Nothing
lasts forever, but most things can last longer if you take care of them.
Clothes are definitely no exception. Taking care of your clothes will make you
look better, and save you money when compared to buying new ones.
Proper
methods of cleaning, drying, and storing your clothes will both extend their
life and make them look better. What if you could
actually prolong the life of your clothing? Here are ways you take care of the
clothing investments you make on a regular basis.
1.
Don’t over wash
clothes: Select the setting on your washing machine that allows for
the least amount of soaking and spin cycles. For delicate fabrics, use a gentle cycle which will
eliminate the wear and tear inflicted by your washer.
2.
Wash your
clothes inside out: Turn all your clothing items
inside-out before putting them in the washing machine. The spin cycle can put a
lot of wear and tear on clothes. It is much better for the inside of your
clothes to face the brunt than the outside. Here are a few other ways to ensure
your wash cycle isn’t unnecessarily ruining your fabrics:
·
Spot clean:
Avoid washing an entire garment to remove a stain. Instead, gently dab the
stained spot with detergent and place face down on a paper towel for a while.
·
Hand wash:
Delicate fabrics should be washed by hands. Learn the simple skill of hand
washing your clothes to save water and prevent your clothes from excessive
spinning inside a washing machine.
·
Use less detergent: Certain
detergents use harsh chemicals which can fade, shrink and tear delicate
fabrics. Use as little detergent as possible. Powdered detergents can be
harsher on clothes – opt for a liquid one instead.
·
Read the care label:
to ensure that you can place your clothes in a washer.
3.
Don’t overuse
the dryer: Do you use a machine to dry all your clothes? The heat from
the dryer is probably ruining the fabrics, the elastic and the metal parts of
your clothing. Using hot air to dry your clothes can shrink them just as well
as using hot water to wash them.
Get clothes out
of the washer and hang them out to dry as soon as possible to prevent small
wrinkles and to allow them to air. Consider purchasing a collapsible or
foldable drying rack for clothes if space is an issue. The only clothing items
that should be placed in a dryer are undergarments, gym clothes, outdoor work
wear, and jeans.
4.
Be careful with
the iron: Crisp shirts with a strong shape can result from clothing
that is properly ironed. Irons also have a dark side. They can cause: Rust stains from an unclean iron; burn marks if you pick the wrong setting; and
heat that sets stains into the fiber.
Use the right settings on the iron before placing the hot
plate on fabrics. Damage from excess heat can burn the fabric or leave
unsightly permanent marks on the cloth. Iron
clothes when they are still slightly damp. The moisture helps to ease
out the creases.
Be careful while ironing delicate fabrics. The heat from an iron is too
harsh for fabrics like silk (or silk blends) and can leave marks if you’re not
careful. A great alternative is a handheld steamer. It takes the wrinkles out of
a cloth without making contact with the fabric is invaluable in these
instances.
Just be careful not
to over steam or steam directly over the stitching, or you can blow the seams
holding your clothes together. Never
iron dirty clothes. Stains on the clothes or the board can become
permanent if you press on them with a hot iron.
5.
Fix small issues
immediately: You may occasionally snag your new shirt on something sharp
or lose a button. It is advisable to fix these small issues immediately. Knowing how to fix the minor issues yourself
is the ideal route. A small repair like sewing on a button before it rips or breaks will save money in the future.
If you aren’t comfortable making these repairs yourself, its
worth your time looking for a tailor who is willing to help repair any damages
or makes alterations to new clothes. A good tailor can save you from having to
buy new items of clothing by keeping your old favorites in top condition for
many years.
·
Buttons and zippers: You can
do this at home with a basic sewing kit. It takes almost no skill to sew or
tighten them.
·
Loose lining: If
the lining on trousers or jackets becomes loose or if they are looking worn
out, take them to the tailor to have them replaced. Don’t wait until you
have sizeable holes on the inside of your jacket.
·
Tapering:
Over time, jackets can lose their shape because of poor maintenance or perhaps
you have lost weight! Waist suppression brings the waist of a jacket in to
create a pronounced “V” shape over your torso.
·
Altering length: Ensure
your trouser legs are the right length. A little cloth to work with is sufficient
for a tailor to alter the length to make sure the trouser isn’t too short or
drooping all over the floor.
·
Holes:
Small holes, especially around the seams are relatively easy to fix. It is best
to take the clothing item to the tailor before the holes get bigger.
6.
Remove stains immediately: Act immediately to prevent the any
kind of stain from setting into the fabric. Once
the staining material forms a chemical bond with the fabric, the mark becomes
effectively permanent. If you’re at a restaurant and get a stain, get to a
restroom and dab water gently onto the stained area with tissue paper, paper
towels, toilet paper, until the stain is thoroughly saturated.
Avoid applying pressure or heat which speeds
up the bonding process of the stain. Once you are home, treat immediately with the proper
solvent if it is available. Various types of solvents are discussed below, but
water is always your first solution.
·
Salt: Easy to access, salt can be applied on top of the wet
stain to give the chemicals something to leech into. Effective on red wine,
sweat patches, and blood stains.
·
Detergent: Laundry
or dish detergents are effective in removing food and grease stains.
·
Vinegar/Lemon Juice: The mild acids
from these solutions are effective against tea and coffee stains, grass
stains, and tape or glue stains.
·
Oxidizing bleaches: Hydrogen
peroxide is the most commonly used bleach to remove color and makeup stains.
·
Mineral spirits: Use for
stubborn marks like tar or asphalt stains. These are too strong for delicate
fabrics.
·
Glycerin: Draws out ink
and dye stains. Most commercial stain sticks are a combination of
glycerin and detergent.
·
Digestants/Enzyme Cleaners: Highly effective on organic and odor stains
such as pet urine, egg yolk, sweat, and blood.
“My clothes have a story.
They have an identity. They have a character and a purpose. That's why they
become classics because they keep on telling a story. They are still telling
it.” (Vivienne Westwood) [i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“5 Ways you’re Destroying Your Clothes | Wardrobe
Maintenance Tips | How to Properly Iron & Wash Dress Clothing” by Antonio Centeno
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