Laundry day

Laundry hanging in the green countryside in the sun, tangle of washing lines on the windows, these picturesque scenes of life also evoke everyday life.

The harsh reality is combined with the past, fortunately! Yesterday was the fruit of an exhausting effort. A weekly big steamer had about 70 sheets and just as many shirts!

Long a chore for generations of women, a horribly painful domestic nightmare, what could be more gendered, stereotypical, and cliché than this immemorial labor?

Stop! Men have been at it ever since! Yes, they know how to sort, wash, hang, fold, put away. The taste for cleanliness is everyone’s business. And strangely, this simple task can even take on a form of escape. 

Clean, fresh laundry can provide a rare feeling of well-being.

Art-to-wear ARTIST corresponds to a certain sense of fashion, an art of living in color, a more equitable way of life, a united community. This contagious kindness is shared down to the smallest detail, right down to the label sewn on each model with very useful instructions. The art of dressing well extends to the art of taking care of women. Care of their lives, care of their outfits.

The art of washing begins with essential preparation. Separate colors, pastels and white to avoid any graying or bleeding. Sort by wash temperature. Group the delicates in a net. Place clothing inside out, away from felting, pilling or premature wear. Check pockets: they sometimes contain treasures…

Textile care guide
The indications refer to the most fragile part of the textile article. They indicate the most severe treatment including dyeing, priming, accessories (buttons, closures) and trims.
Maintenance procedures carried out in accordance with the information indicated on the label certify that the item will not be damaged. However, there is no guarantee that stains and dirt will completely disappear.

To find out more, 2 informative links on Textile Care Labeling, at the origin of international standards. 

GINETEX : www.ginetex.net 

BOX : https://www.lavermonlinge.com/FR/symboles_d_entretien/normalisation_etiquetage.asp

There have been 5 main families of symbols since 2005. In addition to the strict application of label instructions, ARTIST provides you with additional recommendations.

WASHING : represented by a tank.

The 1time wash your new clothes separately.

Avoid a large load, items that are more free to move are in greater contact with soapy water. The symbol indicates whether household washing is possible either by machine - preferred - or by hand (sometimes offered by a special machine program). 

If by hand, at 40°C maximum depending on the item. First dissolve the appropriate detergent in plenty of water. Leave to float and shake gently. Do not rub, pull or twist. Then rinse well, put the item back into shape.

Do not leave damp laundry untreated.

THE WHITENING represented by a triangle.

It indicates whether the item can be laundered or not.
If not permitted, use only bleach-free detergents. 

Be careful with the use of stain removers. (Preliminary test on a small hidden part).

THE DRYING : represented by a square.

It is recommended immediately after the end of the washing cycle.
The circle inside refers to the dryer; the line(s) inside the square symbolize(s) natural drying. 

Caution: Sun or moon can fade colors.

DRYING IN DRUM

When this pictogram is crossed out, do not put your clothing in the dryer, it could become deformed!
The dots in the drum indicate the maximum temperature. Be careful of cotton knits shrinking, wool felting, silk or acrylics sensitive to heat.

NATURAL DRYING
Line or flat dry, with or without spinning. In the shade: the oblique line indicates drying away from light. This is to allow ideal ventilation, exposing their surface to the air as much as possible while avoiding the formation of unsightly folds.

 

IRONING : represented by an iron.

The more points it contains, the higher the temperature will be. The crossed out symbol indicates that ironing is not recommended. The same crossed iron symbol + two lines below means that steam should not be used.

Iron preferably inside out to avoid any shine. A well-suited iron and board make all the difference. Wisely, prefer a damp cloth interposed rather than steam. 

The temperature (number of points on the symbol) should be selected based only on the care label and not on the composition. Fibers present in small quantities are not always mentioned. 

Also pay attention when fabrics have embossed effects or applications.

It is not necessary to iron when, immediately after spinning, the clothes are hung up and reshaped while still damp, or if they are dried in a horizontal position. 

 

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING : represented by a circle.

Dry or wet, it is operated by professionals.

Greener daily?

According to Ademe (Agence Environnement Maîtrise Energie), a European household consumes around 40 kg of laundry detergent/year. The evolution of products, washing machines, processes, the nature of fabrics... but also sociological, economic and political aspects have raised awareness and changed habits. Even if the efforts remain to be sustained, the course is taken. Limit packaging waste; wash and iron at lower temperatures to reduce power consumption. In supermarkets and in specialized “organic or natural” stores, reliable labels are displayed:

Traditional soaps, homemade recipe or soap nuts: you still have to sort it out.

Regulations are intensifying, the supervision of appellations is tightening. Traceability preserves marketing practices with an illusory image.

ARTIST who doesn't hesitate to get wet has opened their laundry room! Hunting down stains, eliminating grayness, a whole program to preserve the original shine of your collections.