Author: Rodel Cualqiera

Getting new clothes in the mail, as a gift, or after a fun shopping spree is exciting! Many people feel a rush when adding to their wardrobes and want to try on their new apparel as soon as possible. However, many people wonder, “should you wash new clothes before wearing them?”

The answer is, “yes, you should wash all your brand-new clothes before putting them on your body.” While it is not the end of the world if you have worn clothes before without washing them, you should take caution. You should always clean clothes that come in direct contact with your skin.

You wash your dirty clothes to maintain good hygiene and remove the day’s dirt, sweat, and bacteria. It makes sense to apply this same logic to new clothes, as you have no idea where they started and how they got to you. Consider these important reasons why you should wash new garments.

Why You Should Wash New Clothes Before Wearing Them

If you’re wondering “should I wash new clothes before wearing them?”, the answer is yes! While clothes appear new, clean, and ready to wear on the surface, you don’t see the journey your clothing took to arrive in your hands. Many people could have touched them, and you don’t know where they sat in storage. 

You’re excited about the newness of your clothes, but taking precautions and giving them a good clean is the best first step to take. You can have your very own fashion show or try-on montage after you know your clothes are clean and safe from bacteria, chemicals, germs, and irritants. 

Do you need to wash new clothes? Consider what’s on the surface of new clothing:

• Anti-wrinkle treatment
• Bacteria
• Bodily fluids
• Dispersal dyes
• Fungi
• Germs

There’s no telling how you’ll react to the irritants, but why take the chance? If you have skin sensitivity, you should be washing all your new clothes to avoid an allergic reaction, skin irritation, or dermatitis flare-up. A professional dry-cleaning or laundry service will give you the cleanest results.

Why Wash Clothes Before Wearing: Top 3 Reasons

You might not see the importance of washing your clothes before wearing them, but it is a good habit to get into. Should you wash new clothes? Consider the top three reasons to wash your new clothes and the consequences that may follow if you don’t.

1. Dye Transfer

Dyes on clothing can transfer to your skin and cause irritation. Clothes with synthetic fibers may especially lead to dye transfer on your skin or other clothing. It’s never fun when your white shirt has unsightly black, red, or blue stains from another piece of clothing’s dye!

No one should have to deal with an allergic reaction while wearing new clothing. Dyes on new clothes can spark an allergic reaction in children and sensitive individuals. Washing your clothes twice (once without soap), is the best tip for avoiding a reaction or unwanted dye transfer. 

2. Bacteria, Germs, & Fungi

Regardless of where you got your clothes from, there is a strong chance that bacteria and germs are lurking on the surface. If you have purchased clothes second-hand, such as through a yard sale, vintage store, or online, you should immediately wash your clothes. You have no idea if the previous owner cleaned them and could be subjecting yourself to a multitude of unhygienic substances.

For garments that come in sealed packaging like some underwear, you might wonder, “should you wash underwear before wearing it?” Yes. Any garment that directly touches your skin should receive a thorough wash before you wear it. Clothing may appear new and come in a package, but there could be dyes or debris from the manufacturing facility on the surface.

Although it is very rare, clothes could contain mold and fungus, depending on where they came from. You certainly don’t want that on your body, and wearing it without washing it is unsanitary. If someone tried this piece of clothing on in a dressing room and put it back, it could have athlete’s foot or fungus.

3. Chemical Irritants

Fashion manufacturers and developers apply chemicals to their clothes to make them ready to sell. Because these clothes may sit in a warehouse or storage for weeks or months, they need to look brand-new on the shelves so that you want to buy them. New clothes may contain harsh chemicals like stain fighters, color preservers, and anti-wrinkle solutions. 

Unless you are experienced in the fashion industry, you, as the consumer, have no way of spotting these chemicals on your clothes. Just like with dye, clothing chemicals could irritate sensitive skin and lead to a reaction.

Keeping Your Skin Safe by Washing Your Clothes

Unfortunately, germs, bacteria, and hidden chemicals are everywhere and are often unnoticeable. However, you can enjoy your new shirts, pants, undergarments, dresses, and socks immediately after they get a good cleaning. 

Remember to read the tags for all your new clothes to see if they have any specific washing instructions, as silk, cashmere, wool, and other materials require special care. Keep whites, blacks, and colors separate and follow the advice of clothes that state “wash separately” to avoid dye transfer or skin irritation. These are some of the best tips for washing your clothes:

• Check all tags on your new clothes for proper washing instructions.
• Keep the same materials together whenever possible. Cotton fabrics should stay together while you keep denim separate. You’ll also save time by washing similar materials in groups.
• Wash colors separate from white garments, as bleeding and stains could occur. Pastel colors are unlikely to bleed onto whites, so you can put them in with white clothes or by themselves.
• Group color families together, such as cool tones of greens, blues, and grays and warm tones of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns. Black, navy blue, dark gray, and purple are typically fine to wash together, as there is almost no chance of bleeding. 

If you dislike doing your laundry or can’t find time to tackle it all, you’re not alone. Many California residents wish they could forget about cleaning their clothes. A professional laundry service may offer laundry pick-up and delivery at a low cost to help you stay on top of your busy schedule.

Get Your Clothes Clean with Martinizing Dry Cleaners

Martinizing Dry Cleaning offers top-of-the-line laundry pickup and delivery, wedding dress alterations, and other dry cleaning services in the East Bay area of California. Now that we’ve answered, “should you wash new clothes?”, let our professional team clean your clothes the right way! Call us at 925-281-7083 to schedule our top-rated dry cleaning and laundry services today. 

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Dry cleaning is one of those life-changing inventions that we often take for granted. But who invented dry cleaning? When was dry cleaning invented?

This blog post explores dry cleaning history and some key figures involved in its creation. We will also look at some of the solvents used in dry cleaning and their evolution over the years. Keep reading to learn more. 

Early History of Dry Cleaning

Professional dry cleaning dates back to the Ancient Romans. Professional dry cleaning shops discovered in the ruins of Pompeii date back to around 79 AD. Pompeii is a Roman Empire city buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. 

Ancient Roman dry cleaning technique is significantly different from modern dry cleaning. However, it still involved the same concept: cleaning delicate fabrics that would get ruined by more traditional and intensive cleaning techniques using water. 

This dry cleaning used a mixture of ammonia extracted from animal and human urine, lye, and clay called fuller’s earth. Since one of the primary ingredients comes from urine, this does not sound like an appropriate cleaning solvent. 

However, it delivered excellent results in removing stains, sweat, and dirt from delicate clothing. 

The 19th Century Dry Cleaning

The most notable revolution in the history of dry cleaning occurred in the early 19th century, with Jean Baptiste Jolly of France recognized as the father of modern dry cleaning. In 1825, a maid accidentally knocked over a lamp, spilling turpentine on a dirty tablecloth. 

Jean Baptiste noticed the unsightly stains on the tablecloth disappeared once the turpentine dried. Following this realization, he experimented by soaking the entire tablecloth in a turpentine-filled bathtub. The fabric became clean upon drying. 

Jolly used the technique when he established Teinturerier Jolly Belin, the usually claimed first modern dry cleaning shop in Paris. 

Thomas J. Jennings’ Patent

Who invented dry cleaning? Most people think of Thomas J Jennings when asked this question. Four years before Jean Baptiste Jolly’s discovery, Thomas Jennings filed a patent with the U.S. Patent Office for a “dry scouring” process. 

Jennings was a New York-based clothier and a tailor in the 1820s. While operating the business, the 29-year-old developed dry scouring, a technique for removing grease and dirt from delicate fabric. 

National Clothesline magazine points out that many of Jennings’ customers weren’t happy when their clothes became dirty. However, they couldn’t wash the garments using traditional methods, thanks to the natural materials used to manufacture them. 

Otherwise, the fabrics would shrink. Therefore, the customers resorted to wearing dirty garments or just discarding them. Jennings would have made a fortune from manufacturing and selling new garments to replace the dirty ones. 

He even didn’t like seeing the clothes, which took him so much effort and time to make, being tossed away. Instead of making more clothes to generate more profits, Jennings started experimenting with various solutions and cleaning agents. 

He tested them on different fabrics and eventually discovered the right combination to treat and clean them effectively. This discovery led to his “dry scouring” patent. According to the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation, a lot of controversies marred Jennings’ patent. 

During that period, the law barred slaves from patenting their inventions. Slave owners were rightful owners of any inventions their slaves made. Some people tried blocking Jennings’ patent filed in 1820 because he was African-American. 

However, Jennings was born free; he was not a slave. He had the right to own his dry-scouring invention. The invention received U.S. Patent 3306x in 1821.

In 1861, five years after Jenning’s death, the U.S. government extended patent rights to slaves. 

The Evolution of Dry Cleaning Fluids

Now that you know who invented laundry, here is a brief history of the various types of solvents used in dry cleaning. Despite the name, dry cleaning is not entirely dry. The process involves the use of various fluids. 

Early dry cleaners used petroleum-based solvents, including the following:

• Kerosene
• Gasoline
• Camphene
• Benzene

These fluids were dangerously flammable and resulted in many fires and explosions. Concerns about their high flammability led to the development of safer solvents. Dry cleaners adopted various chlorinated solvents after the first world war. 

These solvents were considerably less flammable than their petroleum-based counterparts and were more effective in cleaning. Below is a look at some of the most popular dry-cleaning solvents:

Perchloroethylene (PCE)

Perchloroethylene (PCE) is a colorless, sweet-smelling nonflammable solvent. It is the main solvent used in dry cleaning and has been used since the 1930s. 

This potent, thermally stable, and recyclable cleaning solvent has low toxicity. Its major downside is that it can cause color bleeding, especially at higher temperatures. 

PCE is ideal for oil-based stains rather than water-soluble ones, usually from wine, coffee, and blood. 

Hydrocarbons

While hydrocarbons function similarly to PCE in regular dry cleaning, they are less effective than PCE. Therefore, they require longer cleaning cycles to deliver the best results. 

These cleaning solvents are flammable, but you don’t have to worry about fires or explosions when you use them properly. It is worth noting that hydrocarbons contain VOCs that lead to smog. 

Trichloroethylene

If you are looking for a dry cleaning solvent that is more effective than PCE, you can’t go wrong with Trichloroethylene (TCE). It was a popular solvent for cleaning industrial workwear in the past, thanks to its powerful degreasing properties. 

However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified TCE as carcinogenic to humans. 

Supercritical CO2

Supercritical CO2 is a popular alternative to PCE. However, it may not be a great option for eliminating some kinds of grime. You can improve the effectiveness of this solvent with additive surfactants. 

Contact Martinizing Dry Cleaners for Professional Dry Cleaning in the East Bay, CA

Now that you know who invented dry cleaning, you should always look for a reputable dry cleaner to get the best out of modern dry cleaning. Martinizing Dry Cleaners are the go-to professionals for all your dry cleaning needs in East Bay, CA. 

Do you want to learn about organic dry cleaning, the right temperatures to wash white clothes, or other information regarding dry cleaning? The professional and friendly team at Martinizing Dry Cleaners is always ready to help. 

Thousands of East Bay residents have benefited from our high-quality and convenient dry cleaning services. When you choose us, you will enjoy our six-day weekly free pickup and delivery. We will pick up, clean, press, and return your clothes in top-notch, ready-to-wear condition. 

We offer a 100% risk-free guarantee. Call Martinizing Dry Cleaners at  (925) 938-5000 to schedule your pickup and start enjoying professional and high-quality dry cleaning in East Bay, CA, and the surrounding areas.

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Are you looking for a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable way to have your clothes cleaned? If so, you should consider organic dry cleaning. 

But what is organic dry cleaning? This post explores organic dry cleaning, its benefits, and how it differs from traditional dry cleaning.

What Does Organic Dry Cleaning Entail?

Traditional dry cleaning involves harsh chemicals, such as perchloroethylene (PERC), which can harm humans and the environment. PERC is the most common dry cleaning solvent used in the United States. 

But what is dry cleaning solvent? It is a petroleum-based product containing chemicals that help dissolve soil and stains without water. PERC is a reproductive toxicant, a potential human carcinogen, a neurotoxicant, and an unforgiving environmental pollutant. 

Studies have shown that it can contribute to tongue cancer and other cancers in garment cleaning workers. President Bush tasked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with eliminating the use of PERC in dry cleaning by 2020. 

You can avoid the detrimental effects of PERC and harsh dry cleaning products by investing in organic or green dry cleaning. The organic dry cleaning process involves using gentle, natural dry cleaning solutions that are safer for you and the environment. 

Organic dry cleaners often use the following three processes:

• GreenEarth dry cleaning
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) dry cleaning
• Hydrocarbon dry cleaning

Each of these processes is considered environmentally friendly and non-toxic. 

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Benefits of Organic Dry Cleaning Over Traditional Dry Cleaning

When you choose organic dry-clean solutions over their traditional counterparts, you can expect numerous benefits, ranging from health protection to energy efficiency. 

Protects Health 

Dry cleaning PERC and other harsh chemicals can remain on your clothes after you’ve dry-cleaned them. While this may not be serious if you use PERC on your clothes once, the residue can build up to dangerous levels with subsequent dry cleanings. 

That means you will risk toxic exposure whenever you wear chemical-contaminated clothes. The toxic chemicals can also vaporize into the air when you hang your garments in the closet. This vaporization can compromise indoor air quality, exposing your loved ones to health risks. 

You can minimize the risk of toxic exposure by using eco-friendly dry cleaners, such as Martinizing Dry Cleaners, for all your garments, including towels. These dry cleaning companies use non-toxic solvents, so you don’t have to worry about compromising your health for clean clothes. 

Great for Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, you want to use products that won’t irritate you. The harsh chemicals used in traditional dry cleaning can irritate sensitive skin, causing rashes. 

It can be embarrassing if your skin starts itching during an important event like a wedding, but you also don’t want to give up your favorite garments due to skin irritation.

Organic dry cleaning will save you from all these issues. Organic dry cleaners use natural cleaning solutions that are gentle on even the most sensitive skin. Organic dry cleaning allows you to wear your clothes without worrying about skin irritation.  

No Unpleasant Odors

Do your clothes emit a strong smell after collecting them from a dry cleaner? The foul smell can turn off people around you, creating a negative first impression about you. 

This strong chemical smell can be especially problematic if you’re susceptible to headaches and migraines. Since it works as a trigger, you’ll have to endure headaches whenever you wear these clothes. 

You can avoid these problems by using an environmentally friendly dry cleaner. These dry cleaners often use solvents that don’t leave a strong smell behind, so you can be confident about yourself and not worry about head pains. 

Cleaner Clothes 

When you send your clothes off to your local dry cleaner, you expect them to come back smelling fresh and looking new. 

An organic dry cleaner that uses natural cleaning solutions is more likely to deliver your desired results than a traditional dry cleaner that uses PERC and other toxic solvents.

For example, GreenEarth will penetrate the fabric better, breaking up stain-causing particles, thanks to its low surface tension. PERC cannot deliver the same results due to its high surface tension. 

Softens Fabric

If you use traditional dry cleaning services, you may have noticed that your clothes feel stiff and scratchy when you get them back from the dry cleaner. 

The harsh chemicals used in traditional dry cleaning make fabric feel stiff, so you might feel uncomfortable wearing your clothes. 

Organic dry-cleaning solvents are still gentle despite being so powerful that they can eliminate stains and strong odors from fabric. They will leave your clothing looking great and feeling soft.

Extend Fabric Lifespan

Dry-clean-only garments don’t come cheap, so you will want to get value for your money by using them for years.  Traditional dry cleaning can be hard on fabrics and cause dyes to bleed and fade. 

If you want your clothes to look new for years, you should invest in green dry cleaning. Organic dry cleaning solvents can extend your clothes’ life, are lightweight, and can rinse off fabrics easily, preventing accelerated wear and tear. 

With organic dry cleaning, you won’t have to worry about your clothes’ dyes bleeding and fading because the solvents don’t generate a chemical reaction when they come into contact with fabrics and dyes. 

Energy-Efficient

Traditional dry cleaners are usually not conscious of energy efficiency. After all, they are already releasing toxic chemicals into the environment. As such, you can’t expect them to invest in energy-efficient machines. 

They often use massive, energy-intensive equipment that uses a lot of electricity and causes immense environmental pollution. However, you can expect energy-efficient services with organic dry cleaning. 

Green dry cleaners are always looking for new ways to uphold energy efficiency, often using smaller equipment that consumes less energy. That means they have a lower carbon footprint than their traditional counterparts. 

Bottom Line

You now have a detailed answer to the question: what is organic dry cleaning? If you care about the environment, you can contribute to its conservation by using companies that offer organic dry cleaning services. 

These companies don’t use PERC and other harsh chemicals that can harm you and the environment. They use natural cleaning solutions that are gentle on sensitive skin, don’t cause unpleasant smells, soften fabric, and extend the life of your clothes. 

Get Help From Professional Dry Cleaners

If you’re looking for a reputable, environment-friendly dry cleaning or want to learn more about organic dry cleaning, look no further than Martinizing Dry Cleaners. 

We are the go-to dry cleaner for organic dry cleaning in East Bay. Call us at (925) 938-5000 for a free consultation, and our professional team will show you how dry cleaning is done for long-lasting results. 

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Washing clothes with towels seems like an excellent way to save time. After all, you can run several items through the wash together, so why not? The short answer is that you shouldn’t throw in the towel when it comes to separating your laundry. 

Keeping your sheets and towels separate makes sense because you should wash them at higher temperatures than your clothing. 

Can You Wash Clothes With Sheets And Towels?

Washing clothes with towels and sheets is possible as many people do so already. However, if you ask anyone who launders clothes for a living, “Can I wash sheets with clothes?” they’ll say, “Yes, but you might not like the results.” 

They’ll explain that washing a towel with clothes is counterproductive as both require very different heats during the wash. 

Towels typically consist of cotton, a hard-wearing fiber that stands up well to washing and wearing. Sheets generally are made from some version of cotton. While they may feature blends with other materials, the result is the same: a hard-wearing fabric. 

Clothing, on the other hand, comes in many fabric types, some of which require careful washing on a gentle cycle or in cold water. 

When it comes to washing sheets and towels, you should always use a hot temperature. By doing so, you kill off any germs and rinse away any oils left on the surface. While you can wash them at lower temperatures, you shouldn’t do this every time. 

Therefore, it’s better to wash the sheets and towels on the same day so that you make up a full load. Alternatively, you can make sure that the clothing you plan to clean at the same time can handle higher heat. 

Can You Wash Sheets and Towels Together?

Much of the time, you can. Just check the washing label to determine the maximum temperature for the material. We also recommend taking care with fitted sheets as these have elastic in the corners, which can be heat sensitive. 

Can You Wash Bed Sheets with Towels? 

It depends on the sheet itself, but it should be fine if you have 100% cotton flat sheets. However, check for color fastness first and separate the lights from the darks. 

What Is the Best Way to Wash Towels and Sheets?

Now that we know more about washing clothes with towels, it’s time to look at the logistics. 

The best way to wash towels and sheets is to separate each. Gather all the towels for a weekly wash on the same day so you have enough for a full load. You can do the same for the sheets. 

Pay attention to the cleaning agent and look for one with stain-busting enzymes. These products loosen the sebum the items soak up. Finally, put them on a long washing cycle, and set the temperature to high. 

When Can You Wash Clothes with Towels? 

Now that you know the answer to “Can you wash towels with sheets?” it’s time to revisit the logistics of how to wash clothes with towels. For this section, let’s assume that your clothing can stand up to a long, hot cycle in the machine because it’s cotton.

Washing clothes with towels under these circumstances makes sense as long as there are no color runs. To be safe, test the garment for color-fastness before you add it to the machine. 

Can Towels Be Washed with Clothes without Regret? 

Before you think of throwing both lots of laundry together, check the labels. Failure to do so will likely lead to tears with delicate clothing items. It’s also worth noting that the towels are heavy when wet and might rip more fragile fabrics like lace. 

If you’re unsure and feel like testing, “Can towels be washed with clothes,” use older, sturdier items. We also advise washing new towels on their own for at least the first wash, as they may shed fluff.  

Can Towels Be Washed with Clothes if Someone Is Sick?

If someone in the home has an infectious disease, it’s best to wash their towels and linen separately from the rest of the clothing. In such instances, you must always use high heat and a long soak cycle to rinse away the infectious agent. 

Can I Wash Sheets with Towels?

The reason it makes sense to wash your linen and towels separately is the drying times. If you hang your clothing on the line, you can stagger the laundry days to ensure there’s enough space on the line. 

However, if you’re like most Americans, you’ll use a drier instead. The thickness of the towels means they dry more slowly than sheets, and sheets dry more slowly than clothing because of their size. 

So, even if the answer to “Can I wash sheets with towels?” is “Yes.” it might be better to rephrase the question. Ask yourself if you have space to hang both lots of washing out on the same day or if you’ll have room in the drier. 

How to Decide What to Add to the Load

The answer to “Can you wash sheets and towels together?” may also change depending on where you live. If you live alone, running the machine for one sheet or towel by itself is wasteful. In a family situation, it’s easy to create a full load. 

Here are some other tips to help you decide what to put in the same load: 

• Separate the lights from dark to reduce color running and noticeable lint.
• Sort the washing into sections depending on how heavy it is when wet. A bath mat might be too bulky to wash with a sheer skirt and might damage it.
• Check for soiling before adding a load, and set aside the dirtier items. These may cross-contaminate the washing and usually require more space for a good cleaning. 
• When washing towels, you should not use fabric softener, so don’t add it to any load to which you must add fabric softener. 
• Add a half cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften towels and remove detergent residue. Use this method only when washing towels. 

Drying Your Clothes and Towels

Now that we dealt with washing clothes with towels let’s move on to drying them. Even if you wash them together, you ideally want to separate them at this stage. 

Pop some dryer balls in with them to improve the drying time. These innovative products reduce the drying time by separating the washing and absorbing some of the moisture. 

If this proves impractical, then you can always put them together. However, be prepared to unload and reload the drier during drying time. Set the timer during the cycle and remove the clothing when it is dry or dampen the lighter items. 

In most cases, this will be long before the towels dry. Drying the clothing beyond this point could lead to shrinking if you have an older machine. 

As the worst of the shrinking occurs in the last 20% of drying time, it may be worthwhile to remove lighter items then and let them air dry the rest of the way. 

Now you understand the answer to “Can you wash towels and sheets together?” and how clothes fit into the equation. What would you like to learn next? How about how to wash clothes with poison ivy or what clothing you should always dry clean? 

Do you have the time to separate the laundry, or would you like professional help? For those challenging cleaning projects or ones you don’t have time for, contact Martinizing Dry Cleaning.

Our service areas include: 

• Alameda 
• Alamo
• Blackhawk
• Danville
• Diablo
• Dublin 
• Lafayette 
• Livermore
• Montclair 
• Piedmont 
• Pleasanton 
• San Ramon 
• Walnut Creek

Give us a call at (925) 938-5000 or reach out through our website to schedule a convenient pickup, and never worry about washing clothes with towels again. 

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Many people might know how regularly they should wash their sheets, but how often should you wash your pillow cases?

Do you clean your pillow cases regularly? When cleaning them, do you simply throw them in with your sheets, or do you implement different washing techniques?

This post will highlight the importance of washing your pillow case, sharing tips on how to clean pillowcases and how often you should do so.

Why Your Pillow Case Needs Special Attention

Your body comes into contact with dirt, dust, and bacteria throughout the day. Every night, traces of these contaminants can transfer onto your pillow case. Even those who wash their faces before bed will still leave behind varying amounts of allergens, body oil, and dead skin cells on their pillow cases.

A dirty pillowcase exposes your skin to various allergens that could lead to irritations, acne, clogged pores, and other problems.

How Often to Wash Your Pillowcase

So, how often should you wash your pillow cases? When it comes to cleaning your bed sheets, experts recommend doing so at least once every week.

However, it’s an entirely different story for pillowcases because of their high maintenance, especially if you have acne-prone or oily skin.

You might be wondering how often you should wash your pillowcases. The answer is every two to three days, even if the pillow case has no visible traces of dirt.

Tips on How to Clean Pillowcases

Now that you know how often you should wash your pillow cases, the next step is learning the best way to go about it. Here are a few tips that will help you learn how to clean your pillowcases.

Check Cleaning Instructions

Before washing your pillow case, remember to check the care instructions. Different fabrics will require different cleaning methods.

Start with Stain Remover

Your pillowcase could develop stains from eye makeup or lipstick. If this is the case, start by applying stain remover.

Take a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar and make a light paste using salt or baking soda and lukewarm water. Gently apply this mixture to your pillowcase’s stain on both sides.

Let it sit for a while before rinsing it with cool water. Afterward, you can wash your pillowcase as you usually would.

Wash Them By Hand

Washing your pillow case by hand can help it last longer, especially if it is silk. Consider using baby shampoo or a non-alkaline detergent.

Use a Mesh Laundry Bag

However, if you cannot wash them by hand, consider using a mesh laundry bag. This bag promises to keep your pillowcases safe from the agitation of heavy buttons and zippers, the washing machine, and other potentially damaging components.

Choose the Gentle Setting

On top of using a mesh laundry bag, always choose the gentlest cycle your washing machine offers.

Treating your pillowcases with tender care will go a long way in helping you keep them in their premium condition.

Wash Inside-Out

If you have delicate pillow cases, always wash them inside-out. Doing so will help you preserve their outer surface.

Use Fragrance-Free Detergents

Always use fragrance-free detergents when washing your pillowcase. Also, you should avoid bleaching pillow cases to protect their fabric from damage.

Avoid Fabric Softener

Besides skipping bleach, you should also stay away from fabric softener. You could try adding ¼ cup of white vinegar to your wash’s rinse cycle if you want softer pillowcases.

Air-dry Them

Try air-drying your pillow cases either outdoors or indoors.

Whatever location you choose, remember to keep your pillowcases away from direct sunlight. Doing so will keep them safe from the bleaching effect the sun’s rays have.

Get the Help You Need from Professional Dry Cleaners in East Bay

While these tips will help you clean your pillow cases, turning to the professionals we have at Martinizing Dry Cleaners guarantees desired results.

Never compromise on the cleanliness of fabrics that come in contact with your face. At Martinizing Dry Cleaners, we offer the laundry services you need to have the fresh, clean pillow cases you deserve in East Bay and the surrounding areas.

How often should you wash your pillow cases? Contact Martinizing Dry Cleaners at (925) 309-5298 for all the help you need to wash your pillow cases.

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Do you wait weeks or even months to wash new sheets? If so, you might be wondering if washing them is really necessary. After all, they are brand new, and no one has touched them except the salesperson at the store. 

So, should you wash new sheets before using them?

This article explores the benefits of washing new sheets and provides tips for doing it safely. Read on. 

Should You Wash New Sheets?

Despite their crisp, attractive look, brand-new sheets need cleaning before use. Sheets interact with various chemicals and contaminants during manufacturing and transportation, which can harm your health, especially your skin. You can avoid these issues by machine washing the sheets and air-drying them outside.

Course fibers are among the primary raw materials used in making bedsheets. Manufacturers subject these materials to various chemicals to make them soft and malleable. These chemicals include biocides, bleaches, lubricants, detergents, dyers, and stabilizers. Since no one wants to purchase wrinkled sheets, most manufacturers use a starch known as “sizing” to keep the sheets smooth, crisp, and attractive until purchase. 

Sizing is why new sheets usually feel stiff or scratchy, despite being made of soft material. Besides the chemical treatments, sheets often collect dirt and pests along the way before you receive them. They may collect residue during manufacturing and suffer contamination by cockroaches, rats, fleas, and other pests. 

Poor packaging in storage may also lead to small creatures getting in the bedsheets. Another benefit of washing sheets before use is that it helps you identify manufacturing defects, such as tears, holes, and loose strings. 

The sooner you detect the faults, the better. If you identify a defect before the return policy window expires, you will get a refund or replacement with a non-defective fabric. 

The Adverse Effects of Not Washing New Sheets

Have you ever wondered what happens if you don’t wash new sheets? While the chemicals and contaminants in new bedsheets are hardly noticeable, you can feel their effects. You may experience irritation and discomfort, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Some of the common effects include:

• Itchy skin 
• Rashes
• Red patches
• Swollen eyes
• Headaches
• Wheezing 

Some brand new sheets also have an unpleasant odor due to the strong smell of chemicals and other contaminants.

If you’re still wondering, do I need to wash new sheets? It is worth noting that many people won’t experience adverse effects from using new sheets before washing them. However, it is best to minimize your exposure to contaminants as much as possible. 

How To Wash Sheets for the First Time

Should you wash new sheets? Yes. But how do you do it? Below are some valuable tips on how to wash new sheets before placing them on your bed.

Read the Manufacturer’s Instructions

Before putting your new bedsheets in water, check their tag, which usually has washing instructions based on the material. Generally, you should wash cotton sheets in warm water and dark sheets in cold water. 

Use Baking Soda

Add a cup of baking soda to the water in the initial washing stages to soften the sheets. You may also add a half cup of vinegar before rinsing the sheets. 

Avoid using detergent as it often locks contaminants into the sheets rather than eliminating them. Use warm water to loosen your sheets and give them a refreshing smell. 

Use Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets help soften the fabric and minimize static. Their pleasant smell will also help neutralize the odor of new sheets. 

Iron The Sheets

Ironing helps preserve your new sheets’ appearance. It removes wrinkles and creases, leaving your sheets looking great. 

How Many Times Should I Wash New Sheets?

Washing your sheets once before putting them on your bed is enough, but make sure you do it properly. Flannel and other fabrics are prone to pilling after multiple washes. Therefore, subjecting them to double washing may not be a good idea. 

You also don’t want your dark-colored sheets to lose dye with multiple washes. You can prolong the lifespan of such sheets by washing them with cold water at least once. Additionally, you can minimize pilling on flannel sheets with a cup of white vinegar. 

Another effective technique to avoid the need for multiple washes is to rinse dark-colored sheets with cold water before washing. This method removes a significant amount of the dye from the sheets before the first use. 

Bottom Line

Should you wash sheets before using them? The answer to this question will depend mainly on personal preference. Nonetheless, cleaning your new sheets before use has numerous benefits. 

Besides eliminating unpleasant odors, it will remove harmful chemicals that cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, and long-term health complications. Additionally, clean and fresh sheets enhance comfort, positively impacting sleep quality. 

Get Help From Professional Dry Cleaners

Should new sheets be washed before use? Yes. However, it does not necessarily mean you have to do it yourself. While you may know how to clean your sheets with various products, you may not achieve the desired results. 

Now that you know the answer to “should you wash new sheets?” a professional dry cleaner would be your best bet to achieve the desired results. If you’re looking for a reliable dry cleaner in East Bay, you can’t go wrong with Martinizing Dry Cleaners. Call us at (925) 309-5298 for a free consultation, and we will help clean your new bedsheets before using them. 

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Doing laundry may seem like one of those mundane tasks we rarely think about too often. However, you can easily make a mistake that can cost you your favorite outfit. 

When you have clothes that make you look and feel good, you at least want them to fit the same way they did when you first bought them. Fortunately, there are techniques you can learn for how to keep your clothes from shrinking.

Let’s discuss what causes materials to shrink and how to prevent shrinking clothes. Ultimately, you should know how to prolong the lifecycle of your clothes and handle accidental shrinkage.

Why Do Clothes Shrink?

How clothes perform after wearing and washing depends on factors such as the type of fibers, weave, and manufacturing techniques. High temperatures and agitation typical in washing and drying cycles can distort the fabric and cause your clothes to shrink.

Fabrics such as cotton, wool, and linen shrink or stretch more than their synthetic counterparts. For example, washing cotton too vigorously can cause the fibers to tighten and eventually shrink your item of clothing. Similarly, loose fabric weaves stretch more than tighter weaves but shrink more when exposed to heat, water, and agitation than a sturdy weave.

High-heat dryer and hot water washing cycles can also damage the fabric and cause shrinkage. The fibers in fabric contain polymers that manufacturers stretch to make clothes. The high heat and aggressive tumbling typical in a regular dry cycle release the tension on the polymers, causing them to shrink. This process explains why most cotton clothes will shrink during their first washing.

Synthetics like nylon, polyester, and acrylic fare better in the dryer, and their tough nature prevents them from shrinking easily. However, intense heat can still shrink, scorch, or melt a synthetic garment. But, whatever items you put in the dryer, you should know how to keep your clothes from shrinking.

How To Prevent Clothes From Shrinking

The following tips on how to keep clothes from shrinking can help you avoid the misfortune of dealing with shrunken clothes.

Read Labels Before You Purchase a Garment

Check a garment’s care tag before purchasing to give you an idea of what to expect. With natural fibers, look for the word “preshrunk.” Preshrunk fabric undergoes minimal shrinkage during the garment’s lifetime.

To achieve this, clothing manufacturers stretch the fibers in garments as far as they can go during construction to use less fabric and minimize the cost of production.

Read the Labels To Learn How to Wash Clothes So They Don’t Shrink

Most people shrink their clothes while doing laundry. But with the right laundry tips, you’ll know how to wash clothes without shrink issues. Clothes will often shrink in the washer or dryer if you use incorrect settings. It helps to learn as much as possible about your washer and dryer settings because choosing the wrong ones can shrink and ruin your clothes.

However, before you even get to the washing part, you can save your clothes from shrinking by reading the manufacturer’s care label inside the garment. Most labels or tags hide at the back of a collar, waistband, or inside a seam near the garment’s hem. Read the instructions carefully.

Follow manufacturer guidelines regarding dry cleaning versus hand washing, water temperature, dryer cycle, and laundry cycle recommendations. This tiny tag will often tell you if your garment requires dry cleaning, hot or cold water, and whether you can place it in the dryer.

It takes a moment to check the clothes’ care label and learn the laundry symbols, but once you know and understand them, you have learned something about how to keep your clothes from shrinking. Reading the label and following instructions will prevent you from accidentally washing clothes in the wrong setting and prevent them from shrinking.

If you use a washing machine, sort clothes by color, then separate cotton, silk, and linen garments to wash in a separate load. This approach minimizes the time and hassle of sorting through a large load of wet clothes to find garments you want to avoid shrinking. Wool especially succumbs to heat shrinkage more than most fabrics.

Consider having a separate hamper for clothes that need special attention. That way, you’ll have an easier time sorting things out come laundry day.

Ok, suppose you read the manufacturer’s tag and find out that your pants contain 100% cotton and can go in a cold-water wash and gentle dryer cycle. Now you need to figure out how to use these settings on your washer and dryer.

Turn Down the Heat!

Most washers have two separate knobs, setting devices, or dials. One controls the water temperature, while the other determines the agitation and length of cycles the machine will use. Dryers often only have a single knob or setting device with options such as fluff dry, cooling cycles, and permanent press.

Turning down the heat on your washing and drying cycles could help prevent your clothes from shrinking, but you won’t know the best setting until you check the care label.

Use Cold Water and the Proper Wash Cycles

As a general rule, washing clothes in cold or warm, gentle cycles can help prevent them from shrinking. That’s because cooler temperatures will less likely compromise the bonds between the fabric’s thread. Washing clothes in cold water helps preserve the garment’s original size and requires less energy.

Related: Temperature For Washing White Clothes

You also want to avoid fast spins, heavy-duty cycles, and high-heat drying to prevent shrinkage. Use a gentle cycle and place delicate clothes in a mesh laundry bag for added protection. When drying, opt for low heat or air drying.

Some washing machines have a pre-set “delicate” cycle that uses minimal agitation and a shorter spin cycle, which lowers the chances that your clothes will shrink. As mentioned earlier, always follow the instructions on the care tag when in doubt.

Hand Wash Cotton, Silk, and Linen Garments To Avoid Shrinkage

Hand washing your clothes is one of the best tips on how to wash clothes without shrinking. With some water and the right laundry detergent, you can clean your clothes with little to no worries about destroying their shape. Hand washing takes a little time but is worth the extra effort.

Select the Tumble Dry or Air-Dry Setting

Newer washer and dryer sets feature various convenient functions that allow greater flexibility when doing your laundry. Some dryers come with a “tumble,” “air dry,” or “spin” setting that uses motion rather than heat to dry your clothes, helping to prevent fiber damage that leads to shrinkage.

If your dryer doesn’t have air dry or tumble dry option, that doesn’t mean you don’t have options on how to keep your clothes from shrinking. Simply use the dryer’s “low heat,” “gentle,” or “delicate” setting. Again, always check your clothing’s care tag for optimal temperature and dryer setting to avoid shrinkage.

Avoid Overdrying

Exposing your clothes to extended cycles of high heat and overdrying them can cause them to shrink. Opt to dry your clothes in short intervals and check for dampness after each cycle rather than turning to the longest dryer setting and letting it time out on its own.

Alternatively, remove the clothes while they’re still damp and hang them on a drying rack or lay them on a flat surface to finish drying. Some high-efficiency dryers have an “automatic dry” option that shuts the machine off once your clothes are dry. Besides saving energy, this protects your clothes from unnecessary heat exposure.

Air Dry Your Clothes

Air drying your clothes offers an energy-efficient and shrink-proof way to dry your clothes. After washing, hang your clothes on a drying rack, rod, or outside on a clothesline.

If you opt to hang clothes outside, try to avoid hanging wool in direct sunlight to avoid shrinkage. Similarly, avoid hanging clothes in storms or high winds to prevent damage or stretching.

Dry Cleaning

Dry cleaning is another great way to avoid shrinking your clothes. The dry-cleaning process launders clothes using a chemical solvent with little to no water. While the process still involves some heat and friction, these rarely reach levels that can cause your clothes to shrink.

However, shrinking may still happen even after dry cleaning, but dry cleaning will have a gentler effect than a washer or dryer. Plus, dry cleaning experts have the knowledge and expertise to care for delicate items.

If your clothes contain wool or cashmere, consider taking them to a dry cleaner for proper cleaning. Any agitation can cause these delicate fabrics to shrink. So, for animal-based fabrics and other high-maintenance garments, taking them to the dry cleaners will save you in the long run.

Of course, dry cleaning costs more than washing your own clothes, but it offers a convenient and effective way to avoid shrinking your clothes.

Upgrade Your Current Washer/Dryer

If you keep wracking your brain over how to not shrink clothes, look at your old washer and dryer set. Upgrading to a modern washer with customized settings adapted to various material types may come in handy.

Generally, front-loading or high-efficiency top-loading washers without a center agitator will less likely damage your clothes and cause less shrinkage than standard top-loading washers. High-efficiency washers also feature gentle tumbling action compared to the forced movement of a standard washer agitator.

Can You Save Shrunken Clothes?

For woven cotton or linen clothes, you could flatten the tightened-up fibers by pressing the material with a hot iron. That may add some length to a sleeve or a bit of room to the body. A shrunken woolen sweater may regain its form after rewashing and reshaping.

Bottom Line: How To Stop Clothes From Shrinking

Since you can’t really avoid clothes made from materials that shrink easily, learning how to prevent shirts from shrinking can help avoid the problem. The best tip on how to keep your clothes from shrinking is to read the tag or care label inside the garment and follow the instructions carefully.

In addition, using cold water in your washing machine helps prevent shrinking. Special dryer settings like air fluff can also minimize shrinking. And the gentlest way to care for your clothes is to hand wash and air-dry garments.

Get Help From Professional Dry Cleaners

Need help from experts in the East Bay, CA area? Contact Martinizing Dry Cleaners today at (925) 938-5000 or text (925) 309-5298 to speak to a member of our dry-cleaning team. Contact us for a free consultation on how to keep your clothes from shrinking.

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