How To Care For Your Clothes: A Comprehensive Guide
From washing and drying to ironing and storing.
So you've bought some new clothing. Whether it was off-the-rack, preloved or vintage, you'll likely want to keep them in tip-top condition for as long as possible to maximise your wear. Ahead, we've got eight comprehensive tips on how to care for your clothing, from washing and drying to ironing and storing.
If possible, try to cut down on how often you wash your clothes. Washing causes mechanical damage to the fibres that decreases their lifespan. Dry cleaning, on the other hand, introduces chemical damage. This point, of course, excludes underwear and socks, workout gear and those who are exposed to dirty, hot or humid environments. If the clothing isn't dirty and just needs a little pick-me-up, consider using a fabric freshener spray or hanging the clothes by a window or in a steamy bathroom. With new clothes, it is advisable to wash them first before wearing to get rid of the existing chemicals from manufacturing. With vintage clothing and uncommon materials such as tulle, it is best to leave them to the experts.
Most of us would know to separate our white and neutral-coloured clothing from our brightly coloured ones to prevent the colour from running and straining. But you should also separate your delicates and non-delicates—the former includes lingerie and softer fabrics such as satin and silk, while the latter comprises heavier cotton and denim.
This will prevent zippers and thicker clothing from damaging the delicate ones due to excess friction. Delicates should be washed on their own with the delicate wash cycle or placed in a mesh wash bag first.
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Most, if not all, clothing comes with a wash care label sewn to the garment. They provide guidelines on how to properly care for your apparel with regard to washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and dry cleaning in order to maximise its lifespan. Following that, turn your clothes inside out before washing to minimise colour loss and abrasion. Similarly, don't overload your washing machine beyond its recommended capacity as this will hinder proper cleaning. Finally, using cold water and handwashing are the gentler methods of cleaning, assuming that you don't have heavily soiled clothing or tough stains to get rid of.
The dryer is an effective way to get our clothes dried quickly, especially for those of us who are time-strapped. The intense heat and friction of the dryer will damage the fibres, causing the clothes to shrink and have a shorter lifespan.
Here, air drying is best.
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Again, how you iron should be dictated by the wash care label. Too hot and you risk burning your fabric, especially with synthetic fibres, so always err on the cooler side. Alternatively, steam irons are great to flatten out wrinkles. You can also mimic that by hanging the clothes in the bathroom as you take a hot shower.
Padded or thick wooden hangers (like those you see in hotel rooms) would be your best options. The width allows for better weight distribution to minimise sagging and the unsightly lines left by a thin wiry hanger.
That said, not everything needs to be hung. A heavy knitted jumper, for example, is better left folded to prevent it from stretching out. There are also hangers specifically designed for pants.
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Mothballs might seem like a relic belonging to the wardrobes of your grandparents and parents but they do serve a practical purpose to keep insects that will feast on your clothing at bay. These days, there are scented mothballs that you can purchase that double as wardrobe fresheners. Else, lavender sachets and cedar wood blocks can keep some pests away too. Also, don't forget to stash a wardrobe dehumidifier and frequently change them out. These prevent mould growth.
For starters, never use the garment bags provided by dry cleaners as those trap moisture that encourages mould growth. Instead, opt for garment storage bags that are advertised to let the fabric breathe, such as ones made with muslin. For long-term storage, have the clothes folded and store them in vacuum-sealed bags. This will keep things neat and compactly stowed away. You can also use acid-free tissue paper to wrap each of the pieces first. Finally, avoid sunlight to prevent fading.