The Science Behind Why You Need To Iron Some Fabrics and Not Others
Have you ever wondered why your clothing, bedding, and other items can emerge from your tumble dryer wrinkled, crumpled, and creased, looking more like a heap of rags than your freshly laundered ironing pile? Well, there is an explanation for this that can be found by looking deeper into the chemistry of how different fabrics react differently to ‘heat’ and ‘water’.
HOW DO WRINKLES AND CREASES FORM?
How do unwanted and unsightly wrinkles and creases form in clothing, and other items, during the laundry process? The answer seems to be down to how molecules within fibres of some fabrics react to ‘heat’ and ‘water’. Heat breaks down the bonds that form the fibres that hold polymers in place. When the fibers are broken, they become less rigid and sturdy to each other making it possible for them to shift and set into new positions. When fabric cools down, new bonds form that lock the fibres into a new shape. This process explains the science behind how ironing gets rid of both wrinkles and creases from clothing and other items, and also why leaving clothes etc. in a heap straight from the dryer will instil wrinkles and creases.
HOW DOES IRONING REVERSE THE WRINKLING PROCESS?
One of the best solutions to remove wrinkles and creases from your clothing is ironing. Steam ironing is even better. The heat from the iron/ steam dampens the fabric and loosens the hydrogen bonds deep within the fibres of fabric and materials. The pressure from the iron re-aligns the molecules. The heat from the iron/ steam evaporates the water to reform the hydrogen bonds. Ironing, therefore, works by loosening the bonds between the long-chain polymer molecules in the fibre of the fabric.
FABRICS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE TO BE IRONED
All clothing is made from fabric. Fabric comes in a variety of different forms ie. cotton, silk, polyester, nylon etc. Fabric can come from natural and synthetic sources or a combination of both.
Certain fabrics do not require ironing. These fabrics are largely synthetic; although not exclusively, which do not wrinkle or crease. They are made up of artificial fibres; although some can be a combination of man-made or natural, which are not vulnerable to changes to the structure and integrity of their shape during the washing and drying process. Examples of wrinkle-free fabrics are listed below:
i) POLYESTER: NON-IRON FABRIC
Polyester fibres are made from a reaction of an acid and two other compound groups known as (COOH), combined with alcohol and two other compound groups known as (OH).
Polyester is a synthetic, wrinkle-free fabric that has great durability, ductility and quality, and it is easy to clean and does not lose its shape. Polyester is a lightweight fabric and dries relatively quickly making it perfect for sportswear
ii) NYLON: NON-IRON FABRIC
Nylon is a synthetic fabric that is created from coal, water, and oxygen, combined with a polymer. This combination makes two chemicals which have six carbon structures.
Nylon is a very strong synthetic fabric, widely used in the production of sportswear. It has a smooth surface area and holds its colour well, this means it is fade-resilient and can maintain its shape and structure during the laundry process and does not shrink. Nylon is wrinkle-resistant, therefore, does not require ironing.
iii) ELASTANE: NON-IRON FABRIC
Elastane is a man-made textile made from a long chain of polyurethane and polyethene hydrocol. It is composed of plastic and synthetic resins.
Elastane is also known as either spandex or lycra. This fabric is characterised by its flexibility and is very resilient, which makes it ideal for the production of sportswear. Once stretched, this fabric snaps back to its original shape without causing any damage to the fibres of Elastane. It is a wrinkle-free fabric that does not require ironing.
iv) LYOCELL: NON-IRON FABRIC
Lyocell is a semi-synthetic fabric that is commonly used in place of cotton or silk. The fabric is a form of rayon that is made up primarily of cellulose derived from wood.
Lyocell is a combination of synthetic and natural fabric that is similar to cotton in its appearance but is dissimilar in the way it handles wrinkles very well. For example, shirts made from lyocell can be washed using traditional laundry methods over and over, and simply placed on a hanger to air dry and then worn immediately when dry.
FABRICS THAT REQUIRE TO BE IRONED
i) COTTON
Cotton fabric has been used for over 7,000 years. It is the most widely used natural fibre in the production of clothing and other popular items such as bedding etc. It is a soft, comfortable fabric that has great absorbency.
Cotton fibres have a large surface area, and they also have a strong attraction to moisture, water and other liquids. This makes cotton fabric hydrophilic. The presence of hydroxyl-OH) groups on cellulose molecules can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, which is responsible for this feature.
Water is the key cause of why cotton fabric is prone to wrinkling and creasing. The polymers in cotton are linked to hydrogen bonds that hold together molecules of water.
ii) LINEN
Linen is a very strong and durable material, yet it is also lightweight, and when worn as clothing can protect the skin from ultraviolet rays. It is also naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal making it a popular choice for medical supplies such as bandages etc.
Linen is composed of up to 70-80% cellulose, the remainder being water, lignin, waxes and fats, and petic substances.
Due to the chemical composition of cellulose in natural flax fibres out of which linen is formed, linen is prone to wrinkling and creasing. In addition to this, moisture evaporation leaves chemical bonds in cellulose, causing linen to crease and wrinkle. Therefore, as linen wrinkles, it will need to be ironed if you want it to be smoothed out. The best way to achieve this is to use a quality steam iron.
iii) DENIM
Denim garments are typically dyed with indigo, which attach to the surface of the yarn. Most denim is made up of warp-faced twill fabric. It is a strong fabric created with clean cotton fibres combined into long straps, which are woven tightly together with an industrial machine.
The cellulose in denim cotton is a polymer of glucose and is grown from special plants. Glucose molecules can attach to each other forming different types of bonds. In denim cotton, glucose molecules are arranged so that the polymer is the most extended form possible. Each glucose unit has three HO groups (hydroxyls) that can hold hydrogen bonds to adjacent chains, called intermolecular forces, which make denim cotton tough and durable so that it can be strung into textiles for clothing and to make other items.
Denim cotton can be more difficult to iron than other garments because it has a thick and bulky composition, which makes it hold wrinkles and creases well. Misting denim with water before ironing can help in the process of releasing wrinkles and creases combined with using hot steam generator iron.
If you need help from a professional Ironing Team to get rid of that ever-increasing ironing pile, contact us and we’ll be happy to take your booking and return your ironing order to your doorstep within a quick turnaround. We, at Pressed not Stressed, provide Laundry, Ironing,
and Cleaning Services in and around Chester-le-Street, County Durham.
