How To Take Care Of Clothes: A Comprehensive Guide

Clothing is not just a style statement but is an investment in self-expression. Good quality clothing is a commitment to sustainable and trendy fashion. Understanding how to take care of clothes is very important for longevity, saving money and sustainability. Here we will discuss how to take care of clothes, preserve your wardrobe, save money, and adapt to sustainable clothing.

A] Washing Basics

Proper clothing care begins with mastering the washing basics and the ways to care for clothes.

• Understanding Fabric Care Labels: Deciphering the fabric care labels ensures garment safety. A cross indicates “do not” use instruction. A wash tub indicates washing with water at room temperature. Coloured clothes might have a label of “do not bleach”. A bucket full of water indicates the garment is machine washable and lines under the bucket indicate a gentle wash.
• Choosing the Right Detergent: Synthetic detergents might cause harm to clothes as well as Mother Nature. It might lead to fabric damage or lead to colour fading. Opt for eco-friendly options which are obtained from natural sources. Natural detergents are not harsh on the clothes’ fabrics, colours and accessories. Use soft detergents for special materials like wool to prevent any fabric damage.
• Sorting Clothes: Sort the clothes according to the colours and fabrics. Do not mix whites with the coloured ones as it may bleed colour and stain the white garment. The cotton and denim need a hard wash compared to wool and silk which require a gentle wash. Always check if the clothes can be wet washed or need dry cleaning.
• Washing Techniques: The labels indicate specific washing tips whether the clothing requires handwashing, machine washing or dry cleaning. A few labels also specify what temperature of the water, cycles of washing, and hard or gentle wash are required.  It is best to pretreat the stains before machine washing as machines might not successfully remove all the stains.
• Drying Secrets: The labels also specify if the material can be dried in the dryer or needs air drying. It also mentions if the material can withstand low heat or high heat during tumble drying. Few labels mention if you can wring the fabric or if it needs to be put directly on the rack for drying.

B] Caring for Specific Materials

• Delicates: Certain materials like silk, wool, cashmere, and lace are very delicate to machine wash. These materials need professional washing in the laundry. The laundry professionals have the perfect equipment, detergents and solvents to wash these delicate materials. It is best to store these delicate materials wrapped in a soft muslin cloth to prevent it from staining or mildew attack.
• Denim: Denim is a material that doesn’t need frequent washing. Denim, being a cotton blend, tends to shrink if washed in hot water. It is better to dry clean the denim for the first wash; then, you can do a normal wash next time. Air dry the denim instead of tumble drying to avoid shrinkage. Wash and dry the denim inside out to prevent the colour fading.

  

• Leather and Suede: Leather and suede are delicate materials that need special attention. Adamp cloth to remove dust and dirt is one of the best washing tips. Clean the suede with a brush or an eraser. Use a leather conditioner to maintain the leather and prevent the chipping of the material. It needs dry cleaning each time you need to wash them.
• Formal Wear: Formal clothing includes sophisticated suits, dresses and coats, which need delicate care to maintain elegance. Simple fabric dresses can be hand-washed at home, but intricate designer dresses or suits need professional dry cleaning. Not just washing but also storing them is Hang them in the closet to avoid creases.
• Activewear: The gym clothes are always soaked in sweat,or the swimwear is soaked in chlorine water. If not washed properly, then it might get stained and turn yellow. It is advised to immediately wash your activewear to prevent any damage to the fabric.  Air dry this activewear to remove the odour and use fabric softener to maintain the quality of the activewear.

C] Storage and Maintenance Tips

• Folding and Hanging Techniques: Fold the clothes alongtheir seams to avoid unnecessary wrinkles. Fold the pants lengthwise to avoid wrinkles. Stack the shirts and t-shirts vertically to save space. Fold the sweaters rather than hanging them to avoid stretching the material. Hang the coats, button-down shirts, jackets and blazers to avoid creases.

  

• PreventingMoth Damage: Store delicate fabrics in muslin cloth or any breathable fabric so that the air circulates in the clothes. Airing the less used clothes every few months helps to remove any moisture and prevent moth damage. Do not overcrowd the racks as they block the air, leading to an atmosphere favourable for the moth attack. Store seasonal clothes like woollens in vacuum bags to avoid moth attacks.
• Repairing Minor Tears and Snags: One of the important clothing care tipsis to check for any small tears or snags in the clothes from time to time. Fixing these minor tears as early as possible helps to extend the life of the outfit. Mending the tears early prevents any further tears or damage to the clothing. This method is cost-effective for sustainable fashion.
• Decluttering and Upcycling: It is very difficult to part ways with your clothes, especially for females who are too attached to their outfits. The clothes are stacked for months and even years which can damage the clothing. It is best to either donate the clothes or sell or redesign the clothes so they can be used again.

Conclusion

Following the above-mentioned ways to take care for clothes ensures a long life of the clothes. Caring for clothes contributes not only to sustainable clothing but also is very cost-effective and eco-friendly. For further resources and helpful tips, you can connect with one of the best dry cleaning services in Mumbai.