The classic choice
Cotton is a classic fabric that never goes out of fashion. Cotton is comfortable, breathable and versatile. Plus, it is easy to clean: it is usually fine to wash cotton at around 30°C or 40°C. The only downside? Cotton creases easily, and cotton creases can be tough to remove. So the best iron for the job is either a powerful steam iron or a pressurised steam generator. Each produces steam that penetrates deep into the fabric fibres, and the deeper the steam from an iron penetrates into the fabric, the easier and more effective ironing is. Another top tip is to turn denim jeans inside out when you wash them to prevent fading. Also, be careful if you want to tumble dry your items, as cotton items are prone to shrinking.
Hint: to make ironing easier, when you hang your laundry out to dry, shake out folds, poke pockets back in and smooth creases. It is surprising just how much easier these simple tricks can make your ironing!
The elegant choice
Silk is all about classic elegance and luxury, perfect for a bit of indulgence. To keep silk at its luxurious best, it usually has to be dry-cleaned. Some silk lingerie and pre-washed silk may respond well to a gentle hand washing, but it is important to test a small piece first. And to keep silk nice and smooth, always dry flat. To get a perfect ironing result, use a low temperature setting and turn off the steam to stop water leakage. The best iron to use is a steam iron with a drip-stop feature to minimise leakage. To avoid damaging the delicate fabric, you'll need an iron that can glide smoothly and effortlessly, so a steam iron with a top-quality soleplate is essential. For added peace of mind, a top tip is to iron silk items under a layer of cotton sheet or towel, just in case. Another option is steaming your silk garments. Steaming is ideal for silk, so you may consider investing in a steamer if you want your silk to look and feel perfect.
Hint: Keep silk away from direct sunlight, as it can make it go yellow.
The summery choice
Linen is the perfect choice for summer chic. It's comfy, sturdy and breathable, and best of all, effortlessly stylish. Linen gets softer with wear and washes, and can be washed up to 60°C, although, unfortunately, it creases easily. Firstly, to minimise creases, only half fill the washing machine. Secondly, for perfect ironing results with a crease-prone fabric like linen, choose an iron with a high steam output. The best iron for the job is either a powerful steam iron or a pressurised steam generator, which produce steam that penetrates deep into fabric fibres: the deeper the steam from an iron penetrates into the fabric, the easier and more effective ironing is.
Hint: to prevent darker colours fading, always iron your items on the outside.
The winter choice
Warm, snuggly and all-natural: wool is a winter favourite. And sometimes it requires a little extra care and attention. It is a good idea not to wash wool too often. Instead, brush away surface dirt and remove spot stains. When you wash it, use detergent that is designed to wash woollens with water at 30°C. Wool can shrink from heat, so it is best not to put it in a tumble-dryer. Cashmere needs special care. For the best results, hand wash in cool water, and dry it flat on several towels. When ironing woollens, iron them inside out to avoid burning the wool fibres. So as not to harm the delicate fabric, you need an iron that can glide smoothly and effortlessly, so an iron with a top-quality soleplate is essential.
Hint: let wool rest for 24 hours between wears to allow it to regain its shape.
The modern choice
Synthetic clothes are simple to care for, and so easy to just wash and wear. However, synthetic fibres don't let your skin breathe and trap odours, so they need to be washed more often than natural fabrics like wool. There are a huge range of man-made fabrics, each with different care requirements, but a general rule is: don't wash synthetics at a high temperature and avoid the tumble-dryer. To get a perfect ironing result, use a low temperature setting and turn off the steam to stop water leakage. The best iron to use is a steam iron with a drip-stop feature to minimise leakage.
Hint: to reduce the risk of accidentally melting the fibres, which can give your clothes an unwanted 'shiny' look, you can iron your synthetic items under a cotton sheet or a towel.
have restrictions. These types of garments may be ironed on the reverse side with PerfectCare, by adding a damp cloth or towel on top of the garment.
