Having spent a fortune accumulating some designers over the years, it is quite frustrating to see these classy pieces fade out.
We have tons and tons of articles all over the web talking about buying quality clothes. But we must acknowledge that even the best-quality designers will wear out sooner if not properly maintained.
Therefore, instead of spending so much replacing worn-out clothes, you should start paying attention to these cleaning and storing hacks that experts swear will make your designers stay new for longer.
Cleaning hacks to keep your designers looking new
- Hand wash more
Okay, I get it. It sounds so old-fashioned. Nonetheless, handwashing has proven to be the best choice for some clothes, especially delicate materials. In fact, some clothes come with handwashing instructions. That’s right!
Your washing machine wasn’t built to handle some delicate materials. Even better, you can extend this practice to other clothes too. Hand washing definitely preserves your clothes longer than machine washing. - Your washing machine needs washing too
Although meant to do all the washing, your washing machine sure needs some cleaning from time to time. This big box of magic wash can build up dirt from all the dirty clothes it washes. With time, the filter collects dirt and eventually gives off bad odors. This can rub off on your clothes if left unchecked.
Set aside one day to clean both the inside and outside of your washing machine. You will be amazed how this will help to preserve the quality of your clothes. Try it! - Learn to wash in sets
So you are finally ready to clear out that load of dirty clothes. Awesome! But before you dump a handful into the washing machine, experts strongly recommend you sort the clothes into sets.
People tend to wash everything together. Perhaps it is because of the time factor or the dreadfulness of doing laundry. Whatever be the case, if you are one of these people, I am sorry to break it to you – you are destroying your clothes! They may all be categorized as pants or jackets, or shirts, or whatever, however, they come in different materials and colors. And these two factors are vital to proper washing.
The first step is to sort the clothes according to materials and then create a subdivision of color sets. This way, you are sure no color is fading into lighter colors and they all get the appropriate run time they need to be cleaned properly. Don’t just wash, wash in sets! - Invest in quality steamers
Quality steamers can protect your designers from the wrath of clothes iron. While these are quite expensive, it is totally worth it considering the fact that regular irons could ruin the fine prints in your classy designers.
Like your regular iron, steamers also come with heat settings. Therefore, be sure you are using the right heat at all times. - Remove stains ASAP!
Leaving stains to dry can destroy your clothes on many levels. For starters, you may be unable to get the stain out completely, which is not a good look on you.
Secondly, dry stains need more aggressive detergents and wash to get out. This puts your clothes through a harsher condition that could further damage the materials.
Over the years, I have learned to play it safe by removing stains immediately. If you are likely to get your clothes stained more often, best carry a stain remover around. Trust me, it will save you another round of laundry and help keep your clothes as new as can be. - Follow the label care instructions
All clothes are not made equal. Just as the materials vary, so do the care instructions. The quickest route to destroying your clothes is treating all of them like your jeans. It will only take a few seconds to read the labels. Be sure to carefully follow whatever is written there. Don’t play yourself. You don’t know better than the label. Always read the label first! - Wash designers less often
Cleanliness is a good habit to cultivate. However, if you want to keep using your designers for a long period of time, you ought to understand that rule doesn’t apply here.
There is absolutely no need to wash your designers after every wear. Unless, of course, you were playing in the mud – which is rarely the case.
Your designers are unlike casual wears. Be sure to treat them with respect by wearing them scarcely and washing only when you can visibly tell that they are dirty – usually after the third or fourth wear. - Hang to dry
Air drying is always the best option. Instead of subjecting your clothes to high amount of heat, it is best to hang them somewhere to dry. Certain materials cannot handle the heat of dryers, and even those which can, eventually lose their integrity with continuous exposure to heat. - Turn them inside-out
Fading colors is a major problem when it comes to preserving the quality of your clothes. Fortunately, they are a couple of foolproof hacks that prevent fading.
Some experts reveal washing inside-out could help mitigate the rate of color fading. The basic science here is that the inside of your clothes gets to receive all the harsh washing treatment, thus, protecting the outside part which actually counts. - Use professional dry cleaners sometimes
While dry cleaning isn’t the best choice for most clothes, some designers definitely need an expert touch.
Besides costing a fortune, garments from delicaite fabrics like silk and sequins need extra care to protect their quality. These are not the type of materials you dump into the washing machine.
Unless you have the know-how, I strongly advise you use professional dry cleaners for special designers. Don’t risk it! - To fold or to hang?
While folding is good for delicates like knitwear, you should totally hang more when it comes to storing shirts and other stronger materials. This way, you are sure they are rightly stretched out.
More importantly, you need to hang worn clothes to air dry before storing them. While storing, make sure you keep them in a dark space free of UV rays. This will protect your clothes from fading sooner. - You need quality hangers
The way you store your clothes is just as important as washing hacks. To prevent sagging, I advise you to stay away from wire and plastic hangers.
Wire hangers are not as strong as wooden ones. They tend to bend under the weight of the garment. This will almost certainly influence the shape and fit of your garment. Having good quality hangers will also look really good in your wardrobe!
You will be doing a lot of hanging so think of this as an essential investment. - Learn to really use clothes iron
Virtually everyone would say they can use an iron. But that’s probably untrue. Clothes irons come with different heat settings suitable for different materials. Make sure you are using the right setting for each material.
Additionally, those who really know how to use irons, know that ironing with water is probably the best way to keep your clothes new for a very long time.
Take away…
Maintaining your dream wardrobe comes at a price – care. If you want your designers to stay new and last longer, you must treat them with care. Heed these washing and storing instructions and you will be happy you did. Stay classy!
