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 garment? 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 them from wearing out quickly 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 them during washing.
Washing Wool Clothes
If you buy woolen knitwear you should also buy a special wool detergent, as it is the gentlest for the wool fibers.
Woolen clothing often becomes almost like new when exposed to fresh air and therefore doesn't need to be washed as often. Woolen clothing should never be hung in direct sunlight, as this will yellow the wool.
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 by saying that it can withstand washing at 30° or 40°C on the wool program.
Let the woolen garment drain, but don't wring it out when you remove it from the water! If necessary, use a colander to place the woolen garment in to drain. Take a terry cloth towel and lay it on the floor. Place the woolen garment on the towel, roll it into a sausage shape, and press 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 three-quarters full with rubbing alcohol. Then dab the stain with rubbing alcohol, roll up the tie, and place it in the jar. Screw on the lid and shake the jar to allow the rubbing alcohol 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 susceptible 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, keep in mind 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 let the garment hang overnight.
Ironing trousers
If you want to iron trousers, use an ironing board, a steam iron, or a regular iron with a damp cloth (such as a tea towel). Moisture and heat are necessary to remove unwanted creases. The same applies to unsightly "knees," which are particularly common in trousers made of soft fabric. Lightly press the "knees" back on the iron, making sure to also work the creases behind the knees. Once all unwanted creases are gone, you can begin creating the pleats that will be in the trousers and help give them a beautiful finish. Remember that trousers are always constructed so that the crease runs parallel to the grain, and if the trousers have creases, the crease usually continues from the crease of the first pleat down the middle of the trousers.
- Steam and press the kneecaps at the front and back of the leg back to flatten.
- Turn the trousers inside out and iron the pocket bags.
- Turn the pants right side out again and iron the top part of the pants. Make sure you iron the calves correctly.
- Iron the front creases on the inside of the legs.
- Repeat the process on the back crease.
- Iron the other leg in the same way.
- Iron the bottom part of the pants.
- Pull the pants over the pointed end of the board. Smooth the front and back.
- Finally, smooth 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 storing it. If you have the option 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:
- Fasten the collar – first at the back and then at the front.
- Iron the shirt cuffs – first the inside and then the outside.
- Iron the front – pay attention to the buttons.
- Iron the sleeves – start at the shoulder and iron 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
Sakkos und Anzüge
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, for example. You can also hang a cloth or plastic bag over the suit to prevent dust if you're not using it for an extended period. Just remember not to enclose your clothes in a completely sealed plastic bag. All garments should be able to breathe while in the closet.
If your 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 particles 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, it can help to hang it on a hanger over a bathtub filled with hot water. 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 pants will need to be dry cleaned to return it to near-new condition.