The method of splashing water to your sample window fabric before cutting and sewing it is termed as pretreating. Sometimes known as preshrinking or prewashing, this is a fine method of assessing if your fabric can be washed or needs to be dry-cleaned.
The characteristics of fabrics can be determined by pretreating them. Notice the reaction of fabric after exposure to water:
- There is a noticeable shrinkage
- The colors tend to fade
- It tends to get wrinkled
Your concern with regards to the fabric's feature can be answered by pretreating them. It is highly important to know these things before measuring and cutting.
Everything you need to know about a fabric can be determined by just simply washing it. Before completely washing the entire yard of your fabric, test your sample fabric first. After washing, you'll notice the following changes:
- The fabric's finish is different
- The glossiness of the fabric, which contributes to its good quality, is gone.
- The adornment threads became loose
- Even though cold water was used, the colors still run
Sometimes, even fabrics that come with the dry-clean-only tag are washable too. This can be decided by prewashing your sample fabric. You have to note carefully certain changes in the entire washing process. If you see that they shrink a lot or lose their color and gloss when being washed, then you need to go with dry cleaning them.
Sometimes, you can find fabrics that have undergone pretreatment already. In this case, you simply have to maintain them by following their label instructions.
It is always good to plan before taking action. A window fabric can be long lasting depending on how you handle them. That is why; you need to follow simple guidelines and tips given to you by the manufacturers on the label instructions. In this way, you can enjoy the long usage of your creations.