Washing Instructions
CARE OF YOUR ACRYLIC FLEECE FABRIC GARMENTS
This knitted fabric has been backed with cotton and brushed to give a soft feel to the wearer.
To help retain the appearance of this fabric we offer the following advice;
Before wearing turn the garment inside out and either wash or brush the inside of the fleece to remove any loose fibres that may remain from the brushing process.
Always launder the garment inside out. This eradicates any fleece shedding and aids in the reduction of pilling (bobbling) which all acrylics are susceptible to. Ricara's blend of British Standard assured yarns does reduce this as much as possible. Inducement of pilling is caused by the abrasion of the fibres. Certain detergents and softeners can do this. However, do not be alarmed, this condition is not detrimental to the wear of the garment. If looked after your garment will have a long life.
The use of fabric softeners/conditioners are not recommended.
Wash separately or with similar coloured garments.
Launder at 40° Centigrade reduced action and dry flat.
Acrylics do not like excessive heat. This can cause the fibres to fracture and the rib to lose elasticity. If tumble drying is necessary use a cool setting. If ironing is necessary, iron inside out only using a cool iron. Never iron the ribbing, i.e. cuffs, welt or neck.
CARE OF ALL COTTON FABRIC GARMENTS
Wash at 40o Centigrade using a COLOUR detergent. Many BIO’s and ULTRA detergents contain bleaching agents often referred to as OBA’s. All Cotton garments are susceptible to fade from such detergents.
For further information on cotton garments refer to ‘SUDDS LAW’ below.
Sudds Law
Warning: Heavy Duty Washing Powders can cause serious damage to your garments
The effects of Low Temperature Laundry Detergents on Colour Garments
For the customer , lower temperature washes mean lower bills, and the promise of lower bills sell soap powder, hence the incentive to develop heavy duty powders whose ingredients are strong enough to shift dirt without the need to use hot water.
It is precisely the active nature of the accelerators required for lower temperature washes that is causing problems to manufacturers, printers and retailers.The nature of cotton dyestuff is reactive, and so it reacts strongly to powerful bleaching agents present in the detergents, this is generally noticeable as an overall fading of the garment. Also the increased use of plastic balls inside washing machines means that there is more chance of the detergent coming into direct contact with the garment, this causes localised fading and also results in patches of fabric being striped of colour.
The problem is emphasised by the use of Delay Start Programs on modern washing machines, which postpone the start of the washing cycle to take advantage of cheaper electricity. Left in categories direct contact with the detergents for longer periods of time the bleaching effect becomes more extreme.Soft Soap
The answer is to use a detergent that is appropriate to the garment being laundered. According to Richard Crook, Secretary of the Home Laundering Consultative Council, there are three categories of basic detergents for delicate fabrics. He suggests that each household should have all three types in order to reduce fading and pilling and also to facilitate general care of delicate fabrics.Most households still use a single detergent for their washing and suffer the inevitable consequences, and they automatically blame the retailer, or the garment manufacturer for supplying or producing shoddy goods.
The problem is unclear. Heavy duty detergents are not going to go away. In fact, even stronger formulas are likely to be developed as producers seek ever lower temperature washes that allow effective cold water laundry for environmental reasons (lower temperatures require less energy use).
THIS INFORMATION IS TO HELP YOU TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT CAN ARISE WITH TODAYS DETERGENTS AND SHOULD GIVE YOU AN INSIGHT INTO CARING FOR THE GARMENT(s) YOU HAVE PURCHASED.
