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The days are getting longer, and the thermometer is slowly but surely showing warmer temperatures: Summer is just around the corner. Anyone who hasn't already done it will be starting to swap their winter clothes for airy summer clothes by now. For many of us, this means not only bright, cheerful colors and patterns, but also a wider range of materials. In addition to cotton and cashmere, many wardrobes are increasingly featuring tops made of delicate silk or viscose, as well as clothing made of linen or polyester. But what can be safely washed and dried in the washing machine and dryer, and what should be air-dried? To ensure our clothes shine as brightly in summer as we do, we've compiled the most important textile care tips for you...
Cotton is one of the most widely used materials. It's a natural plant-based fiber that's not only easy to care for, but also absorbs moisture, feels comfortable against the skin, and remains breathable. Fabric care is correspondingly simple: Cotton can be safely washed in hot water and then dried. But be careful: it's always worth checking the label, as cotton is often blended with other materials, which means garments can only be washed at temperatures up to 40°C.
Viscose is mentioned as an alternative to silk. Like silk, viscose feels soft, has a special sheen, and drapes lightly and loosely. This makes the material often used for blouses, shirts, skirts, or dresses. However, unlike silk, viscose is not made from animal fibers, but from eucalyptus, pine, or beech wood. This is important to know when caring for textiles: Viscose shrinks quickly at higher temperatures, which is why it's best to wash these items at a maximum of 40°C and on a gentle cycle. Viscose is not suitable for tumble drying, but it can be dried easily in the open air. Clothing made of viscose or viscose blends should be ironed while still damp.
Linen is a very popular material, especially in summer, not only for clothing, but also for shoes and bags. Linen clothing is light and airy and has a cooling effect on the skin. Linen is obtained from the stalk of the flax plant, making it a natural plant fiber. Linen is easy to care for if you pay attention to a few important points. Similar to cotton, the material is very easy to care for and scores highly in comparison to other textiles with its high tear resistance. Linen can generally be washed at high temperatures without any problems. Colored items will stay bright for a long time if you choose a washing temperature of up to 40°C. Linen also prefers to dry in the fresh air and in the shade, as linen items often develop many wrinkles in the dryer. But that can also be a good thing: people used to say, "Linen wrinkles elegantly."
After the three most common plant-based natural fibers, we now turn to animal-based natural fibers, most notably silk. Due to its special luster and temperature-regulating properties, silk is very popular and is used primarily for making high-quality blouses and dresses. 250g of silk is produced from 3,000 silkworm cocoons. The silkworm is soaked in hot water or treated with steam before hatching. Many people now prefer viscose, not only because of its high price but also because of its ethically questionable production.
Properly caring for silk fabrics isn't easy. It's recommended to gently handwash this precious material at low temperatures. If you want to be on the safe side, use a gentle detergent specifically for delicate fabrics. Tumble drying is a no-go for silk; it's better to dry delicate blouses and tops directly on a clothes hanger. For stubborn stains, it's best to take silk fabrics to a dry cleaner, who can treat blouses and dresses with particular care.
Wool is probably the best-known and most popular natural animal fiber. Especially in winter, wool sweaters and coats provide cozy warmth while being breathable. However, depending on the wool, the material can be itchy. Sheep's wool is the most commonly used. Wool is not always easy to care for, as it can shrink or felt quickly. To enjoy wool clothing for a long time, you should care for the material properly and wash it either by hand at a maximum of 30°C or on the wool cycle with a special wool detergent. Wool clothing should only be dried lying down, otherwise the garment will shrink. However, wool is often combined with other materials, so it's always worth taking a look at the label.
Cashmere is one of the most expensive materials and is primarily used for sweaters, hats, and scarves. Cashmere is obtained from the cashmere goat. The material is particularly soft, warm, and breathable, making it particularly popular in winter. Although cashmere is demanding, it doesn't necessarily need to be dry-cleaned. Garments should not be machine washed, but only hand washed at a maximum of 30°C. Cashmere should not be kneaded or wringed, and should be left lying down on a towel to dry. Those who care for their cashmere sweaters and cardigans in this way will enjoy these fine textiles for a long time.
Polyester is the most widely produced synthetic fiber. The material is petroleum-based and is considered to be very dimensionally stable, durable, and virtually wrinkle-free. However, it hardly absorbs moisture. It dries quickly and is generally very easy to care for. Proper textile care is not difficult: It can be machine washed on a delicate cycle and then tumble dried on a low setting.
Polyacrylic has similar properties to polyester; it's very dimensionally stable, durable, and generally easy to care for. However, it doesn't regulate body temperature very well, which is why you tend to sweat more in polyacrylic textiles. Clothing made of polyacrylic can be machine washed at temperatures up to 40°C, and tumble drying should be avoided as much as possible. However, it's also worth checking the label for proper fabric care, as polyacrylic is often blended with other materials, making it more durable.
The third material in the group, polyamide, has many positive properties, just like its predecessors: it is durable and tear-resistant, wrinkles very little, and ironing is unnecessary. It bonds easily with other fabrics, which is why it is often combined with other materials. However, it is heat-sensitive and should not be washed above 40°C. For the same reason, it is recommended that clothing made of 100% polyamide be air-dried. It is often used for rain jackets, linings, and, like its predecessors, for sportswear.
In the spirit of resource-saving consumption, natural fibers from sustainable production are becoming increasingly popular. However, there are a few things you can pay attention to, not only in the choice of material, but also in textile care itself. For example, you should only wash textiles with as much hot water as absolutely necessary. You should also fill the washing machine completely instead of just washing one or two items of clothing to optimize water consumption. The detergent you choose also plays a major role. This is because it enters the water cycle via the dirty water, which is why you should also rely on natural detergents here. There are now several natural alternatives that do not contain palm oil and are based primarily on organic oils or surfactants from plant-based raw materials. You should be sparing with the amount of detergent you use. Furthermore, using a dryer has significant disadvantages, not only in terms of the durability of the materials but also in your electricity bill. High electricity consumption pollutes the environment, especially when the energy is not generated from sustainable sources.
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