Care and Maintenance of Fabrics

Direct sunlight causes the colour of the fabric to fade

Step 1: The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation along with visible light and heat. Step 2: UV radiation and strong sunlight break down the chemical dyes present in coloured fabrics over time. Step 3: This causes the colours to fade, making the garment look dull and worn out. Step 4: White cotton garments, on the other hand, benefit from sunlight as it has a natural bleaching effect and also kills germs. Step 5: Undergarments and clothes used as sanitary napkins must specifically be sun-dried to kill germs, but coloured clothes should always be dried inside-out in shade to preserve their colou

Washing or dry-cleaning, finishing with starch or bleach, and storing garments

Step 1: A common misconception is that laundering simply means washing clothes — this is incorrect. Step 2: Laundering is a three-step comprehensive process for caring for garments. Step 3: Step one involves washing (using soap and water) or dry-cleaning (using solvents) to remove dirt, perspiration, and smell. Step 4: Step two is finishing — applying starch, gum, bleach, or brightening agents, then drying, ironing, and pressing the garments. Step 5: Step three is storage — properly storing clean, dry garments for short or long-term use. All three steps together make up the complete process of

Wash with hot water and soap, then dry in sunlight

Step 1: Curry is classified as a grease stain because it contains oil and fat from ghee or butter. Step 2: Grease stains require grease absorbents and solvents for removal — hot water and soap work effectively on fresh grease stains by breaking down the oily matter. Step 3: For white cotton, the garment should then be dried on grass or a shrub/plant in sunlight — the combination of sunlight and air helps to naturally bleach and remove the remaining colour from the stain. Step 4: Oxalic acid is for mineral stains like rust, and salt water is for animal protein stains like blood — these would be

From the outer edge of the stain inwards towards the centre using light circular strokes

Step 1: Sponging is a technique used to remove stains from delicate or localised areas without immersing the whole garment. Step 2: If you rub from the centre outwards, the stain spreads to clean areas of the fabric, making the stain larger and harder to remove. Step 3: Rubbing from the outer edge inwards concentrates the stain-removing action on the stain itself without spreading it. Step 4: Light circular strokes are used because they are gentle on the fabric while effectively loosening the stain particles. Step 5: Sponging is always done on the WRONG side of the fabric, with an absorbent pa