Uniform Care
DEER PARK IRISH SCHOOL WEAR. EST .1984
GARMENT CARE
WASHING
- Machine wash on Wool Cycle only
- This should be at a maximum of 400C — but we recommend a 300C Cycle
- This should be a gentle cycle with a low spin
- Wash inside-out
- Wash knitwear separately from other fabric types
- Avoid mixing dark & light shades
DETERGENTS
- Ensure to use a Mild Non-Biological Detergent to avoid colour loss and deterioration
- One which indicates its suitable for Wools — (Woolmark approved detergent)
- Most importantly ensure it's bleach-free
- Avoid using fabric softeners as they can cause Bobbling
HAND WASHING
- If hand washing, only use lukewarm water (300C Maximum)
- Do not soak for more than 3-4 Minutes — as this may cause colour fading
- Wash inside-out
- Use mild-bleach free detergent that is suitable for hand washing knitwear
- Rinse thoroughly and squeeze gently — Do not wring or twist
- Handle with care when Hand-Washing as you may distort the shape of the garment
DRYING
- Do Not Tumble-Dry
- Remove garment from washing machine immediately after cycle
- Ease garment into shape after the wash
- Dry Flat — We suggest on a towel away from direct sunlight or excessive heat
- Do not leave knitwear soaking for a long period of time —as this will cause colour fading
- Do not wring
- Note - Clotheslines tend to cause the garment to stretch in certain areas, therefore dry-flat
DO NOT IRON
- Its most important that you never iron our knitwear
- If washed correctly there should be very few creases
- If you follow the above steps for drying, the garment will naturally remove any creases that have occurred during washing
BOBBLES / PILING / FLUFFING
It should be stated that it’s a recognised fact that knitted garments will pill. This does not
mean that there is a fault with the garment. Piling occurs to a certain degree in all man-
mMade and natural fibre produce — eg. carpets after they are initially laid. The following
are the main reasons for this and how it can be corrected:
- Knitwear-yarns are loosely spun for softness
- These loose fibres may work-free and come to the surface during the initial wearing and washing. They can form little bobbles or pills, which should disappear after a few wears and washes
- Regular washing inside-out will help to reduce this
- This initial bobbling can be removed by hand and over the first few washes will stop
- Fabric Softeners induce Piling, therefore should be avoided
EXTENSIVE BOBBLES / PILING
Apart from the standard piling, mentioned above, which will rectify itself after the first
few initial washes, the following additional factors can cause extensive piling and
intensify the problem. If you find you have this problem, it is most likely that one or
more of the following situations are causing this to occur:
- Friction —The garment is regularly in contact with either; other fabric eg. coat lining or objects eg. School Bag/Table/Desk
- Friction in washing — washing the garment with other fabric types
- Fabric softeners
- Temperature — washing at the incorrect temperature
- Tumble drying— the heat can cause extra fibres to be drawn-out
DO NOT BLEACH
- Bleaching & Detergents containing bleach/bleaching-agents will cause discolouring and damage to the wool fibres
- Therefore must certainly be avoided
STORAGE
- Knitwear should be folded flat and stored on shelves to avoid loss of shape
- Do not hang knitwear on hangers
- If storing several knitted garments together, naphthalene or moth-balls maybe used
SCHOOL KNITWEAR
In regard to our school knitwear, it’s worth bearing in mind that most are worn eight hours a day for approximately nine to ten months of the year.
You will never wear any item of clothing as often as you will wear your school uniform. Be realistic as to what to expect from your uniform, although ‘Deer Park’ is made from the highest quality of materials, one of our school jumpers can not be expected to last for
your entire schooling.
As a rule we recommend two Sweaters per pupil per year, rotating them each week. Our knitwear quiet often will last longer than a school year, but this is only a bonus.Realistically a pupil must replace their Jumper each year.
Finally, apart from how you wash and treat the garment, how the pupil looks after their uniform will have a great influence on its lifespan.
