You’ve perused the pages of CampusEmporium.com and scored some sweet new Hokie apparel. You’ve sported your gear around town and it’s inevitably lost that new shirt smell. You send it for a spin in the washer and dryer and prepare for the moment of truth- will your brand new shirt come out the same or will it shrink up to the size of a postage stamp? We’ve all been there and have faced both outcomes. In an effort to spare our fellow Hokies from the wrath of the laundry gods, we’ve compiled a list of garment care tips. Happy worshing!
1. Know thine enemy…
Before you wash any new garment, read the label. The label will tell you what the garment is made of and in most cases how to care for it.
2. Shrinkage
If washed in warm or hot water then dried in a hot dryer, cotton will shrink. The more cotton in a garment the more noticeable the shrinkage. If your garment fits just right and you want to keep it that way, wash in warm or cold water and hang to dry. Remember heat is your enemy. To prevent weird stretching while drying hang the garment over a door, shower curtain rod, or drying rack. Hangers are not nice to wet clothes!
3. Stop the bleeding!
Most garments will fade over time and some more than others. Manufacturers often load the garments with excess dye to compensate for this, which can seriously mess with your laundry mojo. Ever made your own pink socks?
To avoid bleeding, wash similar colors together and avoid mixing lights and darks. For rich, bright, or dark colors, wash in cold water to extend their life. When possible, wash the garments inside out– this reduces the amount of abrasion on the surface, which can protect the color (this is especially true with jeans).
4. Print and Embroidery
Garments with embroidery or print need special care. To protect delicate embroidery or applique, wash the garment inside out and on a gentler cycle. We always recommend washing in cold water and hanging to dry, but drying on low heat may work as well depending on the material. Items with print should also be washed inside out to minimize abrasion, and generally areas with ink should not be ironed.
5. Under Amour
Under Armour is one of the longest lasting and low maintenance fabrics on the market. Caring for Under Armour is simple- wash it cold, hang to dry. Fabric softener is not necessary for UA garments and can actually interfere with its moisture management abilities. Think of Under Armour as skin and fabric softener as lotion. You want to keep Under Armour nice and thirsty so it can do its thing.
At Campus Emporium, we want you to enjoy your Virginia Tech clothing for years to come. If you ever have any questions about caring for your garments or anything else, give us a call at 866-488-9327.
Subscribe
