Caring for fabrics depends on what kind of fabrics you are using, and if they've been treated with something.

What is Dry Cleaning?

Dry cleaning is a method of cleaning fabrics that uses little or no water. Usually, dry cleaners use a solvent called "Perchlorethylene" or "Perc". It is a good idea to remove your dry cleaned materials from the bag and air them out. The solvents used in cleaning may do the job, but are not safe to breathe and is listed as a hazardous material in the Clean Air Act.

Do Home Dry Cleaning Kits Work?

There are some home dry cleaning kits that are effective in refreshing fabrics with safer chemicals and at a fraction of the cost of professional dry cleaning. however, it is not as thorough and effective as professional dry cleaning. It works for minor stains and odors, but will not be as helpful with removing heavily soiled areas. Works best on blouses and sweaters but you will still need to press items that generally need pressing. Some of the companies that make home dry cleaning kits include Bounce, Dryel and Woolite.

Using A Washing Machine

Did you know that there is a difference between soap and laundry detergent. Most of us these days use the terms interchangeably, but they actually are two different things. Soap is usually made of natural materials, while detergent is synthetic. So why don't we all use soap then? Well, soap interacts with minerals in water that leaves a film on fabric that detergent does not. The last thing anyone wants is to show up for any occasion involving being seen by other people in clothes that have soap scum residue. If you have hard water, the choice is usually detergent. However, soft water allows you to use soap flakes. There are also some manufacturers of eco-friendly detergents made with natural vegetable oils, rather than petroleum based ingredients, and hopefully more of these products will become available with time and consumer demand.

Should I Use Bleach?

There are actually different kinds of bleach products. Of course there's regular chlorine bleach, but we recommend avoiding that if possible. Chlorine bleach breaks down fabrics, can cause it to yellow and may damage the fibers. We're going to talk about non-chlorine bleaches here.

Dry Oxygen Bleach becomes hydrogen peroxide when added to water - products like Oxiclean, Clorox Oxy Magic, etc are dry oxygen bleach products.

Liquid Oxygen Bleach is hydrogen peroxide with stabilizers mixed into it. Both dry and liquid bleach, also known as natural oxygen bleaches, do not contain chlorine and are safer for the environment because they break down into oxygen and water.

Notes about using these products:

• When you use natural oxygen bleach, it's best to use warm or hot water as this activates the product faster. You can use cooler water, but you'll need time to soak the items - it takes more time, but this works if you cannot use warm or hot water.
  
  
• Natural oxygen bleach removes mildew - simply soak your garment in a mixture of hot water and the oxygen bleach.
  
  
• Powdered oxygen bleach has a longer shelf life than liquids.
  
  
• Is not suitable for fine silks or wool.
  
  
• May take longer to work than bleach.
  
  

An alternative to bleach is a product called Blueing. This is a product that was widely used decades ago and still available today. In particular, white fabrics tend to turn yellow or gray over time. Blueing has a blue hue to it, and when added to a load of white can counteract the discoloration effects of time and age on white fabrics.

What Water Temperature Do I Need?

Soap generally needs to be used in water above 60 degrees to be effective. However, most clothes can be washed well on a cold setting. Hot water should be used in sanitary situations: underwear, diapers, wash cloths, etc. Use warm water when you want to wash man-made fibers, knits, and silk. Use the cold setting for dark colors or any color that might bleed. The rinse water can always be cold without ill effects.

Tips on Green Laundry

We're talking about environmental responsibility here, not the color!

• Avoid detergents with phosphates. Phosphates are damaging to the environment, toxic to fish and cause algae blooms in lakes, which is very damaging to lakes and streams. They also sometimes contain arsenic or other heavy metals. Liquid detergents do not have phosphates in them.
  
  
• Use cold water to wash your laundry whenever possible.
  
  
• Try to fill the washer as much as possible, without overloading it of course, to get as much washed in one load as possible.
  
  
• Front load washing machines use a lot less water than top loaders, so if possible, try to use one of those.
  
  
• Avoid purchasing clothing that says "Dry Clean Only."
  
  

Should I use a fabric softeners?

There are two kinds of fabric softeners. There's the liquid that you add to the washing machine which washes in and rinses out during the wash cycle. It leaves a residue that helps prevent static and softens on the fabrics. It's ideal for anyone who doesn't want to use dryer sheets or who doesn't plan to use a dryer at all. Another kind of fabric softer that is added to the washed clothes after they're placed in the dryer.

Anderson Laboratories' chemical analysis of fabric softeners determined that some airborne emissions emitted by softeners included toxic chemicals which can cause respiratory tract inflammation and irritation. Some of these chemicals include A-Terpineol, Benzyl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate, Ethanol, Limonene, Linalool, and Pentane. You do not have to use fabric softeners, but if you choose to use them, there are other alternatives to the name brands that contain chemicals. A simple Google search for "dangers of fabric softeners and dryer sheets" will present plenty of additional data to consume about this topic.

So what are some alternatives to those dryer sheets or liquid softeners? Natural fabrics tend not to retain as much static electricity like synthetics do. You can avoid the static problem in one way by sticking with natural fibers. This does not always answer the issue though. Green fabric softeners are becoming more widely available and have vegetable based surfectants, natural fragrances and salt. If you must use a regular dryer sheet, try cutting them into smaller squares to remove some of the impact on your clothes. You can also add white vinegar or a small amount of hair conditioner in its liquid form to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine. A simple solution can be found in your kitchen: couple of balls of tin foil thrown into the dryer with your laundry will help eliminate static.

There are many options out there on how to wash laundry and care for fabrics. Hopefully this article will give you a clearer understanding of those options so that you can make better choices for yourself and your family.

About the Author: Janet has been sharing her knowledge of sewing, knitting and crafting for years. To read more about these subjects, visit her at CyberSeams.com!