Before you know it, the seasons will change once again. Even if you don’t have harsh winters, people still don’t generally wear summer clothes in November. If you want your clothes to last well through the winter, you should invest a little effort into their proper care now. Here are just a few tips to extend that clothing investment so that your clothes will be beautiful for years!
Every Day Care
· Change clothes as soon as you come home. Let suits, coats and footwear “air” for at least 30 minutes before storing in your closet.
· Just like your favorite shoes, rotate your favorite sweaters and jackets. This will give them a chance to breathe and regain their shape.
Repair
· In case of a spill, blot it out carefully and then treat according to the label instructions. Never rub a stain!
· For repair questions and to have knits re-woven, several clients have received very good service from http://www.knitalteration.com. Fortunately, I have not had an occasion to use them, but I refer to their website frequently for fabric care questions!
For clothes that require dry cleaning:
· Dry clean items from the same fabric group together to ensure that the colors remain vibrant and continue to match.
· Do not attempt to remove stains from fine fabrics such as silk. Blot the spill without rubbing and take it to the cleaners immediately!
· Always let the cleaners know about any stain or spills before the clothing is cleaned.
· On fabrics such as crepe and twill, request that the cleaner not hard press. This will cause fabric to shine. Clothing which comes back from the cleaner with seam impressions and shine have been pressed with too much heat or pressure and the damage is nearly always irreversible!
· Always store clothes clean.
· Instead of dry cleaning clothes every time they are worn, hang them near the shower for a steam or just hang them and let them air after wearing. This will freshen them after being in the environment with dirty air, smoke, etc. This will allow clothes to last much longer.
· You should not be able to smell dry cleaning fluid on just-cleaned clothes. This is generally a sign that the cleaning fluid is not fresh. Cleaning clothes in old fluid will cause them to become lifeless and dull.
· For clothes that can be safely ironed, a drop of lemon juice in your steam iron will make your clothes feel and smell as if they have just been cleaned
· Remove dry cleaning bags as soon as possible.
· Special buttons should be removed prior to cleaning. Most good cleaners will do this as part of their service routine.
Hand Washing Fabrics
· Never use Woolite. It contains bleach and it will ruin your clothes.
· Forever New Fabric Care is a powder for cleaning fine washables. It is formulated to gently clean, brighten and promote longer life without leaving a residue. This aids in maintaining elasticity and fiber flexibility and is formulated to use in all water types. Ovacion is a liquid version of this delicate wash.
· Eucalan Woolwash contains natural lanolin and eucalyptus or lavender, which conditions the fibers while protecting against moths. It is a no-rinse formula, especially recommended for fine cashmere and washable wool blend sweaters. It is available at www.eucalan.com
· If silk is washable, always hand wash separately in lukewarm water with one of the fabric washes listed above. Hang or lay flat to dry according to the manufacturers instuctions.
· Wash jeans inside out in cold water to prevent them from fading. Wash separately as the indigo will often run.
Leather Care
· Always hang or wide or padded hangers
· Never store in non-breathable covers as this will cause leather to dry out and lose its integrity.
· Allow wet or damp leather to air-dry naturally away from any heat source. Leather can be treated with a conditioner and suede can be brushed with a terry towel to restore its look
· Avoid very humid or dry environments and direct sunlight or lighting.
· Most wrinkles should hang out. I have used a brush on suede in the past but be very careful!
· Avoid perfumes or hairsprays and when possible, wear a scarf at the neckline of your leather garment.
· Do not apply pins, adhesive badges, or tape to leather garments.
· Always use care when selecting a leather professional for hemming and cleaning of these fine garments. This is truly an art.
· A good leather cleaner will apply water and stain repellant products as a value add when cleaning.
· Your garment may shrink slightly after cleaning but should re-stretch with wear. While your garment may not look and feel exactly like new, it should be very comparable.
Lingerie
· The best way to ensure the longest life of lingerie is to hand wash with lingerie wash ( I highly recommend Essential Bodywear Liquid wash) and lay flat to dry.
· If hand washing is not in your plans, gentle wash and always use a lingerie bag for bras.
· Never, never never put a bra through the dryer. It will destroy the stretch fibers!
· Lay bras flat to dry. Hanging by the straps or over the towel bar will cause stretching and greatly reduce the life of the bra.
