How to Take Care of Your Clothes
20 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Clothes in 2017
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While everyone loves buying new clothes, sometimes the clothes already in your closet get neglected. Your shoes get scuffed, your sweaters get pilled, and your favorite black jeans fade to a not-so-evenly-hued gray. Maybe you toss your once-white t-shirts in the trash after a few wears and simply buy a new one.
Turn over a new leaf in 2017 and stop forgetting to take care of your clothes. Take the time to wash your garments properly, store them so that they keep their shape, and keep your favorite items looking as good as when you first bought them. We've rounded up 20 ways to take care of your wardrobe that will keep you looking stylish all year long.
Fold your sweaters
Sweaters and other knitwear should never be hung on hangers because they will stretch out and lose their shape. Instead, fold them and put them on a shelf or in your drawers to keep them fitting perfectly.
Learn how to take care of your leather
Make sure to store your leather in a cool, dry place. Clean only with a product that won't strip the fabric of its natural oils like Woolite Everyday ($8). Learn to properly condition and remove stains from leather.
Take care of your purses
Prolong the life of your handbags by treating them with care! Treat them with a leather protectant spray ($10), use on-the-go wipes to spot-treat stains, and keep your bags stored in a dust bag (or pillowcase!) when you're not using them.
Keep costume jewelry from tarnishing
Keep your whites white
Keep a Tide to Go Pen ($6) with you when wearing your favorite white threads. As soon as you stain your clothes, treat the stain immediately. Always wash your whites with other white clothes, use the hottest water safe for the fabric, and wash items after one wear.
Remove oil stains
Oil stains are a fashion-lover's worst nightmare! Luckily, they aren't impossible to get out. If you happen to get some salad dressing on your favorite dress, don't despair. Cover the stain with cornstarch, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Next, pretreat the spot with a stain remover, apply some dish detergent, and use the hottest water that's safe for the fabric when washing. Whatever you do, don't put it in the dryer; it will set the stain in forever.
Fold your denim
Hanging your jeans will only stretch them out. To keep them fitting like a glove, fold them and rejoice at the extra room you've just made in your closet.
Get rid of pills on sweaters
Lightly run over your pill-covered sweater with an Evercare Giant Fabric Shaver ($13) to keep your sweaters looking new.
Keep your white sneakers white
White sneakers go with everything from athleisure to feminine dresses but get dingy fast. To restore them to their crisp look, use a Magic Eraser ($6) to clean up your kicks.
Keep your clothes wrinkle-free
Everyone looks better when their clothes are neat and wrinkle-free. If you are in a rush and don't have time to iron, spray some Downy Wrinkle Releaser ($7) on your top and watch the creases disappear.
Use a mesh bag for delicates
If you hate hand washing your lace undergarments, place them in a mesh bag made for delicates like the Real Simple Wash Bags ($8) before popping them in the wash to make sure they don't snag.
Air-dry your athleisure
To ensure your favorite workout gear keeps its shape, never put them in the dryer. Hang them to dry instead.
Stuff your leather and suede shoes
Weather-proof your suede
Before heading out in your new boots, make sure to protect them! Purchase a suede protector like the Frye and Nubuck Protector ($10) to prevent discoloring, staining, or water spots.
Wash your darks inside out
Keep your clothing as dark as when you purchased them by washing your garb inside out.
Dye your black denim
If you notice your favorite black jeans starting to go gray, dye them back to their original midnight hue with a fabric dye like Rit Dye ($3).
Wash your clothes less
Washing your clothes can make the colors fade and your garments slowly lose their shape. Most of your clothes can be worn multiple times before washing them. Find out how frequently you need to wash each item in your wardrobe and save yourself time and money.
Clean your washing machine
Old dirt and dye from previous clothes sit in your washing machine and can make your clean clothes look dirty. Make sure you don't forget to clean your washing machine and it will keep your favorite items looking great.
Invest in good hangers
Use sturdy wooden hangers for your heavy items like Winter coats to make sure they don't lose their shape. Thin, no-slip hangers will make sure your other items stay on the hanger and wrinkle-free.
Don't keep your clothes in bags
Keeping your garments in the bags they are stored in post-dry-cleaning is a bad idea. The bags trap moisture (which can lead to mold) and yellow your clothes. Make sure the items in your closet have room to breathe!
