Types of Fabric and Linen
Types
of fabric and linen can be divided into TWO categories: Natural fibers and Man-made fibers.
Natural Fibers
Ø Usually
comes from sheep, also can be produced from camel or rabbits.
Ø Does
not crease easily and very elastic.
Ø Easy
to clean and fire resistant.
Ø Used
for carpets, blankets and upholstery.
Ø Produced
from the cocoon of silk worms.
Ø Strongest
and very light fabric.
Ø Elastic.
Ø Very
expensive.
Ø Used
for wall covering, cushion cover and bed sheets.
Ø Comes
from the cotton plant seed.
Ø Very
absorbent and easily laundered.
Ø Resistant
to bleaches and alkalis,
Ø Stronger
when wet.
Ø Used
for bed linen, table linen, towel and uniform.
Ø From
the stalk of flax plant.
Ø Easily
washed but requires careful finishing.
Ø Smooth
appearance and cool to the touch.
Ø Easily
dyed and the color does not fade when wash.
Ø Used
for making napkin and table linen.
Man-Made Fibers
Acetate
Ø Made
from cotton linters plus chemicals.
Ø Sensitive
to nail polish, nail polish remover and perfumes.
Ø Look
like silk and strong when dry.
Ø Should
be washed in warm water, moderate drying and lowest temperature when ironing.
Ø Used
as curtains and furnishing.
Acrylic
Ø Made
from chemicals.
Ø Looks
like wool and washable.
Ø Strong
when wet and dry.
Ø Should
be ironed with low heat or at times, it does not need ironing at all.
Ø Blanket
and carpet in hotel are made from acrylic because they are cheap, do not shrink
and easily maintained.
Polyester
Ø Synthetic
fiber and normally added to cotton and wool so that they are easily laundered.
Ø Not
shrink or stretch and very elastic.
Ø Resistant
to crease and can retain its shape.
Ø Used
in pillows, upholstery, bed linen, and table linen.
Rayon
Ø From
wood pulp and cotton linters.
Ø Requires
cool iron.
Ø Strong,
extremely absorbent and burn at high temperature.
Ø May
wrinkle easily and stretch when wet and shrink when washed.
Ø Used
for curtains and bedspreads.
Spandex
Ø Mixture
of rubber and chemicals.
Ø Very
elastic fiber.
Ø Can
be stretched many times.
Ø Resistant
to washing, perspiration and heat.
Ø Used
in foundation garments; examples: swimming suit and hosiery.
Nylon
Ø From
chemicals.
Ø Elastic,
resilient, smooth, non-absorbent and dry quickly.
Ø Use
a low temperature when ironing nylon.
Ø Used
in hosiery, netting for bridal veils, carpeting and socks.
Label Identification and
Linen Care
Reason
for putting labels on fabrics:
v Able
to retain the white and colored fabrics.
v Save
time when trying to figure out the exact type of fabrics.