When the fabric of the garment is repeatedly abraded in wear, separation of that fabric will typically occur during cleaning. Elbows, forearms, and areas where a shirt would be tucked in are most common among dress shirts. Knees and in the seat of the pants are most common among pants.
Why do cuffs and collars appear shrunken or wrinkled after cleaning?
Shrinking of the inner facing material will leave an excess of material on the outer shell of the fabric. This causes the material to ripple or “pucker” which may cause wrinkles and creases to appear. This can typically be avoided by proper construction from the manufacturer.
Why do garments sometimes develop small holes and areas of color loss?
Acids found in some foods and beverages as well as hair products, cleaning products, colognes and perfumes, medicines and even fertilizers can cause garments to discolor and eventually cause holes. Damage can sometimes be avoided by immediately cleaning the garment or flushing the chemical from the fabric with cold water.
Did you know?
While starch can leave your clothes looking clean, crisp and harder to wrinkle, it also shortens the life span of the garment. The stiffness that starch provides actually causes the fabric to fray and break when the clothing is bent so the heavier the starch, the more susceptible the garment is to fraying and developing worn areas.