In the hustle and bustle of daily life, clothing care often takes a back seat in our priority list. However, if you want to keep your garments fresh, vibrant, and long-lasting, you must understand how to maintain and care for various fabrics.
From the luxurious feel of silk to the durability of denim, each fabric has unique needs. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricacies of fabric care, offering practical tips and strategies to help you master textile maintenance. By understanding the specific requirements of different textiles and incorporating a few simple habits into your laundry routine, you can extend the life of your wardrobe and keep your clothes looking their best.
The Basics of Fabric Care Symbols
Before we start discussing any specific fabric care tips, it is crucial to understand the common laundry symbols found on care labels. Here is a quick guide to help you decode these symbols:
Washing Instructions
Bucket with Water: Machine washable; it indicates the maximum water temperature
Hand in Bucket: Hand wash only
Bucket with Cross: Do not wash
Drying Instructions
Square with Circle: Tumble dry
Square with Line(s): Hang dry (single line), drip dry (three lines), or flat dry (horizontal line)
Square with Cross: Do not dry
Ironing Instructions
Iron Symbol: Safe to iron
Iron with Cross: Do not iron
Dots on Iron: Indicate maximum temperature (1 dot for low, 2 dots for medium, 3 dots for high)
Bleaching Instructions
Triangle Symbol: Safe to bleach
Triangle with Cross: Do not bleach
Dry Cleaning Instructions
Circle Symbol: Suitable for dry cleaning
Circle with Cross: Do not dry clean
Understanding these symbols will make it easier for you to handle your laundry with confidence. Now, let us explore the caring tips for specific types of fabrics.
Caring for Common Fabrics
1. Cotton: Cotton is a popular and versatile fabric that is known for its comfort and breathability. It is widely used for everyday wear, sheets, and towels because of its natural softness.
Washing: It can be washed in the machine with warm water. You must use a mild detergent and avoid overloading the machine to prevent wrinkles.
Drying: Either tumble dry on low heat or air dry to prevent shrinkage. Do not forget to remove it promptly to avoid excessive wrinkling.
Ironing: You should use high heat to iron cotton fabric. Slightly damping it before ironing will give you the best result.
Bleaching: If you are using bleach for whites, go for the non-chlorine one. This will help to keep them bright without damaging the fibres.
2. Linen: Linen is a natural, breathable fabric that wrinkles easily but exudes effortless elegance. It is especially popular in summer wear due to its cooling properties.
Washing: Hand wash or machine wash in cool water on a gentle cycle. Use a mild detergent to maintain its natural luster.
Drying: Air dry by laying flat or line dry to minimise wrinkling. You can tumble dry on low if necessary but remove while still damp.
Ironing: Iron on medium to high heat but only when the fabric is slightly damp. If the creases are too stubborn, you can also use steam.
Bleaching: For linen, avoiding bleach is advisable. Bleach weakens the fibres and can cause discolouration.
3. Wool: Wool is warm, insulating, and prone to shrinking if not handled carefully. It is often used in winter wear, blankets, and high-quality suits.
Washing: Hand wash in cold water with a gentle wool detergent. Avoid wringing or stretching the fabric.
Drying: Lay flat on a towel to dry. Reshape while damp to maintain the garment's original shape.
Ironing: Steam on low heat without direct contact to avoid scorching. Use a pressing cloth for delicate knits.
Bleaching: Avoid bleach altogether, as it can damage the wool fibres beyond repair.
4. Silk: Silk is delicate and luxurious. To maintain its shine, you need to handle it carefully. You can find silk being used in various high-end garments, lingerie, and accessories.
Washing: Hand wash in cool water with mild detergent. Dry clean if required for heavily soiled or embellished garments.
Drying: Air dry on a padded hanger away from sunlight, which can cause fading.
Ironing: Iron inside out on low heat using a pressing cloth to prevent damage.
Bleaching: Never bleach silk, as it can damage the fibres and cause permanent discolouration.
5. Polyester: Polyester is durable, wrinkle-resistant, and easy to care for. It is commonly used in sportswear, home textiles, and blends for its versatility.
Washing: You can opt for washing it in the machine with regular detergent and warm water. Try to avoid fabric softeners, as they can reduce breathability.
Drying: Tumble dry on low heat or air dry to prevent shrinking and preserve shape.
Ironing: Iron on low heat with a pressing cloth to avoid melting.
Bleaching: Use non-chlorine bleach if necessary, but test on an inconspicuous area first.
6. Denim: Denim is sturdy and versatile. However, to avoid fading and stretching, this fabric needs proper care. It is a staple for jeans, jackets, and casual wear.
Washing: Wash inside out in cold water to prevent fading. Use a mild detergent and avoid over-washing.
Drying: Air dry to maintain shape. Tumble dry on low if necessary but make sure you remove it promptly to prevent shrinkage.
Ironing: Iron on high heat if needed to remove wrinkles. Steam can help soften the stiff fabric.
Bleaching: Bleach can lead to discolouration and weakening of the fibres. Therefore, it is better to avoid it.
7. Rayon/Viscose: Rayon is semi-synthetic and can be tricky to maintain due to its tendency to shrink. It is known for its silk-like feel and drapes beautifully in dresses and blouses.
Washing: Hand wash in cold water or dry clean. You can use a gentle detergent and avoid twisting or wringing.
Drying: Lay flat to dry and reshape while damp. Line drying may cause stretching.
Ironing: Iron on low heat with a pressing cloth to prevent burning. Steam can help with stubborn wrinkles.
Bleaching: Avoid bleach to preserve colour and texture, as it can easily damage the fibres.
Advanced Fabric Care Tips
1. Stain Removal Techniques
Oil-Based Stains: Treat with a pre-wash stain remover or liquid dish soap before washing
Protein-Based Stains (Blood, Sweat): Soak in cold water and use an enzyme-based stain remover
Tannin Stains (Wine, Coffee): Blot and rinse with cold water before washing with detergent
2. Color Preservation
Wash similar colours together and turn clothes inside out
Add a cup of vinegar or salt to the wash to help set colours
Use a color-safe detergent
3. Delicate Fabrics
Use a mesh laundry bag to protect delicate fabrics
Choose the gentle cycle or hand wash
4. Clothing Storage
Store wool and cashmere in airtight bags to prevent moths
Avoid hanging heavy knits to prevent stretching
Fold items prone to wrinkling and use tissue paper to reduce creasing
Shipping & Return
● From the date the invoice is raised, your order is sent within 2 working days and delivered within 2 to 10 working days, depending on the pincode. ● If you choose products that are out of stock, you will receive projected shipping time information via email and WhatsApp after completing the checkout procedure. ● We ship from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and delivery to metro cities can take 3-5 days, with distant locations taking 10 working days. ● In the event of unforeseen situations such as delayed flights, terrible weather, the order taking longer than usual for delivery, we will keep you updated. ● If we run out of a product just as you make your purchase, we will contact you right away and tell you of the expected delivery deadlines as soon as we are restocked or offer a similar product. If you still want to cancel the order, we will provide you the cancellation method via email. ● When you place your order, the shipping cost is computed based on the weight of the order and your location. Charges are mentioned during the checkout process. ● We work with leading courier providers to provide our customers with a secure, safe, and on-time delivery experience. ● Please keep in mind that any Octroi or State/City duties applicable to the ordered items will be paid by the customer separately. The taxes and duties are not included in the payment made to us by the customer. ● Customers can also choose their own delivery provider rather than relying on the courier partners we provide. In this instance, the buyer is entirely liable for any loss or damage sustained during delivery. ● Please place separate orders if you have purchased multiple products from us but they need to be delivered to different locations. ● We will provide you the docket number and tracking ID via email and WhatsApp as soon as your order is dispatched. ● Once we have dispatched your order, it cannot be canceled since the fabric gets cut from a large “Fabric Thaan”. It can only be returned if the wrong product gets shipped out to you by mistake. Please read our return policy in case you face such an issue. ● We are committed to deliver our products timely so feel free to avail our partnered courier services. ● If the expected delivery time is exceeded, the customer may cancel the order. If the order was paid for in advance, the customer will be refunded as soon as the order is cancelled and material is received back by us.
Cancellation of Orders and Refunds
● When you choose products and pay for them on our website, it is deemed to be a confirmed order. An order can be cancelled through email before your goods are shipped. We accept to cancel your order only if we receive such communication and acknowledge the same before shipping your order. When an order cancellation is accepted by us, we would refund the amount paid to your account. All refunds are subject to normal banking procedures. Requests related to cancellation must be submitted to Customer Support at hello.magicfabs@gmail.com. On receipt of your request, we will contact you for issues on cancellation and will advise you related to further process. Until you don't get cancellation code from our team, your cancellation won't be considered valid.
Refunds and Exchange
● Magicfabs does not accept returns or exchanges unless the item you purchased is defective. ● Please make an unboxing video after receiving the parcel. Without the video, Magicfabs will not be liable for any defective/ wrong product received. ● In case you would like a refund or replacement due to a defective product, please send us an email with the Images of the Product, Invoice, Inner & Outer Packaging and Batch Number to hello.magicfabs@gmail.com, within 24 hours of the order delivery. We would revert on your email at the earliest. ● Kindly take a picture of the damaged/tampered side of the product at the time of opening the packet. ● Please allow us 10 to 15 days from the day you return your package, for your request to be processed. We may contact you to ascertain the damage or defect in the product prior to issuing refund/replacement. ● You will be eligible for full refund or exchange without incurring any additional charges if you receive. 1. Damaged Product 2. Wrong Product
● Return shipping charges would be incurred by Magicfabs only in case of wrong/defective product shipment. ● Magicfabs does not offer any reimbursement and refunds for transaction charges (and/or bank charges), amount paid to third parties, for the services already rendered or any other miscellaneous charges, that are non-recoverable for Magicfabs. ● The product images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product color due to reproduction limitations of the photograph and limitations of viewing photos at different screen resolutions and other settings.
PLEASE NOTE: Your personal information will be used according to our Privacy Policy to process your refund or return.
