How to care for the fabrics in your home to keep them looking their best

The textiles you have in your home, whether in the living room, bedroom or any other room, should be well cared for so that their appearance is in keeping with the overall decor.

To do this, you should know the difference between fabrics and fibers. In this way, you will be able to take care of the fabrics much better. Fabrics are the result of joining different fibers, whether natural or synthetic, and their name indicates the method of interlacing them.

You should know that many fabrics receive special treatments that make them more suitable for everyday home use than others. Among the most common characteristics are: long lasting ironing, ease of cleaning, wrinkle resistance, etc.

How to care for natural fibers

As for natural fibers, the most commonly used are cotton, wool, linen or silk. These are usually more expensive fabrics and require more maintenance. Cotton is soft and easy to clean, you can put it in the washing machine, although it tends to wrinkle. On the other hand, there is linen, which is resistant and durable, you should dry clean it so it does not spoil.

Wool, on the other hand, is a strong fabric and stands up very well to daily wear and tear. Wool flannel is perfect for upholstery, but it should also be dry cleaned. Another natural fiber is silk, which fades easily, but does not tolerate high temperatures or spin-drying and is delicate to rubbing. Steam iron it at low temperature.

How to care for synthetic fibers

On the other hand, there are the synthetic fibers. Acetate, rayon fiber, polyester, nylon and acrylic fiber. The first of these is very sensitive to heat, so it will require special care when ironing. Rayon fiber is best dry cleaned, as water can damage cellulose fibers.

Polyester is a strong and easy to maintain fabric. Its appearance is smooth and shiny. It should be washed in warm water and ironed at low temperature. Nylon, on the other hand, requires the same care, and you can use it both in upholstery and curtains. Finally, acrylic fiber is somewhat less resistant than nylon or polyester, but you should add softener if you put it in the washing machine during the last rinse cycle.