The synthetic material fleece is warm, soft and pleasant to the touch - widely used in the production of children's and sportswear, as well as all kinds of blankets, bedspreads and capes. The fabric lends itself well to dyeing and allows you to create interesting color combinations that serve to create an individual style and decorate the interior. With proper care, high-quality products will last a long time, so it will be useful to learn how to wash fleece manually and automatically, how to choose the right detergent and what conditions must be observed during the drying process.
Fleece
Does fleece shrink after washing?
Knitted material is made primarily from polyester. There are also varieties of fleece with a cotton backing, but they are much less common.
During the production process, the synthetic material undergoes wet heat treatment, due to which it becomes resistant to deformation. However, if the care rules are not followed, fleece can shrink greatly in size.
The main reason why a product shrinks is failure to comply with the temperature conditions when washing. If fleece is kept in too hot water, the polyester threads will shrink and the item will shrink one or more sizes.
To return the product to its original size, you need to thoroughly wet it or wash it again. Without squeezing, hang it on a rope to allow the water to drain: the weight of the jets will stretch the fabric.
What detergent to wash
The right choice of detergents is the key to a long life of fleece. Do not use chlorine bleach. Buy a special powder or gel, conditioner with an “Antistatic” effect. If necessary, use additional means to restore one or another function of the fabric that is impaired upon contact with water.
An alternative to hand washing powder can be regular laundry soap: rub the bar on a grater or crumble it with a knife. Dissolve the resulting mass completely in water and only then add it to the main volume.
How to wash fleece items
For washing, it is better to use liquid detergents for delicate synthetic items. Conventional washing powders dissolve less well, so particles get stuck in the porous material, remaining even after thorough rinsing. As a result, the fleece becomes stiffer and becomes covered with streaks or stains.
To wash fleece items, it is better to use special products:
- Nikwax Polar Proof;
- Nikwax Base Wash;
- “Care and refreshing effect” (Perwoll);
- Micro Wash (Hey-Sport);
- Gallus Sensitive Gel.
After washing, it is recommended to use rinse aids and conditioners that have a “fleece” mark on the label. They will refresh the colors, soften the material, and prevent things from becoming electrified.
Choosing the right product
To prevent fleece from deteriorating, you should wash it with specialized household chemicals. We list several professional tools that are suitable in this case:
- Micro wash;
- Sodasan;
- Nikwax;
- Frosch.
The listed products are effective for cleaning fleece items. At the same time, the fabric will be soft and pleasant to the touch. The main thing to consider when using them is the instructions for use.
Expert opinion
Evgenia Taran
If a housewife needs to wash a white sweater or fleece toy, she will need to use a mild chlorine-free bleach, for example, ChisTin Omega or SYNERGETIC.
Handwash
Manual care usually does not take much effort and time. And if you need to wash a bulky item (a blanket, a blanket or a bulky tracksuit), then this is the only way to clean it.
Progress of the operation:
- Fill a basin or bathtub with warm water (not higher than 30-40 °C).
- Dissolve detergent.
- Soak the product for 20-60 minutes.
- Wash by hand or with a soft brush, avoiding strong pressure on the fabric: with intense rubbing movements, the fibers of the material become thinner, which affects the heat-saving properties and appearance.
- Change the water to clean water and rinse 2-3 times.
- Without squeezing, remove from the water, place on a wire rack or an inverted bowl to drain.
Advice! It is recommended to add fabric softener to the last rinse. The product will soften the fabric, prevent things from shrinking, and reduce the accumulation of static electricity.
Wash by hand
If the fleece jacket/hat is clean, but there is a stain on it, it is better to soak it in cool water. Leave for 20 minutes. The stain will disappear.
If you need to wash by hand:
- Make a warm soapy solution in a basin.
- Immerse the clothes, squeeze with your hands.
- Rinse, changing the water several times.
- Do not wring things out, let the water drain.
- Dry naturally.
If you squeeze fleece too much, the clothes will wrinkle and stretch.
Washing fleece in a washing machine
With the right approach, knitted items withstand machine operation very well. Before loading them into the machine, they need to be properly prepared:
- inspect the product, clean the pockets, shaking out dirt and debris from them;
- if necessary, remove stains;
- fasten zippers, hooks, buttons;
- turn inside out.
Advice! It is recommended to pre-soak heavily soiled items in soapy water for 15-30 minutes. You should not soap stains with laundry soap, since the product does not rinse well, leaving streaks.
At what temperature
One of the advantages of fleece is its ease of care. However, it also has a number of features that you need to remember when starting to wash.
The main requirement is the water temperature. It should not be too hot, as the polyester threads may simply melt. The optimal temperature is no higher than 40 °C . At higher rates, the fibers will thin or melt and the knitted product will shrink.
In what mode
The most suitable program for fleece products is “synthetics”, “wool”. The delicate (gentle) or hand wash mode is also suitable.
Spin speed
Fleece does not tolerate intense mechanical pressure well: folds and bruises easily form on its surface. Therefore, it is not advisable to use automatic spinning. If absolutely necessary, it can be turned on, but at minimum speed. Recommended speed - no higher than 400 rpm .
Important! Fleece should not be dried in dryers at high temperatures, as the knit fabric will bunch up and shrink a lot.
Know the density
The raw material from which fleece is made is synthetic fiber. It can be primary and secondary - for example, recycling plastic film or bottles.
Fleece fabrics vary in thickness and density:
| Microfleece Thin fabric with a thickness of less than 100 g/m. For sewing fine clothes | |
| Polarfleece Its density is slightly more than 100 g/m. Polar fleece is used to make thermal underwear, sweatshirts and leggings for sports | |
| Medium weight fleece Its density is 200 g/m. Children's clothing is made from it: hats, scarves, mittens | |
| Thick fleece The density of this material is 300 g/m. Most often, winter clothes and textiles are made from it. | |
| Ultra-thick fleece Its density is 400–600 g/m. They sew clothes for tourism and equipment |
Washing a fleece blanket
It is quite difficult to wash a large product by hand, so it is wiser to entrust the operation to a home machine. But before you start washing a fleece blanket in the washing machine, you need to make sure that it fits freely in the drum.
If you have to squeeze it in with difficulty, then it’s better to abandon the idea and wash the blanket the old fashioned way - by hand.
After making sure that the item fits well in the drum, you can start washing:
- load a blanket and 2-3 tennis balls into the washing tank;
- pour in liquid detergent;
- disable spin
- activate the double (additional) rinse function;
- turn on the selected mode (delicate wash, “wool”, “synthetics”).
After finishing washing, transfer the blanket from the washing machine to the bathtub and let the water drain. Hang the wet item out to dry.
Fleece vest
Fleece jackets also come in a variety of colors. They come in plain (one color) or printed. Various patterns allow the use of special fabrics (such as camouflage) and children's clothing or home textiles. Polyester fabrics have many advantages.
Fleece is an incomparably soft, warm and cozy material that many people fall in love with. Jackets, jackets and home suits give their owners unique comfort. However, many people mistake fleece for natural fabric and do not suspect that they are looking at a product made of a rather capricious material. And how carefully you wash and dry fleece directly depends on its service life. Thus, by mistake, amateurs in one fell swoop irreversibly damage such products by aggressive washing and improper drying.
The first thing you need to carefully study from scratch is that fleece is a fabric consisting mainly (or only) of synthetic fibers. That's why he doesn't like stretching, hard washing, harsh stain removal chemicals or bleaching, hot water, irons, radiators... Just like a gentleman!
But they love him because he himself gives the body exceptional tenderness! Therefore, washing fleece should be carried out observing the “ritual of tenderness” so that your favorite things retain their warmth and beauty for a long time.
How to iron fleece items
Due to the special features of the material, the products do not require ironing. If you wash and dry things correctly, there will be no need for an iron.
If, despite your efforts, the product is wrinkled, then when ironing you should follow the recommendations:
- iron through gauze or iron;
- iron only from the wrong side;
- iron on a board covered with soft material or a terry towel;
- ironing mode – “synthetic”;
- temperature – no higher than 40-60 °C.
Despite the synthetic origin of the material, fleece items are extremely comfortable to wear. Plus, they are easy to care for: you need to remember the characteristics of knitwear and follow the washing recommendations.
Features of fleece drying
After washing, fleece products need to be properly dried. Only horizontal layout is allowed, away from heat sources, otherwise the item may shrink or become deformed. Fleece also does not withstand drying well in direct sunlight. Brightly colored fabrics may lose color, and polyester fibers will lose their softness and heat-saving properties.
Fleece items and clothing are not ironed. After washing, the material is straightened and laid out on a terry towel or sheet to dry. With this method of laying out, the products do not wrinkle and retain their original qualities.
Important! When storing fleece clothing, you should ensure the quality of drying. A raw product will acquire an unpleasant odor in a closed cabinet, which will not be easy to remove.
Fleece products are popular due to the properties of the fiber, and caring for them is not difficult at all if you follow a number of rules.
It should be remembered that people with hypersensitivity and small children may experience skin irritation. In this case, you will have to abandon fleece items and choose natural materials. Rate this post
Conclusion
Now that you know how to wash textured fleece material, you can preserve its properties and enjoy the softness and freshness of your items. The video in this article will help you and provide you with recommendations. Ask your questions in the comments if you need to clarify any nuances.
Fleece is a unique fabric in terms of softness, which many people mistakenly mistake for natural. For this reason, housewives begin to wash fleece items incorrectly, causing the fibers to thin. The material ceases to retain heat, and the functional properties of the item gradually drop to zero.
Like any synthetics, fleece reacts negatively to aggressive detergents, high temperatures and professional stain removers. But even at home, it is possible to provide the fabric with complete care, ensuring that the product is maintained in optimal condition.
