If you’re confused as to which fabrics need hot water, and which need cold, read our handy laundry guide! We’ll take a look at 6 common fabrics we all have around the house, and how to care for each one. Let’s get started!

1. Cotton

A natural fiber, cotton can be found in t-shirts, jeans, and even ball gowns. Cotton fibers will shrink unless the fabric has been pre-shrunk, so we need to take a look at the care label first. If the label says ‘cold water only’, that’s a sign that your fabric will shrink if not washed in cold water. Cotton items that have already bee pre-shrunk can be washed in hot or cold water, depending on the color. You can also consider using eco friendly laundry detergent to make your cotton clothes last longer. If the care label says so, you can add chlorine bleach to white cotton wash loads to get rid of stains. Colored cottons can be washed with non-chlorine bleach specially formulated for colored clothing. You can wash your cotton jeans in cold water to preserve the color, as well as other colored garments. Do not over-dry cotton, as it can shrink. Dry your cotton fabrics on a low heat and remove them from the dryer while they are still cool.

2. Silk

Although silk is washable, some weave patterns may tighten if washed, and dark colors may fade. Always read the care labels before washing. ‘Dry clean only’ means that your fabric will not survive washing. You can wash silk fabrics by using products formulated for hand-washing or delicate fabrics. Baby shampoo is also a good choice for silk fabrics. Never dry silk in the dryer. Instead, roll the item in a towel to get rid of excess water, and then hang to dry. Use a warm iron to press silk fabrics.

3. Spandex

Even though spandex is machine-washable, avoid hot water and choline bleach. Unless the care label says otherwise, hang spandex garments to dry and avoid the dryer. Iron them with a warm iron if necessary.

4. Wool

Wool can be washed, but many wool garments incorporate construction methods that can’t be. Always dry-clean wool fabric if the care label says so. If the garment is washable, use a gentle detergent and hand wash it, or machine wash on a gentle cycle. Always wash in lukewarm water and air dry.

5. Polyester

Most polyester garments can be machine-washed using warm water, but always check the label first. Tumble-dry garments on a low heat. Take them out of the dryer while they are still damp to avoid static build-up and wrinkles. Use a low heat when ironing.

6. Linen

Always check the garment’s label to see if it needs to be dry-cleaned before you wash it. If it’s washable, wash according to the label’s instructions, using water that’s appropriate to the garment’s color. Linen absorbs a lot of water during the washing process, so make sure you don’t overcrowd your washing machine. Iron linen from the inside out, and use steam at a high heat.

Photos: Buckets and Bows,  Commodity Online, Silk Click, Cici Hot, Tumblr, Eqatar, Houzz.

Face oils, lipstick, and eye liner stains are all hard to get off our clothes. We love that they’re long-lasting on our face, but not so much on our favorite shirt! The next time you find yourself battling those stubborn stains, read our list!

1. Lipstick and Lip Balm

Scrape off any excess and treat it with a prewash stain remover and wash. If the stain is still there after washing, blot the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent and launder. Before you toss your clothes in the wash, make sure there aren’t any lipstick or lip balm tubes in your pockets. They can melt into the fabric and become difficult to remove.

2. Nail Polish

Nail polish is easily removed with acetone. Blot the stain carefully with a paper towel until the stain is removed. Avoid using acetone on triacetate or acetate fabrics, as it will melt the fibres. Rinse with water and launder as usual.

3. Blush, Eye liner, Concealer, Eyeshadow, and Mascara

Treat the stain immediately with a prewash stain remover and wash your garment as usual.

4. Face Oils

When your favorite face oil drips onto your shirt, quickly blot any excess. Treat it with a prewash stain remover and launder. If you don’t have any stain remover lying around, use a waterless hand cleaner to help tackle the stain. Launder the fabric on the hottest setting possible (provided it’s safe for the fabric).

Photos: Eles Cosmetics, Epiphannie A, I Diva, Big Words Blog, Peachy Curves.

Having pets in your household is great fun, but every pet owner knows the stress of having to deal with pet hair. If you find that your home is getting overrun by hair, follow our 5 tips to getting it hair-free!

1. Cover it Up

Use slip covers on your couches and chairs. These will catch the hair, which means less hair on your floors. Before throwing them in the wash, put them in the dryer for about 10 minutes with a fabric softener sheet. This will help loosen some of the hair. Using fabric softener in the wash will help loosen even more hairs, too.

2. Slick Surfaces

If you absolutely hate any hair on your furniture or carpets, it might be time to invest in furnishings that are hair resistant. This includes hardwood or tile flooring, leather or pleather, canvas, and heavy duty cotton fabric.

3. Removing the Hair

If your furniture is covered in hair, there are a few ways to get rid of it. Lint rollers are great, as they effectively pick up hair from any surface. But, they do create a lot of waste and can get expensive. Try using a rubber glove spritzed with water. Put the glove on and wipe down your couches and chairs. The hair will stick to the glove and you can just rinse the glove when you’re finished. Dryer sheets are also good at picking up hair from your furniture. Simply wipe down surfaces with the dryer sheet.

4. Vacuum

Change the bag in your vacuum cleaner often to keep dust at bay and your vacuum running nicely. A full bag in a vacuum cleaner makes vacuuming less effective, and throws more dust out into your air, too. Make sure to keep the brush attachments clean, as hair can get caught in these as well. To keep your carpets hair-free, experts recommend going over them 3 times in alternating directions to loosen up as much hair as possible. If you have the budget consider purchasing a Deebot Pet Vacuum Cleaner, so that your vacuum cleaner can do the cleaning for you!

5. Brushing

Brushing your pets is a way to greatly reduce hair from accumulating in your home. Use the Furminator brush to remove dead hair from your pet that will end up falling out. Giving your pet a bath will also help in removing a lot of loose hair.

Photos: Vegas Chatter, Wikimedia.