How to: Care for Every Item in Your Closet

Written by Nicole Garrity on . Posted in Fashion, How To, Life, Uncategorized

Did you know that they are different ways to care for every item in your closet? Most people believe if you just machine wash everything and care from them that they will last long, but there are other steps you can take that will help items last even longer. Style Caster has a blog of “101 Tips to Care for Every Item in Your Closet” and they touch base on care tips you never thought of before. I won’t bore everyone with writing out all 101 tips, but I will list a few tips per item that I feel everyone can relate to! I definitely learned some new things I never knew before from this article. For more care tips, click on the picture below to get forwarded to Style Casters site!

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SILK

  1. While dry-cleaning is fine for basic silk pieces, it is even better to hand wash them in order to keep them in good shape.
  2. Never wring out silk to dry! Instead roll the item up in a towel and gently press the water out.
  3. Always store silk in a dry dark place, and never keep it in plastic since the fabric needs to breath.

JEANS

  1. To zap odors: hang jeans in the bathroom before a shower (the damp steam will keep them fresh between washes), or freeze them in a plastic bag for two days.
  2. Add a 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse cycle while doing laundry to maintain the wash of your favorite pair of dark jeans.
  3. Fold jeans like a pro: lay jeans on a flat surface, fold in half from left to right. Grab the stacked jean legs and fold them in half so the hem of the jeans lines up with the waistband. Fold the jeans in half one more time.
  4. Always wash jeans inside out in cold water on the delicate cycle, or by hand with Woolite. (If you actually want denim to fade quickly, wash once in hot water)

CASHMERE

  1. Never hold up a wet cashmere sweater by the shoulders, it’ll stretch it out. In fact, keep your cashmere in a lump when you go to pick it up when wet.
  2. Always fold cashmere sweaters in thirds so you don’t get a fold line running down the front of the sweater.
  3. Always clean cashmere before storing it for the winter, as moths are attracted to our everyday scents, such as perfume, food, deodorant, and smoke.

COTTON

  1. When keeping cotton towels, robes, and washcloths fluffy, use half the amount of detergent and run them through an extra rinse cycle (detergent residue can diminish softness)
  2. For best results, machine wash cotton items in warm water on a normal wash cycle.

VISCOSE/RAYON

  1. Hang wet items totally wet (no wringing or twisting) as this will help remove creasing and ensure the garment doesn’t lost its shape.
  2. Viscose has a silky appearance and feel, it breaths like cotton, can be easily draped, and it’s lightweight. However, it wrinkles very easily, so it’s advised to use an iron’s medium setting with steam.

LEATHER JACKET

  1. Never use a hair blower to dry wet leather.
  2. Before wearing a leather jacket, treat it first with scotch guard or a similar spray to help prevent the ingress of water, stains or grime.
  3. Leather jackets are more prone to water stains when they’re not properly treated, and while you should avoid taking them out in rainy weather, it’s also important to hang your jacket in a dry, well-ventilated closet.

POLYESTER

  1. Polyester is easy to care for, but locks stains. To lift a stain, rub stain remover on the area and allow it to sit for 10-20 minutes before laundering.
  2. If the stained garment is white, consider soaking the fabric for 24 hours in a gallon of water and 1/3 cup of automatic dish washing soap before throwing it in the machine.

SWIMWEAR

  1. You never should use a washing machine for bathing suites, but there is one exception: at the end of summer or your vacation, you can wash swimwear in lingerie bags on the machine’s gentle cycle with a bit of Woolite, but only after many wears.
  2. While your swimsuit doesn’t need to be washed with detergent every time you wear it, it should be rinsed in cool tap water every time you take it off after swimming or sunning to remove most of the sunscreen, dirt, sweat, and chlorine.

DOWN COATS, VESTS, AND BLANKETS

  1. It’s key to use a front-loading washer, as a top-loading machine can damage the down item.
  2. Don’t add more detergent than necessary- residual soap prevents down items from getting fluffy.
  3. If your garment is really dirty, stop the machine mid-wash for an hour or so and simply let it soak.

DELICATE LINGERIE 

  1. Silk, satin and lace lingerie should always be hand-washed and left out to dry, as machines can damage small bits of high-quality fabric.
  2. For bras and camis, don’t throw them in a messy drawer- keep them organized and folded properly to maintain the cups.
  3. Try not to wear the same bra two days in a row, as it needs time to regain its shape after wear. (I am victim to this!!)
  4. For padded or under-wire bras, fold them in half with the straps tucked under the cups.

WORKOUT CLOTHES/SHOES

  1. After working out, always shake two or three tablespoons of baking soda into each sneaker, as this eats up excess moisture and odor.
  2. If your gear is super-sweaty, wash them immediately after wearing. If you don’t have a machine nearby, hand wash them to stop stains and smells from setting.
  3. For sports bras and clothes that still retain the scent of perspiration, soak them in the sink with either one part vinegar to four parts water, or a quarter cup of Borax mixed with water. Let them sit for an hour before running them through the wash.
  4. Air-drying spandex and lycra workout clothes maintains elasticity, but if you decide to use a dryer, make sure it’s on the lowest setting.

WOOL COATS, SWEATERS, AND PANTS

  1. Remove light stains on wool by blotting (not rubbing!) with cold water or club soda using absorbent cloths or paper towels.
  2. To actually hand wash, use a mild detergent and lukewarm water to let the item soak for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing in cool water. To dry, gently squeeze the garment and lay it flat.
  3. Never use scolding hot water or bleach on wool items.
  4. Allow 24 hours between wearing your wool sweaters or pants after washing, as this allows wrinkles to dissipate and the elasticity of the fabric to bounce back.
  5. Wool coats should be dry cleaned at the beginning and at the end of the season.

DRESS SHOES

  1. Maintain the shape of soft leather or suede shoes by loosely packing them with clean tissues.
  2. Leather shoes should have a full day to dry out from natural foot perspiration between wearings.
  3. It pays to condition expensive leather boots and shoes before wearing (and every few months) to avoid drying, cracking, and water damage. Remember, leather is skin.

VELVET

  1. Never iron velvet, as the fibers will get crushed and the iron will leave an imprint.
  2. Never fold velvet when storing. Instead, gently stuff items with tissue paper and lay flat inside garment boxes.

BONUS TIPS AND TRICKS!!

  • Use white wine to remove red wine stains. (Every woman should know this trick!!)
  • Remove white deodorant marks from a garment by gently rubbing the protective foam used on hangers against the fabric.
  • The best at-home method to keep diamonds sparkling: liquid dishwasher detergent and an old toothbrush.
  • To stop angora or mohair from shedding, fold the garment and place it into a zip-top bag and freeze it for at least three hours.