Garment Care – JSS1 Fashion and Garment Making Lesson Note (Third Term)

Garment care is the process of cleaning, pressing and storing clothes to keep them in good condition.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define garment care and give reasons for caring for clothes.
2. Sort clothes correctly before washing.
3. List the steps of washing and drying clothes in order.
4. Choose the correct iron heat for different fabrics and iron safely.
5. Store clothes properly to prevent wrinkles, mildew and insect damage.

Why do we care for clothes?

We care for clothes to make them last, keep our bodies healthy and look neat.

A new school uniform can look old and tired after one month, or a shirt can shrink until it no longer fits. Poor garment care usually causes this.

• It saves money: clothes last longer when you treat them well.
• Health and hygiene: washing removes sweat, dirt and germs that can cause skin rashes or bad odours.
• Personal pride: looking neat and smelling fresh makes you feel confident and respected.

What are the main parts of garment care?

Garment care has four main parts: washing, drying, ironing and storing.

• Washing (laundry): cleaning clothes with water and soap or detergent.
• Drying: removing water from washed clothes in the right place.
• Ironing and pressing: using heat to remove wrinkles.
• Storing: keeping clean clothes safe in a wardrobe, box or drawer.

What is a care label?

A care label is a small tag sewn into a garment that tells you how to look after it.

• Washing advice: tells you how to wash the garment.
• Drying advice: tells you how to dry it.
• Ironing advice: tells you how hot the iron may be.

Read the label before you wash or iron a new garment.

What materials do we need for washing clothes?

Washing needs a few simple tools and cleaning materials.

• Basin or bucket: holds the water and clothes.
• Soap or detergent: loosens and removes dirt.
• Soft brush: cleans dirty spots such as collars and cuffs.
• Clothes line and pegs: hold clothes while they dry.
• Clean water: used for rinsing.

How do we wash clothes?

We wash clothes by sorting them first, then soaking, washing, rinsing and drying them.

Step 1: How do we sort clothes?

Sorting means separating clothes into groups before they go into the water.

• By colour: separate white clothes from coloured ones. A new red shirt washed with a white singlet can turn the singlet pink.
• By dirtiness: keep very dirty kitchen towels away from delicate Sunday wears.
• By fabric: wash heavy jeans separately from thin silk or chiffon.

Step 2: What is the washing process?

1. Soaking: leave very dirty clothes in soapy water for about 15 to 30 minutes to loosen the dirt.
2. Washing: rub the fabric gently with your hands or a soft brush. Pay extra attention to dirty spots such as the collar, armpits and cuffs.
3. Rinsing: rinse the clothes in clean water at least twice until all the soap suds (bubbles) are gone.
4. Drying: hang the clothes out to dry in the correct place (see the table below).

Where should we dry clothes?

What is ironing and pressing?

Ironing is using a hot iron to remove wrinkles and make clothes look smooth.

Pressing is lowering the iron onto the cloth, lifting it, and placing it down again without sliding it.

How do we iron clothes safely?

We iron safely by choosing the right heat and handling the hot iron with care.

• Check the heat: start with a cool iron for thin fabrics like nylon or silk. Use a hot iron for thick fabrics like cotton or linen.
• Safety first: never leave a hot iron face-down on a cloth. Stand it on its heel when you are not moving it.
• Dampen if needed: if a cotton shirt is too wrinkled, sprinkle a little water on it. The steam helps the wrinkles disappear faster.

What are the steps for ironing a shirt?

1. Set the iron to the correct heat for the fabric.
2. Spread the shirt flat on the ironing board.
3. Iron the small parts first: collar, cuffs and sleeves.
4. Iron the main body of the shirt last.
5. Hang or fold the shirt at once.
6. Switch off and unplug the iron, then let it cool.

How do we store clothes?

We store clothes by keeping them clean, dry and protected from insects.

• Hanging: use hangers for coats, shirts and gowns so they do not get new wrinkles.
• Folding: fold sweaters and T-shirts and keep them in a drawer or on a shelf. Hanging heavy sweaters can stretch them out of shape.
• Airing: make sure clothes are completely dry before they go into the wardrobe. Damp clothes smell bad and grow mildew.
• Pest control: put mothballs or camphor balls in your box or wardrobe to keep insects from eating holes in your clothes.

Mildew: small black spots caused by fungus that grows on damp cloth.

What practical checks should we make?

Two quick checks protect clothes before and during washing.

1. Treat stains quickly: wash an ink stain or oil stain out at once with soap. Once a stain sets or gets ironed, it may never come out.
2. Button check: look for loose buttons before washing. Fixing them first stops them falling off in the wash water.

What is the summary of garment care?

Evaluation

1. Define garment care.
2. Why is it important to separate white clothes from coloured ones before washing?
3. Where is the best place to dry a bright blue lace gown? Give a reason.
4. What happens if you store your clothes while they are still a little damp?
5. How do you protect your clothes from insects in the wardrobe?

Assignment

Draw a table with four rows: washing, drying, ironing and storing. For each row, write two things you will do to care for your school uniform at home.