The document provides instructions on laundering clothes and linens. It discusses sorting clothes by color and soil level before washing. Proper washing involves separating lights and darks, pre-treating stains, and using the appropriate amount of detergent based on soil level. The steps of a basic wash cycle are outlined, and laundry equipment and supplies are described. Safety precautions for laundering are also mentioned.

1. W A S H I N G A N D I R O N I N G C L O T H E S , L I N E N S
A N D F A B R I C S
Lesson 6

2.  Laundering - is the process of washing, starching,
and ironing clothes and linens. Because of
innovations in technology, new kinds of laundry
equipment and supplies, synthetic detergents are
now available anywhere. Laundering(washing and
ironing) clothes can be done daily or weekly or on
schedule. Before doing the washing, segregate items
according to colors, texture, size and defects.

3. Checking and Sorting Clothes, Linens, and
Fabrics
1. Separate lightly soiled items from heavily-soiled
ones. Wash items of similar colors together,
separate white or light colored clothes from dark-
colored. Wash them accordingly.
2. Attend to the clothes before washing. Remove
stains, mend or repair tears, holes, missing
bottoms, nips and others.

4.  In washing, consider the extent of dirt. Heavily soiled items
should be grouped together and lightly soiled ones washed
together. Lightly soiled items are moderately washed with
lesser detergent, while heavily soiled ones need more
detergent and repeated washing until they are spotlessly
clean.
 White or light-colored items should be separated from
dark-colored items when washing to avoid the white items
from absorbing the faded color of dark-colored items. This
will prevent discoloring the white clothes and fabrics; thus,
making them look and appear immaculately clean and
white.

5.  Silk fabrics have delicate texture and are gently hand
washed or dry cleaned, while cotton and linen items are
soften when machine washed.
 Clothing, linens, and fabrics with defects should be repaired
before washing to prevent from getting worse.
 Stains should be removed promptly. It is easier to remove
new and fresh stains than old and hardened ones.

6. Types of Linens/Fabrics
 Solid Cotton - the fibers of the cotton plant can be
woven into a variety of fabrics; they can also be
combined with other natural or synthetic fibers to
create blended fabrics. In general, cotton is durable,
comfortable, and easy to care.

7. 1. Cotton velvet - it comes in many weights and is
appropriate for upholstery, clothing and decorative
accessories, clean velvet with a soft, dry-brush, or
dry-clean. To avoid the pile, steam (do not iron) to
remove wrinkles.
2. Muslin - is inexpensive plain-weave cotton and is
usually un-dyed. It is often used as a lining or to
make a practice version of a garment or slipover, to
test for fit.

8. 3. Terry cloth - most commonly used to make bath
towels and robes. Terry cloth is absorbent because
of its looped pile of thick cotton yarns. It can have a
pile on one or both sides.
4. Flannel - can be made of cotton, wool, or a wool
blend. Although it is popular for baby clothes and
bedding, its softness makes it a nice choice for lining
winter garments.

9. 5. Chambray - is plain-weave fabrics made of cotton or
cotton-synthetic blends. The warp threads are dyed and
the weft threads are left white, as they are for denim. It is
used for making clothing, especially shirts.
6. Poplin - durable cotton poplin has a tightly woven plain
weave and slight horizontal ribs. It is a good choice for
children’s and light weight adult clothing.
7. Cotton voile- lightweight sheer cotton voile is perfect for
clothing and for breezy curtains.

10.  Pattered Cottons
1. Ticking used to make mattress covers.
2. Dotted used for making curtains and clothing
including children’s garments.
3. Gingham - distinct two-tone-over-white checkered
pattern, used for lightweight summer clothing and
household linens.

11.  Silk - spun from the delicate threads of silkworms,
originated in China. Used for interior decorations as well as
in fashion, it is strong, lightweight and takes dye well,
allowing for brilliantly colored fabrics with a natural luster.
Some silks may be gently hand washed, although dry-
cleaning is recommended for most.
 Linens - it is made from flax, linen is one of the oldest
textiles in human history. It is extremely strong and
durable, and can be fairly heavy, yet feels light and cool
against the skin.
 Wool- are warm and insulating, wool is manufactured in
many weights and styles, from lightweight suiting to heavy
blanket cloth.

12. Repairing Defective Clothes, Linens and
Fabrics
1.Mend rips and repair holes. Mending is straightening
worn-out parts of a garment by re-stitching them.
Darning is replacing and reinforcing worn-out and
broken threads of a fabric to cover a hole. Mending
and darning should be done before washing to
prevent the tear or hole from getting worse.
2. Learn the simple ways of altering garments and
linens.

13. 3. Clothes look better and last longer if you mend rips
and tears as soon as they appear. Depending on their
size holes in a garment may be mended by patching.
4. Tears in clothing are commonly straight, diagonal,
and three-cornered. Regardless of the shape of the
tears, darns will hardly be noticeable if threads used
in darning match the color of the cloth.
(Source: Basbas et al. –Learning & Living 9, pp. 281-
282)

14. Removing Stains and Spots in Fabrics and
Linens
 Blood - Soak in cold water for several hours. Wash in
warm, soapy water. Rinse.
 Candle - Scrape the candle with a dull knife. Wash in
detergent solution until candle spot is removed. Rinse
thoroughly.
 Chewing Gum - Chill the spot with a piece of ice.
Scrape off the gum. Wash in soapy water and then rinse.
 Rust - Sprinkle stain with salt. Apply calamansi juice
and dry in the sun. Let stand for three or four minutes.
Then wash in detergent soap. Rinse thoroughly.

15.  Scorch - Wet the spot with cold water. Dry in the sun.
Apply a thin slice of onion on the spot.
 Water Spots - Dip the garment in cold water and roll in
a towel. Let stand for a few hours and press.
 Coffee, Chocolate, Fruit Juices and Ice Cream
- Soak the stained part in a warm detergent/soap solution
for an hour. Wash and then rinse.
● Ink - Soak in cold water, lime juice, or milk. Wash in
warm, soapy water and then rinse.

16.  Mud and Perspiration - Wash in soap solution
and then rinse.
 Oil or Lard - Soak stained part in hot water or
warm soap solution. Let stand until grease is
removed. Wash and rinse.
 Paint or Varnish - Apply turpentine or thinner.
Then wash as in ordinary washing.

17. Personal Protective Paraphernalia and
Precautionary Measures
1. Safety Mask - protection from inhaling the unpleasant odor
of chemicals used in washing.
2. Safety Gloves - hand protection against chemical
absorption from washing detergents and chemicals used in
removing stains.
3. Keep detergent and chemicals in a safe place out of children’s
reach.
4. Check electrical wiring and connections of electric equipment
to avoid electric shock.
5. Do not use electric equipment in wet surfaces.

18. Performing Laundry and Dry Clothes,
Linens, and Fabrics
 Laundry Machines
 Laundry Supplies

19. Laundry Machines
 Washer - this machine dissolves water soils thus
removing the soil load in clothes, bed sheets, towels,
blankets, pillowcase, and bath mat.
 Extractor - this machine removes water in clothes and
linens by 50% thereby reducing the weight of these items
and makes them ready for dryer.
 Dry cleaning machine - this machine is used for dry
cleaning especially delicate fabrics with controlled
vacuum pressure and steam pressure. Delicate fabrics
include coats, trousers, barong tagalong, fancy or evening
dresses, jackets, comforters and blankets.

20.  Tumbler/Dryer - this machine dries garments and
linens including towels, bed sheets, pillowcases, bath
mat, and clothes.
 Spotting Board - this equipment is designed to
remove stains on specific spots applying stain
remover on the affected portion of the garment or
linen.

21.  Pressing Machine - this machine is used to iron or
press different fabrics.
1. Hand Flat Iron- this pressing machine is commonly
used in households and ordinary garments like skirts,
blouse, slips, dress, handkerchiefs, and scarves.
2. Flatwork Ironing Machine- this pressing machine is
used to iron volume and big linens such as bed sheets,
tablecloths, table skirting, bedcovers, and bed skirting.

22. Laundry Supplies
 Detergent - specifically for washing machine
 Alkaline - to break dirt in garments and linens
 Bleach - to kill bacteria
 Fabric Conditioner- to soften fabric and give it a
fresh smell
 Starch- to stiffen fabrics

23. Laundering Proper-Basic Washing Steps
1. Do not wash heavily soiled with lightly soiled ones. Wash
items of similar color together, separate white or light-
colored with dark-colored clothes. Wash them
accordingly.
2. Pre-scrub all heavily soiled parts of garments. Remove
stains, mend or repair defects of clothes or garments.
3. Loading of garments, clothes and linens in the washing
machine using the right formula and required chemical
dosage.

24.  Flushing (about 2 Minutes) – wet the linen to
dissolved water-soluble soil and reduce soil load in
the succeeding suds steps.
 Breaking (about 8 minutes) – performed before
suds step with low water level, medium to hot water
with a highly alkaline-break products added to break
loose soil.
 Sudsing (about 5 minutes) – involve actual
washing step where detergent is added to the wheel.

25.  Bleaching (about 8 minutes) – elimination of stains
using chlorinated bleach added to the wheel that could
not be removed by the detergents.
 Rinsing (3 minutes) - rinse the linen of detergent and
soil.
 Intridictorextracting – process that spins soil-added
detergent solution out of linen usually after the first rinse
step to reduce the required number of deep water rinses.
 Sour and soft step – final conditioning of the linen.

26.  Extracting – process of reducing the moisture content
linen by 50%.
Extract cycle:
1. Extract (about 2 minutes) removes remaining detergent
and soil.
2. Softener (about 5 minutes) conditions the fabric.
3. Starch (about 5 minutes) to stiffen fabrics.
4. Final Extract (about 10 minutes) removes moisture.

27. Cleaning Washing area and Equipment
1. The floor must be thoroughly scrubbed to remove
excess detergent or soapsuds, which make the floor
slippery. Rinsed with clean water then dry with a
clean dry mop.
2. After use the other equipment should be cleaned
and stored in their proper place.
3. Remaining detergents and chemicals should be
stored in a safe place.

28. 4. After use, unplug the washing machine, clean the
inside and outside of the equipment.
5. The equipment should have regular check up to
prevent breakdown.
6. Do not expose electrical equipment to rain or water
to avoid electric shock.

29. Ironing Clothes, Linens, and Fabrics
 Ironing or pressing removes wrinkles and improves
the appearance of garments. Clothes that have been
washed, dried and sprinkled with water are ironed,
while clothes that have been dry cleaned are pressed.
Ironing is done by sliding a heated iron back and
forth across a garment. The iron should be kept
moving so that the material is not scorched. The iron
board should be steady on its feet and should stand
below the waist. A covering is necessary for efficient
ironing and pressing. There are two types of electric
iron that can be used- the electric dry iron and
electric steam presser.

30. Ironing Techniques using Electric Dry
Iron (for Households)
1. Before ironing, separate clothes, of which need to be sprinkled
with water from those, which do not need sprinkling of water?
2. Pile all cotton clothes fully spread out on top of one another.
Sprinkle each cloth with water lightly, then roll each
carefully and place in a clean cloth. Wrap all the garments
together and allow standing for at least half an hour until
the dampness is distributed evenly.
3. Iron along the grain of the fabric. Going against the grain
distorts the shape of the cloth and hampers ease of
movement of the flat iron.

31. 4. Start with synthetic fibers, which need less heat,
moving to the thicker fabrics, which need more heat
to dry.
5. Start with hanging parts like sleeves and collars
before ironing the body or the other way around
whichever is convenient and easy to do for you.
6. Dab a moist cloth over the parts that are rough
before pressing the iron over them again.

32. 7. Place the shoulder of the garment over the end of the iron
board. Iron carefully as you move the garment around to
reach both the front and back shoulder areas.
8. Slip the garment over the ironing board and iron the waist
area. Iron the skirt first. If necessary, press the pleats.
9. Press embroidery designs on the wrong side.
10. Iron the small and light articles last when the flat iron has
been turned off. The remaining heat can still be used to iron
handkerchiefs, scarves and light synthetic materials.

33. 11. Iron clothes all together once a week to save on
electricity.
12. Fold the clothes carefully or put them on hangers
and place them in their respective cabinets.
13. After ironing place the flat iron and ironing board
in their proper storage.