Background of Taffeta
The term taffeta refers to a Persian fabric known as taftan. Today, the term taffeta also refers to any fabric that is ribbed, balanced or plain woven using filament yarns. This is much different from staple yarns which are manufactured from fibers that are somewhat short in length. Filament fibers by converse are produced from fibers that are continuous and long in nature. In fact, filament fibers are often so long they can be measured in terms of yards, meters and even miles.
Taffeta fabrics may be printed or solid in nature. The colors of taffeta fabric can appear to be iridescent. In many cases, taffeta fabrics can be produced from rayon as well as silk. Beyond these two types of taffeta there are many other taffeta variations as well. Some of the most common types of taffeta fabrics include faille taffeta, paper taffeta, pigment taffeta and antique taffeta.
Faille taffeta is pronounced like the world file. This type of taffeta is somewhat glossy and soft, featuring a rib weave.
Paper taffeta is transparent, stiff and quite lightweight.
Pigment taffeta is a type of fabric that is woven with rayon filaments that have had the luster removed. There is very little, if any, twist present. This fabric is not crisp as is the case with other taffeta fabrics.
Antique taffeta is quite crisp and heavy and features filling yarns with slubs.
Ringing Problems
Taffeta, like other fabrics, commonly experiences problems with ringing. Rings most commonly appear after a spot has been removed. Chemicals within the fabric, such as yarn lubricants or sizing, are the most common reason why ringing occurs. The chemicals tend to make their way to the edge of the wet area. If there is an edge that is somewhat hard situated between the dry and wet areas of the fabric, ringing is a possibility. Once a ring is present within the fabric it can be difficult to remove. Some rings are impossible to remove from the fabric.
Rings can be avoided rather easily. The way to handle the process is to make sure that the chemicals used in spot removal are applied in a light mist near the edges of the wet area to prevent ringing. The entire panel of the section may be misted as well in order to prevent rings from forming.
Cleaning Taffeta Fabrics
Due to the fact that taffeta fabrics can be produced from many different types of fibers, the subject of cleaning this fabric can be somewhat complicated. In some cases, taffeta may even contain more than one type of fiber; making the matter of cleaning it even more complex.
In some cases, bleeding may be a problem, especially when the fabric is exposed to cleaning agents that are water-based. Generally, wet cleaning should only be used when the level of soiling is quite heavy and would warrant taking this type of risk. Consumers should always be made aware of the risks that are involved with this cleaning process. Wet cleaning can possibly ruin the fabric beyond repair and this should be clearly understood.
Tests should always be performed first to determine whether or not bleeding will be an issue. Shrinkage should also be tested as fabric can often shrink in one direction if not more. This is more of a problem with the fabric contains at least some rayon; as rayon is quite susceptible to shrinkage. When the fabric dries, it has shrunk to any degree, it may be puckered. The only reliable method for determining whether this will be an issue to is to test an area of the fabric first. An extremely small area should be test cleaned first and consumers should be aware that even these small areas could be easily ruined if there is a problem resulting from the testing. In most cases, dry cleaning is the safest method for cleaning taffeta fabrics.
While taffeta is considered to be somewhat delicate; it can last for many years with proper care and maintenance. When taffeta is used on upholstery items, the items should be turned and rotated when applicable to reduce the evidence of fading. Damp dusting can also help to prolong the life of the fabric.
