Summer Challenges
The hot, humid weather of summer brings the need to stay cool, dry and protected — especially outside. Summer also means we switch clothing fabrics, some more delicate in nature than others. Typical summer fabrics include cotton, linen, rayon and swimwear. Here are some special care tips for best cleaning and care results for those summer fabrics.

Keeping your cool

Hot, sunny weather calls for cool, light clothes. To stay cool, dry and comfortable, look for:

• Fabrics of linen, cotton and rayon
• Absorbent fibers
• Smooth fibers and fabrics (avoid spun fibers, or napped, pile or fuzzy fabrics)
• Open, smoother, looser weaves or knits such as mesh or seersucker
• Light-colored and lightweight fabrics

Cotton

We use more cotton here in the United States than any other fabric! Cotton is derived from the fuzzy fibers surrounding the seeds of the cotton plant. It is absorbent, cool, crisp, smooth and strong, and cotton is available in lots of qualities, colors and blends-a true "miracle fiber." Most cotton clothing manufactured in the US sports the Seal of Cotton, a registered trademark of Cotton Incorporated. So, look for the seal and follow these basic care instructions: 

• Look for preshrunk cotton or you may experience some shrinkage. The more tightly woven the fabric, the less it will shrink.
• Store cotton out of sunlight as overexposure may weaken or yellow fibers. Always store cotton dry to avoid damaging mildew.
• Most cotton clothing is machine washable and dryable, but always read the garment care label before attempting to clean cotton items.
• Avoid hot water and hot dryer temperatures if the item is made of cotton knit. Knits are more vulnerable to shrinkage.

Linen

Linen is made of flax fiber (from the plant's stem) and is remarkably strong, durable and functional. More expensive than cotton, it is available in many different weights and weaves; sturdy or fine construction. Unlike cotton, linen resists deterioration from sunlight and abrasion; and linen softens as it ages. Linen feels more cool and comfortable in hot weather than any other fabric, dries quickly and doesn't lint-even though it can wrinkle more readily. Follow these guidelines to care for linen: 

• Avoid creasing linen clothing in the same places repeatedly-the fabric will eventually weaken at that crease point.
• When choosing colored linen clothing, look for a label that says "colorfast" or "vat dyed" for better colorfastness.
• If machine washable (remember to check your garment care label), use a shorter or gentler agitation cycle and air dry.
• For washable, delicate linen, hand wash with Ivory Snow®, rinse thoroughly and dry flat, paying special attention to re-shape the item appropriately.
• If you need to remove a stain from linen, you can soak the item in cool water with Ivory Snow before washing. Be sure the stain is completely gone before drying.

Rayon

Derived from cotton fiber or wood pulp, rayon comes in many types-viscose, cuprammonium, high wet-modulus and lyocell (tencel)-and is often blended with other fibers, both natural and synthetic. Always check the garment care label before cleaning a rayon item. Many rayon clothes may require hand-washing or dry-cleaning, even though more are being made to be machine washable. Here are some basic care instructions for rayon:

If hand washing, use warm water and Ivory Snow; then gently squeeze (don't wring or twist) to dry.
If machine washing, use the gentle cycle and avoid using chlorine bleach. Use Tide with Bleach or Tide Liquid with Bleach Alternative instead.
If ironing, iron damp with a low to medium iron; use a press cloth or iron on the wrong side to avoid shine.
If dry clean only, use Dryel®.

Swimsuits

Follow these guidelines for longest-lasting enjoyment of that seasonal swimwear: 

• Hand wash in cool water with Ivory Snow and rinse thoroughly to remove all chlorine.
• Roll in a dry towel to absorb excess moisture; then dry flat or hang evenly.
• Drip dry, out of the sun.

Protect your skin

Darker clothes protect you from the sun better than lighter clothes, but they feel hotter. Wet clothes are not as protective as dry clothes since wet items are more transparent. So, it's hard to protect your skin and stay cool. But if you are worried about exposure, choose these items to gain protection from the sun's ultraviolet rays: 

• Tightly woven fabrics (avoid loose or open weaves such as basket weaves or gauze)
• Blue denim
• Satin weaves and other smooth-surface weaves
• Fabrics treated to render them UV resistant
• Dark colors