric is not damaged by

· Boiling .hot ,soapy water may be used where boiling may damage the fabric.

· Tablemats and try-cloths are ironed the same way but are not folded, instead, they should be rolled up for storage .this is to make sure they lie flat what they are being used.

Ironing pillowcases.

Iron along the length on both sides. Fold once lengthwise and once width wise.

Activity

i) collect your weekly wash and launder it accordingly

ii) Finish a set of table cloths, shirts and pillowcases.

CHOOSING TEXTILE FABRICS FOR VARIOUS USES

Introduction

The selection, care and use of fabrics depend on many factors .The importance of appearance, durability, comfort and maintenance are relative. One needs to evaluate the qualities of a fabric in terms of its ultimate and use and then decide on its appropriateness. The following is a simple guide on the qualities to look for in fabrics for specific uses.

1. Fabrics for children’s clothes

a. Should be warm especially because children dislike wearing many clothes

b. Should be non- flammable as children often play with fire and are victims of fire

c. Should be durable as they need frequent laundering.

d. Should be washable .children need clothes which can be easily cared for at home.

e. Should be attractive in color .Light colors show when washing and are attractive to children.

f. Should be light in weight to allow for easy movement of the children.

g. Should not snarl easily as they are often subjected to a lot of abrasion.

h. Should be soft to the skin as children have sensitive skins.

i. Should be color –fast so as to resist dampness from saliva ,urine tears and sweat

j. Should be flexible enough to allow for growth

k. Should be absorbent.

Examples of suitable fabrics include mixtures, brushed rayon, piled fabrics and resin treated cotton.

2. Fabrics for school uniforms

a) Should be durable and hard wearing

b) Should be fast –colored as they need frequent laundering

c) Should be light in weight to allow for easy movement

d) Should be easy to launder

e) Should be spot resistant

f) Should be absorbent

g) Should be warm

h) Should be non-flammable

3. Fabric for casual /daily wear

a) Should not snarl easily

b) Should be absorbent

c) Should be non-flammable

d) Should be durable

e) Should not create static electricity

f) Should have good dimensional stability

g) Should drape well.

h) Should be flexible to allow for easy movement.

4. Fabrics for occasional wear

a. Should drape well

b. Should be lustrous

c. Should be attractive

d. Should be strong

e. Should not be easily soiled

f. Should have dimensional stability

g. Should be flexible to allow for easy movement

Examples of suitable fabrics include satin, silk and metallic fabrics.

5. Fabrics for nightwear.

a. Should be absorbent

b. Should resist snarling

c. Should be warm

d. Should be non- flammable

e. Should resist pilling

f. Should be non-static

g. Should be light in weight

h. Should be abrasion resistant

i. Should be crease resistant or elastic

j. Should be flexible.

6. Fabrics for household linen

i. Should drape well

ii. Should be absorbent

iii. Should resist snarling

iv. Should be abrasion resistant

v. Should be strong

vi. Should be spot resistant

vii. Should be non-flammable

viii. Should be durable

ix. Should have good dimensional stability

x. Should be resistant to sunlight

xi. Bed-sheets should be smooth

7. Fabrics for protective clothing

a. Should be light in weight as they are often worn over other clothes

b. Should be durable as they need frequent laundering

c. Should be non- flammable as they frequently worn near fire

d. Should be easy to launder as they often get very dirty

e. Should not be easy damaged by acids or alkalis

f. Should not be easily soiled as they are worn in very dirty environments

g. Gloves should be poor conductors of heat

h. Rainwear .e.g. raincoats should be waterproof

8. Fabrics for sports wear

a) should be strong and hardwearing

b) should have a high stretching ability

c) should have a high recovery rate

d) should resist perspiration

e) should be resistant to sunlight

f) should be light in weight

g) should be easy to launder

STORAGE OF CLOTHES AND HOUSEHOLD ARTICLES

In order to take good care of clothes and household articles, it is important to store them properly. Proper storage keeps clothes free from wrinkles and dusts. Clothes and articles should never be stored when dirty.

STORAGE FACILITIES

The following can be used to store clothes and household articles

1. Wardrobes – they can be inbuilt i.e. installed when the house is being constructed or free standing type that can be moved around. Wardrobe have an area for hanging clothes, shelves for folded clothes and drawers for small garments such as inner wear, socks and scarves.

2. Dressing table – used to store small clothing articles such as underwear, socks, scarves and handkerchiefs. It also has a mirror and a flat surface that can be used to place make-up, jewellery and lotions.

3. Chest drawers – used to store clothes and household items that are not hung. Like the wardrobe they can be built in the house or can be bought as a separate item.

4. Suitcase/trunk – clothes are folded appropriately and kept in the suitcase/trunk

General points to consider when storing clothes

a.Clothes must be well prepared for storage and grouped as: personal clothes, underwear, nightwear, outwear, bed linen, table linen, soft furnishings and kitchen linen

b. Ample Space - Do not overload the drawers with clothes as they may be difficult to close and open. The articles my also crease

c. Where woollens are stored, it is important to use mothballs to protect clothes against pests.

d. Stored clothes should be neatly hanged or folded for easy access when removing them

e. Clothes that are not worn often, such as evening wear and suits can be stored in polythene bags to protect them from dust and pests.

f. Dryness - This prevents moisture retention and mildew, which can rot and destroy your band fabric.

METHODS OF STORING CLOTHES

Clothes and household articles are stored either by hanging or folding and keeping in storage facilities such as drawers and boxes.

1. Hanging clothes

There are various types of hangers that are used for hanging clothes. They may be made of metal, wood or plastic. They should be smooth and durable

Padded hangers are used for storing articles that are made of delicate materials which would crease if stored on other types of hangers.

2. Folding clothes

Whereas some clothes are hung after ironing, others are folded for storage in drawers, cartoons, boxes or trunks.

Clothes should be folded properly to avoid creasing and to make them fit in the storage space.

REFFERENCES

§ Gitobu J.K (1986) principles and practices of home management. Trans Africa press.

§ Makokha j. (1990) Textile for schools and colleges. Nairobi English press.

§ Onyango, R.O (1997) .Textiles: a Home science handbook. Nairobi university press.