How to Wash Clothes Made From Recycled Tires

Cotton isn't the only material that garments are made of. Some of the more environmentally conscious designers are experimenting with recycled materials like rubber tires. However, a nouveau designer may forget to offer care instructions for the garments. The easiest way to wash clothes made of rubber tires is to clean them like you would the tires themselves — using chemicals that won't degrade the rubber.

Items you will need:

1. A large bowl
2. Warm water
3. Soft sponge
4. Mild liquid or powder soap
5. Newspaper or large towel
6. Soft bristle toothbrush

Step 1:

Fill the large bowl with warm water. Soak the sponge in the water to make it flexible. Add the mild soap to the water. Use just enough to make the water soapy.

Step 2:

Lay the dress or other piece of clothing flat on the newspaper or large towel. Locate the stained or soiled area that must be cleaned. Position the garment made of rubber tires so that the area needing cleaned is easy to reach.

Step 3:

Swish the sponge around the water to dissolve the powder soap and evenly distribute the liquid soap. Remove the sponge from the water and squeeze it to wring out the excess water. Squeeze gently to avoid creating a thick lather. A thick lather on the recycled rubber tire material will require immersion in water to dissolve. Doing so may damage the garment.

Step 4:

Wipe the soiled area with light, slow strokes, especially around the seams, which are extremely delicate. Place the sponge back into the warm water and repeat from step three until the garment is clean. The recycled rubber tires create a surface that is easy to clean with simple wiping.

Step 5:

Clean the seams and clothing made of crushed recycled tires with the soft bristled toothbrush. Gently scrub the soiled area until it's clean. Avoid damaging the seams or loosening the crushed rubber pieces with vigorous and rough brushing.

Step 6:

Run clean water over the sponge and rinse away the soap. Squeeze most of the water out of the sponge and wipe the soap away from the area you just cleaned. Repeat until the soap is removed. Let the recycled rubber tire material lie on dry newspaper or a dry towel.

Source: green living.nationalgeographic.com