Care Handling of Different Fabrics: Textiles III – JSS3 Home Economics Lesson Note (Second Term)

Care and handling of different fabrics

Reasons for care of clothing

1. To make the clothing last longer. Dirt can damage fabrics
2. To kill any disease-carrying germs and pests in the fabrics
3. To keep the clothes looking clean or better, dirty clothes are unpleasant to look at
4. To save money since clean clothes last longer
5. To ensure that whatever clothes you have will be available for wearing anytime.

Laundry agents and equipment  

1. Water; is used for soaking, washing, and rinsing clothes.
2. Soaps and detergents; lower the surface tension of water, remove certain stains, and kill carrying germs in fabrics.
3. Bleaches; make white cotton and linen fabrics whiter, remove certain stains, and kill disease-carrying germs in fabric.
4. Stiffening agents; to stiffen cotton and linen fabrics, to give the fabrics a smooth surface and fresh look
5. Stain removers; to remove stains from fabrics.

Laundry equipment and tools

1. Equipment and tools for collecting dirty clothes; these include linen baskets or bins, laundry bags
2. Equipment and tools for washing; include basins, buckets, and laundry tubs or trays, they can be made of plastics, stainless steel, or porcelain. We also have a washing machine.
3. Equipment and tools for drying; clotheslines, movable clothes, horses or hangers, pegs e.t.c.
4. Ironing or pressing equipment; These include the iron, ironing board, ironing pads e.t.c.

General guidelines and steps in laundering fabrics

1. Sorting
2. Mending
3. Stain removal
4. Soaking and steeping
5. Washing
6. Rinsing
7. Boiling
8. Bluing and stiffening
9. Drying
10. Finishing or ironing
11. Airing
12. Folding and storage.

Assignment

Explain the steps in the laundry process