Characteristics of environmentally friendly fabrics
MUSLIN
Let’s start with muslin[1], which is an extremely sheer yet durable fabric. What’s more, the cultivation of cotton for muslin excludes the use of pesticides, making the fabric environmentally friendly. This material is particularly recommended for allergy sufferers, babies, but above all for anyone who appreciates naturalness.
LINEN
To say that linen[2] never goes out of fashion is to say nothing. It’s a material that has been around for more than ten thousand years. What does it owe its enduring popularity to? The fabric is loved for its durability, softness and breathability. It is also characterised by its thermal insulation and biodegradability. As it ages, linen becomes even softer, making it more comfortable to wear.
VISCOSE
Viscose[3], also known as rayon, is considered a cheaper substitute for silk. It is one of the most breathable and skin-friendly materials. Like its more expensive counterpart, it is glossy and soft. And it’s hard to believe that viscose is an artificial fibre. Thanks to its natural origin (the material is made of cellulose, which comes from trees), viscose perfectly mimics muslin and linen – providing high absorbency and anti-allergenicity.
How to care for linen, viscose and muslin?
Viscose, muslin and linen are unique materials that require… unique treatment. The good news is that the care of linen, viscose and muslin is similar. If you look at the markings on the labels of each of these fabrics, you will notice that they have several important things in common.
WASHING
- Muslin, linen and viscose do not like high washing temperatures. This is indicated by the symbol on the label, which shows a bowl of water with the number 30 in the middle – it means that the fabric should be washed at 30°C. Washing at too high temperature causes the fabric to shrink. Only white linen can tolerate higher temperatures and will not shrink even at 60°C[4].
- Before putting a linen dress, muslin shirt or viscose trousers in the washing machine, turn them inside out or put them in a special laundry bag. This will prevent the garment from clashing with other fabrics in the wash, e.g. during spinning.
- For washing light and velvety fabrics, it is not recommended to use any strong detergents – powders or other chemicals, as well as bleach. The best proof of the above is the icon with the bowl and two horizontal lines, which stands for ‘delicate wash’, i.e. in an eco-friendly washing liquid with a mild composition.
DRYING
- For clothes made of muslin, linen or viscose, it is best to give up on spinning and mechanical drying. Just look at the symbols on the label[5]. A square with a horizontal line in the middle or a single diagonal line in the upper left corner indicate that the fabric should be dried flat and in the shade. Otherwise it may lose colour and become deformed.
- Viscose, muslin and linen garments are prone to creasing. For this reason, they must not be wrung out[6]. Wringing leads to numerous creases in the fabric texture, which are extremely difficult to remove, even with an iron. To remove excess water from the fabric, wrap it in a towel and gently squeeze it out.
IRONING
- On the label of muslin and viscose clothes, an iron symbol with a single dot in the middle usually appears. The signatures indicate that the fabric in question is best ironed at a maximum temperature of 110°C. Furthermore, to ensure that ironing does not damage the delicate structure of the fabric, a cotton cloth should be used for ironing. Thin and silky fabrics are also well handled by steam irons, which reduce the risk of damaging garments when removing creases from washing and drying.
- Linen, on the other hand, can be ironed at temperatures from 180 to even 220 degrees Celsius. To get rid of creases efficiently, it should be ironed while it is still damp.
WASHING = CARING
Have you finished reading the article? That’s great! To fix the information it contains, set up your washing machine full of clothes made of delicate fabrics and find out in practice how to care for them.
If you follow the advice above, you don’t have to worry about their condition. Linen, muslin and viscose get better and softer from wash to wash. Time to roll up the sleeves of your linen shirt and get to work!
Sources:
[1] https://mimoza-tkaniny.pl/blog/muslin-bawelniany-dlaczego-to-idealna-tkanina-do-szycia-b24.html
[2] https://www.lnianyzaulek.com/production/pl/44-dlaczego-len
[3] https://holystic.pl/pl/blog/Wiskoza-odpowiadamy-na-najczestsze-pytania/32
[4] https://www.philips.pl/c-e/blog/dom/prasowanie/materialy/jak-prac-i-prasowac-len.html
[5] https://www.apetytnadom.pl/2019/02/oznaczenia-na-metkach.html
[6] https://www.steamaster.pl/blog/jak-prac-i-prasowac-muslin/