CARING FOR CLOTHING

 CARING FOR CLOTHING 

Cloths can be taken care of in the following ways:

- The cloths should be regularly watched with clean water, soap and little detergents. The clean water removes dirt and pathogens from the cloths thus preventing skin infection like eczema, ring worm, scabies. The soap or detergent lowers the surface tension of water making oils and grease to mix well with it and form an emulsion which can be easily washed away. 

- Cloths that are not frequently used should be taken out, to air them at regular intervals in cool sunshine in order to prevent the growth of moulds on them.

- Wet cloths should be dried under the sun to get rid of water and to prevent the growth of moulds. Ultra violet rays of sunlight kill or inactivates the pathogens in the cloths.

- Cloths how ever should be expose to bright sunlight for a very long period of time as it damages them especially those made from silk and ragon acetate fiber.

- Cloths such as blouses, shirts, dresses, suits etc that are not in use should be hung in hangers and kept in a wardrobe or cupboard. The hanging preserves the shape and prevents creases (lines or ridges or for folds on the cloths).

- Damp (wet) cloths be hung on drying lines in order to prevent them from being destroyed by white ants or other insects or the growth of moulds which produce stains and weaken the fibers. This also prevent reinfestation of the cloths microbes. 

NOTE: Never dry your cloths by spreading them on grass or flowers. 

- Clean and dry cloths should be ironed before wearing them as the heat of hot iron kills microbes and remove the folds that can likely harbour paracytes. The ironing makes them need and presentable.

- Torn cloths should be mended by a qualified tailor or seamstress before wearing them in order to avoid embarrassment. 

Woollen cloths and suits should be dry-cleaned with liquid other than water in order to prevent them from shrinking. 

- Avoid the squeezing of cloths as this creates folds in them that can harbour pathogens and weaken them. 

- Under wears like pants and singlets and stocking should be should be changed on daily basis on order to prevent skin infection.

NOTE: Under wears should not be tight-fitting. This is because this create a worm moist environment for bacteria and fungi to multiply and cause skin infections.

ADVANTAGES OF IRONING CLOTHS

- Ironed cloths look more attractive, neat and presentable.

- The folds or creases on the cloths are eliminated hence the cloth looks and presentable.

- The heat from the hot iron kill microbes, insects and their eggs hiding in the cloths.

- The smoothness of ironed cloths helps the material to resist dust so that the remain clean for longer periods than un-ironed cloths.

- The heat from the hot iron dries wet materials so that there is less discomfort for wearing damp cloths. This helps to prevent the growth of moulds that produce stain and weaken the fibres of the cloths.