CSP Team Note: This post is written by Julia Pelly and was originally published on 2U Laundry’s blog. We thank them for allowing us to share it with you. To go “laundry free” this summer, check out 2U Laundry, the Smarty-tested-and-approved way to get out of washing and folding. 😉
Silks, linens, and bathing suits — oh my!
As the summertime heats up, many will find themselves turning to the fabrics of summer to help them stay cool. While silk, linen, and bathing suits all lend themselves to summer, it can often be a challenge to determine just how to care for your favorite summer pieces. Check out the tips below to guide you on through taking care of these delicate fabrics.
Silks
Few fabrics feel as fresh and cool as silk but you might find yourself wondering how to care for your favorite silk clothing to ensure that it doesn’t fade, wrinkle or shrink. In order to prevent your silk clothing from wearing and fading, it should never be tossed in the washing machine and, instead, be washed by hand in cold water.
To properly hand-wash a silk item, fill your sink with cool water and add just a bit of laundry soap. Soak your item in the cool water for a few minutes before gently agitating the water. After draining the sink, rinse your item under cool running water, and then lay it flat to dry.
While hand-washing works for most silk items, some — often those with bright colors or patterns — should be dry cleaned only. You should also be sure never to spot-treat silk as doing so can cause lightening or discoloration in the treated area. Instead, hand-wash or dry clean the whole item as indicated on the tag.
Linens
Linen clothing is surprisingly easy to care for. As with any clothing item, you’ll want to check the tag for care instructions, but more often than not, linen can be washed on a regular or gentle cycle in the washing machine using your regular detergent.
After washing, you can dry your linen garments in the dryer on a low-temperature setting. To prevent your linen from becoming stiff, consider removing it from the dryer while it’s still slightly damp, and laying it flat to finish the drying process.
Bathing Suits
Nothing says summer like lounging by the pool in your favorite bathing suit. In order to keep your suit looking fresh, you’ll need to take good care of it. Start by cleaning your swimsuit after every wear, even if you don’t actually go in the pool. Sunscreen and sweat can cause the fibers in your favorite suit to break down so be sure to rinse it under cool running water or soak it in cool water for 30 minutes after every wear.
In order to keep your suit looking new and fitting properly, avoid washing it in the machine and opt to hand-wash instead. Fill your sink with cool water and a capful of gentle detergent before gently agitating it and then rinsing it under running water. Dry your suit by laying it flat after gently wringing any excess water into a towel. Also, you’ll want to avoid drying your suit directly in the sun as it can cause the color in your swimsuit to fade.
This summer, power through the sweat and popsicle stains in style with these tips. Don’t let those pesky and confusing laundry tags stop you from wearing what you want. Still fuzzy on what to do with your favorite summer pieces? Taking care of your favorite fabrics is even easier with 2ULaundry’s Wash & Hang Dry (Pink) Bag and Dry Clean, Launder & Press (Black) Bag.
2U Laundry
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
