Care Of Family Clothing And Household Linen JSS2 Home Economics Lesson Note

 CARE OF FAMILY CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD LINEN

Household linen is a term used collectively to include a variety of textile articles used in the home. A good supply of household linen is a very necessary item in the home; they are expensive and require good care.

TYPES OF HOUSEHOLD LINEN AND THEIR USES

1. CURTAINS AND DRAPERIES: These are fabrics or materials used for decorating our doors and windows. Curtains can be light or heavy, opaque or transparent.

Uses of Curtains and Draperies

1. They shade the room from excessive light and wind.
2. They beautify the room by adding color to it.
3. They provide privacy for the family.
4. They establish the character and mood of a room.

1. BED LINEN: Includes all the different types of fabrics and materials used to make the bed. They are: 

1. Mattress covers used to cover the mattress to protect it from dust and dirt
2. Bed sheets used for making the bed
3. Pillowcases used for covering the pillows
4. Bedspreads are used as spread over a made bed and as a covering for the person lying on the bed.
5. Blankets are used as a covering for warmth on cold nights.

1. TABLE LINEN: refers to all clothes and mats used on the table. They include;

1. Table clothes used for covering the table
2. Placemats used on the table for setting cover. The cover refers to the place set for one person on the dining table.
3. Table napkins are used during meals to protect your dress and for wiping the mouth and hands.
4. Tea clothes are used for wiping or cleaning the table.

1. BATHROOM LINEN: they are made up of

1. Bath towels are used for wiping the dry after bath
2. Face towels; these are smaller than bath towels and they are used for cleaning the face.

1. KITCHEN LINEN

1. Hand towels are used for wiping and drying hands.
2. Oven gloves or cloths; are often padded and used for taking out hot pans and dishes from the oven or on top of the cooker.
3. Dish clothes are non-fluffy clothes used for wiping off spills on kitchen surfaces.
4. Glass cloth for blotting off water or moisture from vegetables and fruits
5. Muslim; this is a light loosely woven fabric used for straining during food preparation e.g. in the preparation of starch coconut milk or soya milk.
6. Tea towels; used for blotting off water or moisture from vegetables and fruits and wiping glass-wares, crockery, and cutlery

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE SELECTION OF HOUSEHOLD LINEN

The following points are to be considered when selecting household linen

1.     What the linen is to use for
2.     The type of fabric
3.     Durability of the fabric
4. The size of the bed and pillows should be considered when choosing bed sheets, mattress covers, etc.
5.     All types of towels should be soft and absorbent
6.     Household linen should be color-fast
7.     The needs of the family
8.     The size of the family
9.     Money available.

EVALUATION:

–          Mention 5 factors to consider when choosing household linen.

–          State 5 kitchen linens and their uses.

SUB-TOPIC: CLOTHING REPAIRS 

Garment repair involves two methods. They are darning and patching.

DARNING: Darning is a method of repairing or mending thin pieces and small holes in garments. This process involves weaving strong thread into the material to replace or strengthen worn threads. Darning can be done with machines or by hand.

STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN USING DARNING

1. Choose a thread that matches the fabric in terms of color, thickness, and texture
2. Work darn on the wrong side of the fabric
3. Use a fine darning needle
4. Draw the edges of the tear together with herringbone stitch
5. Darn along the selvage first
6. Leave loops at the ends of each other row to allow for shrinkage
7. Sew around the hole and over the thin areas.

TYPES OF DARNING

1. Darning a hole/tear
2. Stocking dams
3. Hedge tear darn

PATCHING: Patching is a method of replacing worn areas of fabric with strong pieces of materials. It will look better when materials of the same colors, designs, and textures are used for the patch and matching colors of the thread. The patch can be cut into squares, rectangles, or triangles. Patchwork can be used on all soft furnishing. The patch should be large enough to cover the hole, selvedge threads should matched with selvage threads, and weft to weft. 

TYPES OF PATCHING

Calico patch

Print patch

Woven patch

EVALUATION:

–          Mention the types of cloth repairs

–          State types of patching

CLOTHING STORAGE 

METHODS OF STORING FAMILY CLOTHING

Family clothing can be stored in the following storage spaces:

1.     A wardrobe or closet
2.     A box, suitcase, bags
3.     A chest of drawers or shelves.

WARDROBE OR CLOSET

Storing clothes in the wardrobe with the use of good quality plastic hangers is the best method of storing clothes. Some wardrobe units consist of a section for hanging clothes, a section with shelves for folded clothes, a bottom part for shoes, and a top having fitted doors for storing suitcases and boxes. Wardrobes prevent clothes from creasing and help them to maintain their original shape.

GUIDELINES FOR STORING CLOTHES IN WARDROBE/CLOSET

1.     Keep the wardrobe clean regularly and away from ants, cockroaches, and household pests
2.     Put camphor balls on the wardrobe to keep away cockroaches and ants
3.     Use good quality hangers to hang clothes. Do not use metal or iron-made hangers
4.     Do not overcrowd the wardrobe with clothes
5.     Hang similar items together in a place for easy identification
6.     Keep clothes in the wardrobe according to the fabric types for example woolen materials can be folded inside the shelves/drawers. Thick fabric clothes e.g. skirts, and trousers can be hung from the waistband. Suits can be hanged to prevent them from being rumpled
7.     Keep the wardrobe away from dust but save the clothes from dust and dirt by covering them with white waterproof bags
8.     Air and brush the clothes always to prevent mold and dust
9.     Iron the clothes before storing them in the wardrobe

BOXES/SUITCASES/BAGS

Good quality boxes, suitcases, and bags can be used to store clothes. Do not select boxes, or bags made from metal or easy-to-peel fabrics for storing your clothes, or else they will leave permanent marks or stains on the clothes.

GUIDELINES FOR STORING CLOTHES IN BOXES/SUITCASES/BAGS

1.     Store only clean clothes
2.     Iron the clothes properly before storing them in the box
3.     Fold properly the ones that are not ironed before storing them in the bag or suitcases
4.     Keep the box, bag, or suitcase clean
5.     Close the bag or suitcase properly to prevent dust
6.     Put some camphor balls in the box, suitcase, and bags to keep away insects.

DRAWERS OR SHELVES.

Constructed drawers and shelves made with suitable wood and highly finished can be used to store clothes.

GUIDELINES FOR STORING CLOTHES IN DRAWERS OR SHELVES.

1. Store only clean clothes
2. Iron the clothes before storing
3. Fold and arrange the clothes properly inside drawers and shelves
4. Arrange the clothes according to their use for easy location
5.     Put some camphor balls inside the drawers and shelves to keep away insects. 

ACCESSORIES: Accessories are items worn by everyone apart from clothes to complete one are dressing. Examples are shoes, handbags, jewelry, hats, make-up, scarf, etc.

 Shoes are articles we put on our feet to protect them from dirt. 

Care Of Shoes

1. Clean your shoes immediately after each use
2. Repair your shoes as soon as they cut
3. Stuff your shoes with clean old newspaper or shoe trees to keep them in shape
4. Arrange them on a shoe rack or shelf.

Jewellery: Jewellery is earrings, necklaces, rings, broaches, bangles, etc. that we put on.

Care Of Jewellery

1. Get a small suitable box or container with a cover lined with soft cloth or wool for storage of jewelry
2. Arrange the jewelry properly in the box or container
3. Keep the box closed always to avoid dust and rusting
4. Keep jewelry away from liquid e.g. water, kerosene
5. Clean jewellery according to type e.g. gold, silver, when dirty.

GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR MAINTAINING HOUSEHOLD LINEN

1. Dirty or soiled linen such as bed sheets should be kept in a covered basket or laundry bag until they are laundered.
2. Some linen such as napkins and floor clothes should be washed immediately after each use.
3. Care must be taken to remove all stains during the washing process
4. Washed linen should be properly ironed and aired
5. Fold the aired linen properly
6. Heavy linen such as bed sheets should be stored on dry airy shelves in a cupboard. The storage cupboard should be strong.
7. Small light articles, such as tea clothes, napkins, and placemats may be kept in drawers.
8. Cover stored linen with Mushin or other suitable material to prevent dust from settling on them.
9. Similar articles e.g. sheets, pillowcases, towels e.t.c. should be kept together.
10. Mend the linen as soon as a tear is noticed. Linen should not be stored in a fray or torn condition.
11. Keep linen in good repair as long as possible.

EVALUATION:

–          State 5 guidelines for storing clothes in the wardrobe

–          State three methods/ types of clothes storage.

–          State 5 procedures for maintaining household linen