Caring ‘for Clothing © Give guidelines for routine clothing care. © Identify clothes-storage strategies © Demonstrate laundering procedures. © Compare pressing and ironing techniques. © Practice simple clothing repairs. 7. Write down the colored headings from Chapter 35 in your notebook. 2. As you read the text under each heading, visualize what you are reading. 3. Reflect on what you read by writing a few sentences under each heading to describe it. Continue this process until you have finished the chapter. Reread your notes. Michael picked up his pa the floor. “G wrinkled me nts from the heap of clothes on he thought. “My only dress pants are a ” He pulled a white button-down shirt from a f hanger and noticed a tear in the sleeve. “I can’t believe I hav f to accept my sports award in clothes li The varsity coach isn’t going to be very impressed.” Have vou ever heen in a situation like Mick e th TF en wn * pretreatment * pressing * ironing * dry cleaningWhen caring for clothing, be sure to: © Always keep detergents and chemicals out of reach of children and pets. Use sharp sewing equipment, such as needles and scissors, properly and store equipment in closed containers, © Never use a razor blade to cut pills off clothing. day to wash, mend, and properly store clothes can prevent you from having big clothing problems later. Make the following 7 suggestions part of your daily clothing care routine: * Dress and undress carefully. Open clothing fasten ers, such as buttons, zippers, and snaps, to prevent cloth ing tears, Remove your shoes before getting in and out ol shorts and pants. * Treat stains. Look for any stains on your clothes and try 24s to remove them right away. The longer a stain remains, the harder it is to take out. * Remove lint and pills. Use a lint roller, a lint: brush, or a battery-operated or electric lint and pill remover: Rubbing fabric softener sheets across clothes also removel lint. * Repair clothes regularly. Check for repairs you need to. make, such as replacing buttons or fixing a seam, and make the repairs as soon as possible. * Store clothes properly. Put dirty clothes in a laun-| dry basket or hamper. Fold or hang up clean clothes. See Fig. 35-1. Clothing Storage clothing can increase your storage space. Proper storage can | also keep your clothes from wrinkling or stretching out of shape. Here clothes: good for garments such as sweaters and knitwear. Avoid stacking too many folded items into a drawer. Stuffing drawers will cause clothing to crease. Also, fold garments a 4 different way each time to prevent permanent creasing. You can also put tissue paper between garment folds to keep as undergarments and socks, to save space. Always place the heaviest folded garments on the bottom of a drawer, Smaller items can be placed in boxes or in drawer dividers = to keep them in place.+ Hang clothing properly. Avoid all-wire hange: they are covered. Wire hangers can become rusty and s1 lothing, and the metal edges can snag the fabric. Plastic hangers provide good support for tightly woven, light- weight shirts and blouses: Padded fabric hangers are good for sheer-fabric blouses, jackets, and dresses, Use garment steners at the neckline of shirts and blouses and at the waistiine of slacks and skirts to keep them positioned on the anger. Whenever possible, provide enough space between ng garments to allow the air to circulate arour clothes. This helps prevent wrinkling and musty odors. the * Store clothing that is out of season. Be sure the clothes and the storage area are clean, Attic and basement areas are often too dan t00 hot, or too cold for good stor- age. Use garment bags or storage boxes to protect clothes from dust. dirt. and insects. Cedar chins. cedar hlocks ==> ‘There are numerous ways to organize @ closet. Which organizational strategies fn this photo can you try in your own closet?Remove Stains | When removing stains, pa clean cloth behind the / fepric iayet to keep t {9 throvah to a fabric. The following tipst ing re “directed on garment. a : ‘Soft drinks, tea, and cot fee. Sponge the stain, “with cool water. Use stain “remover. Wash as directed. > © Food stains. Soak a clean ‘loth with club soda, Press the wet eloth on the staln, ‘blotting until the stain is ‘removed, Do not rub. Washing Clothes Leigh's mother had been out of town for a week, and Leigh’s dirty clothes were spilling out of her hamper and onto the floor, “Tl just toss all of these clothes into the washer and surprise Mom when she gets home. I've seen her do laundry a ton of times. How hard can it be?” Doing laundry isn’t difficult, but carelessness can create some clothing disasters, such as shrunken or stained gar- ments. However, laundry must be done. Keeping your clothes clean keeps them free of dirt, stains, and odors. When done correctly, laundering, or washing, clothes keeps their colors brighter and helps them last longer. Care Labels Clothing labels are your guide to keeping your clothes look ing fresh and clean. Clothing manufacturers are required to attach or stamp care labels onto garments. The labels explain, using either words or symbols, how to properly wash the clothes. Commoa fabric symbols are shown in Fig. 35-2. You can also use labels to sort your clothes (see page 552). Always read the care instructions on a garment before you begin a wash! q Pretreating Clothes Pretreatment refers to’ any special attention you give a garment beforé laundering, Pretreatment helps remove heavy soil and stains that washing alone may not remove. Necklines and the cuffs of long-sleeve shirts often need pretreatment: ‘You can use a soil-and-stain remover or an enzyme presoak. ‘Always read the package directions. If the stain is not entirely removed after washing, pre+ treat and wash the item again before drying. The heat from = a clothes dryer can set a stain, making it impossible to remove. Wash again before drying!Fabric Care Symbols ‘Temperature | Temperature "| Temperature Go| DRY-CLEAN| HEED hocking fabs symbols before doing laundry vill help you prevent laundry mishaps, Machine Washing You have probably seen the commercials for laundry pr ucts on television—detergents, bleaches, and fabric softeners, each with a different job. Do you know what those jobs are? The primary job of detergents is to remove dirt from clothes. Bleaches are used to remove stains and to whiten and brighten 100 petcent cotton fabrics. Fabric softeners reduce static cling, make fabrics softer, and reduce wrinkling.As a young child, you were not expected to do the laundry. You couldn't read the care labels, reach the controls on the washing machine, or use the detergent. Now, you can do all of those things~you can do the laundry. Before you can start the washing machine, however, you need to prepare your clothing. One important laundry task is sorting clothes Get Organized Gather four different-colored duifle bags. Ifyou dor't have duffle bags, you can use pillowcases or laundry baskets. You'll use ‘one bag for light and another for dark clothing. The third bag will be used for heavily soiled clothes, and the fourth for clothing requiring special care. Daily Tasks Place the clothing in the appropriate bag or pillowcase as you undress each day. Check | Can Sort My Laundry the care labels, on each garment. ‘The labels will tell you the washing method, safe washing temperature, and the method and safe temperature for drying. Be sure to pretreat any stains, following package instructions. Your clothes can remain in the bags until laundry day. Laundry Day When laundry day arrives, empty a bag of clothes into the washing machine. If the bag is dirty, toss it in, too! Each bag is its own wash load, so you might do two, three, or four loads of wash. Be sure you do a wash only if you have a full load. Ifa bag doesn't contain a full load, wait until the next laundry day or ask family members if they would like to combine their clothes with yours to make a full load.In addition to detergent, you need to consider the water temperature and the wash cycle when machine washing. Dif- ferent fabrics and types of clothing require different water temperatures and wash cycles. Place clothes loosely in the washer tub, and be careful not to overload the washer. Hand Washing Some clothing requires hand washing, To hand wash a gar- ment, follow these steps: TIPS ronmer oe Epes 1, Select a detergent suitable for delicate garments and follow the package directions. 2. Put water into a sink or container large enough for the clothes to move freely. 3. Add the detergent and mix. 4, Add the clothes and soak for 5 to 30 minutes to release the dirt. 5. Gently squeeze the sudsy water through the garment. Do not twist the clothing. 6. Drain the sink and add fresh water. Rinse at least twice in fresh water to remove both suds and soil. 7. Gently squeeze water from the garment and either lay it flat or hang it to dry, according to care label directions. See Fig. 35-3, ee fe ‘Many hand-wash-only clothes ean bbe protrested for stains, Read the garment’ care label before treating for stains. Drying Clothes Generally, articles that can be washed together can be dried together. However. some need to be dried in a particular way.‘To press and iron safely, follow these guidelines: ‘© Keep your hands and face away from the steam, ‘* Position the cord to keep it {rom snagging and pulling the iron off of the ironing board. «Keep the iron upright when its not in use. (© Tum off and unplug the fron after using It, © Never leave an iron plugged In and unattended! EERO Gathering your supplies before making a clothing repair will save you time and frustration, Pressing and Ironing After washing and drying, some clothes wrinkle and need to be pressed or ironed. Pressing is the process of lifting and lowering an iron onto areas of the fabric, Ironing involves moving the iron back and forth over the fabric to remove wrinkles. Use the iron temperature setting shown on the care label. Leaving the iron on too long in one spot can cause dam- age to the fabric. It can quickly burn the garment, Also, never leave an iron unattended! Steamers can also be used-to remove wrinkles. Fabri¢ steamers use heat to turn water into steam. The combination of heat and steam releases the wrinkles. Steamers work faster than irons and do not scorch or burn fabrics. They come-in large sizes for home use and smaller travel sizes. Dry Cleaning Some clothing care labels say to dry-clean garments. Dry cleaning means to clean with chemicals rather than with water and detergent. The cleaned garment is then steamed to remove wrinkles. You will find two types of dry-cleaning services. Professional dry cleaners, although more expensive, can remove most spots and stains. Professional pressing is part of that service. Coin- operated dry-cleaning machines cost less. However, they do not always provide special spot and stain treatment, and-you must do your own pressing. You can buy products to do your own dry cleaning at home, but you need a dryer to do so, Be sure to follow product directions. Repairing Clothing Your clothes look better when they are kept in good repai Simple repairs are not difficult to make, but you must do somi planning. Before you plunge into repair work, ask yourself a few questions. Do you have the skills to make the repair? If» the garment is too severely damaged and not wearable, you may want to pass up the repair. If you can make the repair, do you have the right supplies and equipment? If not, you will need to ask someone to help you. Make sure you have all of the supplies and equipment you need before you start. SeeRips and Tears Ripped seams are generally easy to repair. By hand or with a sewing machine, make a new line of stitching, Begin and end the stitching just beyond the ripped section and secure each end of stitching. If handstitching, backstitch to strengthen the seam. Iron-on mending tape can help you repair a tear. Iron the tape to the inside of the garment. Be sure to follow the package direc- tions. Tears can also be repaired with patches on the right side of the garment. Use hand or machine stitching to attach the patch. ‘You can also use fusible patches or iron-on patches to repair tears. Each of these is pressed onto the garment with an iron. Buttons There are two types of buttons: sew-through and shank. With sew-through buttons, the thread comes up through the button and shows on the top side. Shank buttons have a shank, or stem, underneath to hold the thread. The shank gives you room to work the button through the buttonhol Because sew-through buttons do not have shanks, you shou! mi thread shank as you sew them on. Follow these steps wihen replacing a sew-through button; see Fig. 35+5: 4. Place a pin where the missing button was located. Select a matching thread color. 2. Double the thread in the needle and knot both ends together. Bring the needle up from the wrong side to the right side of the garment, 3. Take a small stitch to secure the thread knot. Remove the pin you used to mark the button replacement. 4, Bring the needle through the button. Place a toothpick or needle across the top of the button to allow a thread shank. 5. Make several stitches through the fabric, the button, and over the toothpick or needle. 6. Remove the toothpick or needle. Bring the sewing needle and thread between the button and the fabric. Wrap the thread around the threads under the button several times to make a thread shank. 7. Bring the needle back to the wrong side of the fabric and fasten the thread securely to the fabric. Clip the thread. You can sev a button in steps.Snaps An opening that does not have much strain is often fastened with a snap, Hooks and eyes are often used to fasten openings on which there is @ strain. To sew snaps, follow these steps: 1, Place the ball section of the snap about ¥ inch (3 mm) from the underside of the overlap. Make several small stitches through each hole of the snap using a single thread. Sew through only one layer of fabric s0 that the stitches do not a show on the right side, new the ball section, then 2, Pin the closing together and mark the socket location, for sew the socket section the flat part of the snap. Mark the position of the socket by placing a pin through the center hole of the ball section. Sew the socket in place as you did the ball section. Carry the thread under the snap and secure. See Flg. 35°6. in clothing care. The goal is to fit as many items as you can into a space about the size of a school locker and find them still looking good when you take them out. To achieve this feat, remember these packing pointers: STEP Make a list of needed items. Refer learn whether items such as irons and hair to it when packing. If traveling by dryers are available to guests. plane, make sure you ae what items are STEP | pian your wardrobe. To get the forbidden in carry-on luggage S | most use from the fewest garments, STEP | Find out what you can leave choose mix-and-match clothing and 2 behind. 1ty0u wil be staying at a accessories to suit whatever occasions you hotel, call ahead or check the Web site to expect. STEP Prepare your clothing. Iron clothes just before packing. Close buttons and zippers. STE? | Pack heavy and large items. To 5 | make the most of space, ill the suitcase in layers, Fill he bottom first, then lay clothes on top. Place shoes, guidebooks, and other heavy objects on the bottom. Place shoes sole-to-sole and heel-to-toe in plastic bags to keep clothesHooks and Eyes To properly sew hooks and eyes, follow these steps: 1. Place the hook on the underside of the overlap at least % inch (3 mm) from the edge. Stitch through each loop, : around the curve. Sew through only one layer of fabric so that the stitches will not show on the right side. 2. Take three to four stitches around the shank of the hook so that it is held down firmly. © 3. Overlap the edge and mark the position of the straight eye on the left-hand side with a pin. Stitch the eye in place through both loops. Fasten the thread. See Fig. 35-7. eye, fist sew the hook, then sew the eye, STEP | Minimize wrinkling, If your clothes Jare in dry-cleaner bags, pack them in the bags. Roll jeans, T-shirts, and other wrinkle-resistant clothes tightly. Rolling two or more items together “fattens” the rolls, making fewer wrinkles, To reduce wrinkles, Lal layer clothes with white tissue paper. If you are staying at a hotel or motel, use the tissue paper to line the dresser or cabinet tts, Ce STEP | Pack the small stuff, Fill corners and small spaces, such as the inside you of shoes, with nonbreakable belongings, such as a travel clock and boxed jewelry. | hes Place travel-sized liquid toiletries in a 8 zippered plastic bag. Add a plastic bag for dirty laundry. : TAKE ACTION Use these suggestions to pack a suitcase with Items you would need for a trip you 7 plan to or would like to take. Leave the bag d packed for at least six hours, if possible. hee Remove the clothes and assess the results.ay Review & Activities Chapter Summary * Routine care helps keep clothes in good condition, + Organizing your clothing can increase your storage space and keep clothes from wrinkling and stretching «Always follow care lahels when laundering clothes. # You can remove wrinkles from clothing by them. pressing or ironing «Simple clothing repairs maintain the appearance and extend the use of garments. Reviewing Key Terms & Ideas 1. What are five things you can do to take routine care of your clothes? 2. Why should space be left between hanging garments? 3. Why is it important to sort clothes? 4, What does pretreatment mean? 5. List three types of laundry products. 6. What is the difference between pressing and ironing? 7. Define dry cleaning. 8. What questions should you ask yourself before repairing a garment? ‘9. What tools can you use to repair tears? 10. Explain the difference between sew-through and shank buttons. Thinking Critically 1. Analyzing problems. Imagine that you just finished a load of wash and your white garments are now pale pink. What could have happened? How can you prevent the problem next time? king generalizations, What do you think is the most important step in the laundry process? Why? Defending positions. Some adults think teens are not capable of washing their own clothes. How would you respond to that viewpoint?Review & Activities Applying Your Learning 1. Routine care. Follow the routine care steps in the chapter for one week. Evaluate your results. How did routine care of your clothes affect your appearance? 2. Storage plan. Create « storage plan for your clothes. Con sider closet and drawer space. List the steps you need to take to orgenize your, clothing. Then put your plan into place. Afterward, evaluate your results. How do you think your organizational plan will help you? 3. Care labels. Bring several garments with care labels to class. In a small group, read and discuss the care labels. What do the symbols mean? 4, Stain removal. Stain two or three light-colored fabric swatches with different stains, such as chocolate, grass, or ketchup. Use a pretreatment product on the stains, follow- ing package instructions. Leave the product in for a day, if possible, before rinsing. Which stains came clean? How do you think the type of fabric affected the results? 5. Tear repair. Choose a torn gatment and organize the sup- plies and equipment you need to repair it. Ifnecessary, have your teacher show you how to make the repair, Make the repair and share the results with the class. 6. Button workshop. On a garment or ona swatch of fabric, follow the directions in this chapter to attach a sew-throug! button, Evaluate the quality of your work, Is the button secure? Making Connections 1. (LSAT) Read magazines and catalogs that con- tain.storage products and strategies. How can you recreate thege organizational strategies in your own home for little or no cost? 2. QUGREE) Write a laundry handbook for teens who have no experience laundering clothes. Include art or ph graphs to illustrate your instructions. Share your handbook with the class. 3. ELD A bottle of liquid detergent costs contains 100 oz. of detergent. You use 4 oz. of detergent for each load of mach Haw: man Inade af wach can wan da with ane battle to se) CAREE Applying for a Job. When applying for & job, your appearance counts. In addition to selecting the right type of clothes, you need to make sure your clothing is clean and in good repair-that means free of tears and wrinkles, Imagine two people dressed fora job interview, one ina clean, neat outfit and the other in a wrinkled, dirty one. In a small group, discuss the impression you have of each person, How do clothes make difference?