LAUNDRY IMPAIRED

[Celeste Chalfonte]

So, OK, I can do basic laundry (although HRH has taken over that task and does a better job), but we have a question that goes to the next level.

HRH has a beautiful Hawaiian shirt, but it's stiff and uncomfortable. She has washed it multiple times, no change. The care tag says "no fabric softener." Is this because they think people want the shirts to stay "structured," or will fabric softener really damage it?

[Gingersnap]

So, OK, I can do basic laundry (although HRH has taken over that task and does a better job), but we have a question that goes to the next level.

HRH has a beautiful Hawaiian shirt, but it's stiff and uncomfortable. She has washed it multiple times, no change. The care tag says "no fabric softener." Is this because they think people want the shirts to stay "structured," or will fabric softener really damage it?

Depends on the fabric. What is it made from?

[Frostbit]

Depends on the fabric. What is it made from?

Hawaiians, she already said that.

[Gingersnap]

Hawaiians, she already said that.

Well, if they're waterproof now, they won't be after the Downy treatment.

[Celeste Chalfonte]

Depends on the fabric. What is it made from?

100% cotton.

[Gingersnap]

100% cotton.

If it isn't Gor-Tex or isn't supposed to be 'breathable' or wicking or anything like that, then fabric softener can't hurt it (and you'd just have to wash those several times to get the softener out). Since it has the tag, it probably does have one of those features.

Using softener won't make the shirt fall apart or anything but it will lose whatever the ability was and it might be uncomfortable in a different way. If it is, just wash it 3 or 4 times without softener.

Sizing would have washed out with one or two washes so something else is going on.

[Frostbit]

Cotton kills where I live.

[scott]

Cotton kills where I live.

How?

[Gingersnap]

How?

He's talking about cold. If you sweat, get snow that melts on cotton, fall in water or whatever cotton has zero insulating properties. In fact, wet cotton will actively suck your body heat out. That's a killer where Frosty lives and where I live most of the year.

[Celeste Chalfonte]

If it isn't Gor-Tex or isn't supposed to be 'breathable' or wicking or anything like that, then fabric softener can't hurt it (and you'd just have to wash those several times to get the softener out). Since it has the tag, it probably does have one of those features.

Using softener won't make the shirt fall apart or anything but it will lose whatever the ability was and it might be uncomfortable in a different way. If it is, just wash it 3 or 4 times without softener.

Sizing would have washed out with one or two washes so something else is going on.

None of the above. Just a colorful cotton shirt, but kind of stiff and scratchy. She washed it once (I thought it was more, but just asked) and has never worn it because it's stiff.

Cotton kills where I live.

Nobody wears a Hawaiian shirt to keep warm.

[Gingersnap]

None of the above. Just a colorful cotton shirt, but kind of stiff and scratchy. She washed it once (I thought it was more, but just asked) and has never worn it because it's stiff.

Well, that might be the problem. I've run into fabric with sizing that took a good couple of washes to get all of it out. The sizing keeps the garment looking okay during shipping and being crushed/touched in the store. Some of it is pretty persistent.

Wash it again with some non-eco detergent and use the softener, then tumble dry it (no racks or clotheslines). If sizing was the problem, that should take care of it.

They don't use that label for fun, though. It usually means the fabric has some kind of special property.

[Frostbit]

How?

It gets easily wet, including sweat. It drys slower than synthetics and wool and the dampness causes evaporative heat loss.

[Adam]

My suggestion would be a cold, even ice-water soak for a while. This will "set" the colors well (assuming that it's a colorful shirt, as most Hawaiian prints are), as well as free up the fibers to make it more comfortable.

Use either a very large bowl or something like a kitchen sink and just submerge the shirt, making sure that it stays underwater, for several hours. Then launder as usual. Chances are this will "free up" the shirt and make it more comfortable. Note that this also works well for tie-dyes.