Beatschooluniforms
0203 362 2930
Fabric Conditioner
Please do not use fabric conditioner when washing your uniform.
Whilst fabric conditioner can be great, it is best not to use them when washing school uniforms for a few reasons.
Most uniform will be a mix of synthetic and natural fibres, often polyester and cotton.
When used on cotton in clothing, composed of fibres with a natural waxy layer, the additional layer of chemicals that fabric conditioner introduces to soften can actually cause the item to become stiff and loose its elasticity. Equally, fabric conditioner’s chemical compounds are electrically charged, fluffing up the
fibres. Whilst for items like towels this can help to keep them soft and fluffy, in the fibres fluffing up can present itself as pilling.
Equally, some items of uniform, such as wicking sportswear and ‘easy care’ garments, are designed with a
coating which fabric conditioner can break down or re-coat, reducing the properties intended of the
clothes.
Instead of fabric conditioner, softening tablets can be used to combat the effects of washing in hard water. Wool dryer balls can also help with this and can be help to reduce pilling. Very tightly balled tin foil (with no
sharp edges that could snag!) can do the same whilst also reducing static, whilst essential oils can be added to enhance the fragrance of your freshly cleaned washing.
Pilling/Bobbling
Pills are small bobbles of excess fibres that are brought to the surface of a garment through friction and/or heat.
Knitwear items are particularly prone to pilling as the fibres are less closely bound together by design, so can become loose more easily, however all items
with enough wash and wear can and will eventually pill.
Washing on a gentle setting at a low heat, as well as washing garments inside out, can help prevent pilling. Equally, hang drying items rather than tumble drying them, or tumble drying them on a low heat in a laundry bag can help avoid pilling. Making sure not to overfill your washer or dryer is also key as this will reduce the amount of abrasion your items face during wash. Velcro straps should all be fastened so they can’t damage other items.
Whilst pilling is often associated with well loved and worn items, the excess fibres in new clothes can mean that they are prone to pilling. If this does occur, it does not necessarily mean the item is faulty. Often after a few more washes the pills will themselves break down or break off. If not, the item can be depilled, leaving you with the item in a new condition minus the excess fibres. If you have a new item that has pilled, it may not be faulty. Please get in touch with us if you are note able to de-pill the item yourself or have any concerns and we can work out the best solution.
Shrinkage
Shrinkage occurs when the threads and yarns tighten together, compact, or the fibres themselves contract. Similarly to pilling, shrinkage is caused by heat and agitation, in addition to moisture. As such, the washing process poses the most threat of causing shrinkage in an item.
With many of our garments containing cotton, a material more prone to shrinkage, the majority are pre-shrunk. This means that they are treated or have undergone a shrinking process during manufacture in order to minimise its capacity for future shrinkage. However, this DOES NOT mean that they cannot shrink any further! In fact, it is an inevitability. Normal shrinkage for items is around 3% and is imperceptible.
Fortunately, preventing shrinkage is usually easy. Be mindful of the care labels and wash and dry on low heats. Air drying is always preferable if possible, but is also worth a go if you do feel an item is shrunk. If you stretch out an item when wet and hang to try then it is possible to reintroduce tension into items that can even reverse some shrinkage!