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Conference turris::womannotes-v2

Title:ARCHIVE-- Topics of Interest to Women, Volume 2 --ARCHIVE
Notice:V2 is closed. TURRIS::WOMANNOTES-V5 is open.
Moderator:REGENT::BROOMHEAD
Created:Thu Jan 30 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 30 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1105
Total number of notes:36379

606.0. "Clothing Material Question..." by ELESYS::JASNIEWSKI (I can feel your heartbeat faster) Thu May 18 1989 13:45

    
    	I have a question for those who know what they're doing when
    it comes to softening certain kinds of fabric, "blue jean" material
    to be exact.
    
    	I recently purchased a jean jacket made by Wrangler. I prefer
    Levis, but this was a tall size and a good price, so I picked it
    up. I noticed the material was extremely stiff in the store, and
    I figued that aspect would come out in the wash.
    
    	After the first washing hot and drying on a permanent press
    cycle, it came out so wrinkled that it's basically unwearable. So
    I tried again, and, a tad better, but still unwearable cause of
    massive wrinkles in the material. Still very stiff feeling, too.
    
    	On the inside label it says "Sanfordized" or something to that
    effect. I assume this is the process responsible for it's
    stiff_as_board feel to the material, which does not come out via
    a simple washing, apparently. Is there anyway to get rid of that?
    
    	Somehow I seriously doubt "fabric softener" would do much of
    anything for it. The clerk in the store suggested using a little
    Ammonia in the wash. Hmmmm, me thinks something like *lye* might
    have an effect, but perhaps a bit too much, softening right down
    to nothing.
    
    	I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to get rid of the
    "Sanfordization" in the material -
    
    	Joe Jas  
    
    	 
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606.2a few suggestionsWMOIS::B_REINKEIf you are a dreamer, come in..Thu May 18 1989 14:2013
    Sandfordizing is a treatment that keeps things from shrinking. It
    is applied to lots of types of clothes and doesn't make them stiff
    or wrinkle.
    
    I think the wrinkles may be the result of washing on a too hot 
    cycle or drying too long. Try rewashing on a warm/cold cycle and hanging
    the jacket up on a coathanger while it is still damp.
    
    The simplest way to soften your jacket is to wash it a half a dozen
    times. The washing breaks the fibers, softening the fabric.
    
    Bonnie
     
606.4(rescued)RAINBO::TARBETI'm the ERAThu May 18 1989 14:4211
================================================================================
Note 606.1                Clothing Material Question...                   1 of 3
HICKRY::HOPKINS "Peace, Love, & Understanding"        0 lines  18-MAY-1989 13:04
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    I believe RIT (the same people who make dye) make something to put
    into the wash with your jeans/or jacket that will lighten them a
    bit and make the material softer.  I don't remember what it's called
    but you should be able to find it with the RIT dye.
    
606.5Beer worksFRECKL::HUTCHINSIf you want it, go after it...Thu May 18 1989 16:577
    Before you put the garment in the washing machine, pour in a can
    of beer while the machine fills.  (No, it doesn't matter what kind
    of beer.)  The yeast from the beer breaks down the sizing in the
    fabric without damaging the fibers.
    
    Judi_who_used_to_work_for_Levi_Strauss
    
606.6squeeky clean (hick)MYTHAI::HOWERHelen HowerFri May 19 1989 10:473
Um, Judi, do you add detergent as well as the beer?  (it sounds intriguing - and
I want to try it next load of newish denim!)
		Helen
606.7Redefining "suds and duds"FRECKL::HUTCHINSIf you want it, go after it...Fri May 19 1989 11:0111
    I just used the beer - it was a new garment, do detergent wasn't
    necessary.  If you've worn the garment, wash it once with the beer
    and again with detergent.
    
    It's quite funny to watch people's reaction in the laundromat...
    and the place smells like a brewery during the pre-rinse cycle!
    (Don't worry, your clothes won't smell like beer; the rinse cycle
    takes care of that.)
    
    Judi
    
606.8APEHUB::STHILAIREI'm twistedFri May 19 1989 11:1111
    Wranglers denims are like K-Mart, they s*ck.  :-)
    
    I solved the problem by buying an expensive denim jacket that already
    looked and felt the way it's "supposed" to.  I don't know about
    you, Joe :).
    
    Lorna
    
    P.S.  Even with the freeze on, you WC4's oughta be able to afford
    decent denims (ha-ha).
    
606.9Advice appreciated - will try!ELESYS::JASNIEWSKII can feel your heartbeat fasterFri May 19 1989 11:588
    
    	Re .8 - you're right...
    
    	Thanks for the advice. I'll have to try the beer idea, but I
    think this jacket will need a quart to get "straightened out" -ar
    ar. Like I said, it's *really* stiff...
    
    	Joe Jas
606.10The OLD-fashioned wayREGENT::BROOMHEADI'll pick a white rose with Plantagenet.Fri May 19 1989 13:475
    Find an unpolluted stream with a low, smooth boulder along its
    bank.  Find a fist-sized smooth rock.  Soak the jacket in the
    water, lay it on the boulder, and pound it with the rock.
    
    						Ann B.
606.11But the question is...VAXWRK::CONNORWe are amusedFri May 19 1989 14:262
	You mean all that good beer gets wahsed down the drain? :-)

606.12...so use Budweiser!FRECKL::HUTCHINSIf you want it, go after it...Fri May 19 1989 15:541
    
606.13Take It On A Fishing TripRUTLND::KUPTONTweeter and the Monkey ManMon May 22 1989 08:2917
    	The best way to soften denim is by dragging from a boat in salt
    water for a day or so. The first "washed" denim material was dragged
    by a designer (believe it or not, Leetsie Dinkle) off Palm Beach.
    She then studded the jeans she designed with rhinestones, etc. Her
    first customers were Cher and Rod Stewart. Of course, she dragged
    bolts of cloth from Palm Beach to the Bahamas because it was a write-
    off as business. 
    	Lake dragging isn't as effective but will work as long as you're
    not rowing.
    	You can also soak the material in Hydrogen Peroxide. The H2O2
    will expand the fibers. (can be done in the bathtub). Then let the
    material soak overnight in a combo of Downey and water. This really
    softens the material and takes some of the blueing out of the denim.
    
    Good Luck...
    
    Ken
606.14just checkingRAINBO::LARUEAn easy day for a lady.Mon May 22 1989 08:424
    I thought bluing was for whitening whites.  Denims are dyed with
    indigo.  
    
    Dondi
606.15Success!ELESYS::JASNIEWSKII can feel your heartbeat fasterMon May 22 1989 08:5313
    
    	Well, I tried the beer; I used a quart...well, a quart minus
    a couple sips (all that good beer...) anyway. I simply washed it
    hot as I usually would, but didnt dry it out quite all the way 
    initially, using the permanent press cycle as usual. 
    
    	It seems to have made a significant difference! The wrinkles
    have subsided now, and the arms can therefore stretch to their proper
    length instead of being halfway up to my elbows...Thanks! It's great!
    
    	The chemistry mentioned in .13 is interesting however...
               
    	Joe Jas