how about cotton?

so today i feel like talking about cotton!

(since i'm selling cotton fabrics @ http://hammieheartshoppe.blogspot.com/)

i love cotton because it is so comfortable - breathable and cool! i think because the texture absorb and release moisture easily and it is a natural fabric.. and it lasts for years too (can be use as everyday-wear because its easy to handle and taken care of compared to chiffon or silk)!

care of cotton fabric may be vary...depends on the material. blends cotton such as with silk, linen, wool, or polyester..or some got embroidery etc..so it may require additional or different care

you may check and read the care label (if any) to ensure you are caring for the fabric properly

so what you should know about cotton?

Pre-treat any stains prior to washing the cotton fabric. Apply the spot treatment directly to the stains on the fabric. Rub it in. If the stain is set in, dried or old, let the spot treatment soak in to the fabric for several minutes prior to washing [if it were of oil from curry or "sambal" you may try to use the dish washer soap -- i've tried it and it works!]

Pre-treat the fabric under the arms and around the neck of white cotton shirts with a stain remover. Residue from perspiration, natural oils and deodorant build up over time to create permanent stains

Wash the cotton fabric in warm water. Add laundry detergent to the washer as it fills with water. If wanted, also add liquid fabric softener at this point. Allow the cotton fabric to complete a regular wash cycle before removing it from the washer. Remove promptly after the wash cycle completes [my say: if you do not want to soften or change your fabric texture, DO NOT put the softener]

Place the washed cotton fabric into the dryer. Use fabric sheets if wanted. Dry the cotton fabric on the low setting to minimize shrink on the regular setting. Remove the fabric promptly after the drying cycle ends. Lay the cotton fabric flat on a drying rack or hang from a clothes line if a clothes dryer is not available. Allow to dry naturally over several hours. Drying dark-colored fabric in the dryer will fade the color over time [but hey we live in a bright sunny country, Malaysia..why need the dryer? --me say: dryer only shrinks your clothes and fades the color! so let it dry naturally..put under the fan also can what *grin*]

Turn embellished cotton clothing (anything with embroidery, beads, graphics or glitter) inside out before washing. Do the same for dark denim jeans you wish to keep dark [me say: do that to all your not-so-cheap clothes! -- i put all my color clothes inside-out to retain the color!]

Put cotton dress shirts and lingerie in mesh laundry bags to protect the items during the wash cycle [me say: put your knitted wear such as cardigan in the laundry bag too.. unless you want to make them longer or bigger!]

Use regular bleach on all-white cotton items, but only use color-safe bleach on dyed cotton garments

Wash cotton in your washing machine using warm water and laundry soap; use the gentle cycle when washing delicate items like lingerie

Iron your cotton fabric with a hot, steamy iron to remove unwanted wrinkles. Check the fabric for missed stains before you iron it to avoid permanently "setting" the stain

tips of the day:

Soak badly-stained all-white cotton in a bucket filled with water. Bleach overnight before washing

To eliminate shrinkage of cotton fabric, use a clothes drying rack rather than a mechanical clothes dryer and allow the fabric to dry naturally

Washing cotton fabric in hot water may cause fabric shrink to increase

 

-all info's are taken from e.How-

-pictures from hammieheartshoppe-