From washing and ironing to caring for wool and other fabrics.
How to best care for your clothes
Released: 01-08-2024
Photo: PWT Group
Most of us have a favorite piece of clothing that we love to wear and keep pulling out of the closet. But do you know how to care for your favorite item? Read more and get tips on how to care for your clothes so they last longer.
Wash
In general, you should turn your clothes inside out before washing. This prevents the garment from quickly wearing out and discoloring the edges and seams. Also, close all zippers before washing. You can place delicate and smaller items in a special laundry bag to protect the garment during washing.
Washing Wool Clothing
If you buy wool knitwear, you should also buy a special wool detergent, as it is gentlest on the wool fibers.
Wool clothing often becomes almost new again when exposed to fresh air and therefore doesn't need to be washed as often. Wool clothing should never be hung in direct sunlight, as this will turn the wool yellow.
Wool clothing should be washed either by hand or in the washing machine, depending on the washing instructions on the garment. The Danish Technological Institute in Herning, Denmark, has shown that it is not heat that filters the wool, but mechanical processing. Therefore, you should treat your wool clothing as gently as possible and simply run it through the water when handwashing. Many wool garments are treated with a protective layer of plastic fibers/resin around the fibers to prevent them from filtering during washing. If a garment has been treated this way, it will be labeled "Superfast" or simply indicate that it can withstand washing at 30°C or 40°C on the wool program.
Let the wool garment drain, but don't wring it out when you remove it from the water! If necessary, use a sieve to place the wool garment in to drain. Take a terry towel and lay it on the floor. Place the wool garment on the towel, roll it into a sausage shape, and squeeze it for a while so the towel absorbs as much water as possible. Then unroll the garment, place it on a dry towel, and lay it out as neatly, smoothly, and straight as possible. Let it dry in a naturally heated room.
Removing Stains from Ties
If your tie is stained, first remove most of the stain without rubbing. Then fill an empty jar 3/4 full with rubbing alcohol. Then dab the stain with benzine, roll up the tie, and place it in the jar. Screw on the lid and shake the jar to allow the benzine to spread over the tie. Let the jar sit for a few hours, shaking it occasionally. Don't panic if the contents take on a strange color. After a few hours, remove the tie, drain it over the jar, pat it dry, e.g., with a paper towel, and hang it up to air out—preferably outdoors.
If this treatment doesn't remove the stain, you'll have no choice but to buy a new tie.
Ironing
How to Best Iron Your Clothes (with Steam)
An important tip is to hang the garment up briefly after ironing to allow the steam to escape from the fabric before using or folding it. As long as steam remains in the fibers, the fabric is more prone to wrinkles and creases. To remove excess steam from the fabric, you can dry-iron it by "top-pressing" the garment without steam.
When ironing woolen garments, remember that wool is very supple when steamed. Wool fibers also have the advantage of being very elastic. This means that wrinkles in the garment will smooth out if you leave the garment hanging overnight.
Ironing Pants
If you want to iron pants, use an ironing board, a steam iron, or a regular iron along with a damp cloth (such as a tea towel). Moisture and heat are necessary to remove unwanted wrinkles. The same applies to unsightly "knees," which often appear, especially in pants made of soft fabrics. Lightly press the "knees" back on the iron, making sure to also iron the creases behind the knees. Once all unwanted creases are gone, you can begin creating the pleats that should be in the pants and help give the pants a beautiful finish. Remember that pants are always designed so that the crease runs parallel to the grain, and if the pants have creases, the crease usually continues from the crease of the first fold down the middle of the pants.
- Steam and flatten the kneecaps at the front and back of the leg.
- Turn the pants inside out and iron the pocket pouches.
- Turn the pants right side out again and iron the top of the pants. Make sure you iron the calves correctly.
- Iron the front creases on the inside of the legs.
- Repeat the process for the back crease.
- Iron the other leg in the same way.
- Iron the bottom of the pants.
- Pull the pants over the pointed end of the ironing board. Iron the front and back.
- Finally, iron the outside of the pants.
Ironing a Shirt
When ironing a cotton shirt, you'll get the best results—and it's easiest—when the shirt is still slightly damp. Don't put the shirt in the tumble dryer. After ironing, hang the shirt on a hanger to allow it to steam off before folding and putting it away. If you have the opportunity to hang your shirt outside to dry, do so. There's nothing better than a freshly ironed and air-dried shirt. Follow five simple steps for a well-ironed shirt:
- Iron the collar—back first, then the front.
- Iron the shirt cuffs—inside first, then outside.
- Iron the front—pay attention to the buttons.
- Iron the sleeves—start at the shoulder and press down the sleeve.
- Iron the back of the shirt—place the shoulder and back of the shirt on top of the ironing board.
- Finally, iron the sides of the shirt.
Hang the clothes on a hanger
Blazers and Suits
When your blazers or suit jackets aren't in use, it's best to hang them on hangers. Choose a hanger with broad "shoulders" rather than one of the thin metal hangers used in dry cleaners. You can also hang a cloth or plastic bag over the suit prevent dust if you're not using it for an extended period. Just remember, don't enclose your clothes in a completely sealed plastic bag. All garments should be able to breathe while in the closet.
Whenyour suit needs cleaning, it's time to take it to the dry cleaners. Even if you can't see any stains, this may be necessary. There are invisible dirt items like tobacco smoke, dust, and the like that need to be removed. In the unlikely event that you get soaked in an unexpected rainstorm, hang the wet suit on a hanger in a well-ventilated room and let it air dry. Never use a tumble dryer to dry a jacket or suit, as this is too harsh a method for these types of garments.
Linen Clothing
If you have linen clothing that tends to wrinkle, hanging it on a hanger over a bathtub filled with hot water can help. You can also leave it hanging in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. This won't necessarily remove all the wrinkles, but they will be less visible. A linen jacket or trousers will need to be dry cleaned to return it to near-new condition.