10 Ways to Preserve Your Wardrobe

How would you like to extend the life of your clothes and accessories? Real Simple can help with their “20 Tips to Make Your Wardrobe Last”. We are sharing our top ten and you can visit Realsimple.com for the learn about the rest.

Tips to Make Your Wardrobe Last

1. Hand wash cashmere. Repeated poor-quality dry cleanings can lead to fiber breakage. Plus, an old-fashioned hand washing leaves the cashmere considerably softer. Use lukewarm water and a mild soap, and lay flat to dry. Remove excess water by rolling the garment in a towel―never wring it.

2. Don’t drive in good heels. “The floorboard scuffs the heel, and the pedal scratches the toe,” warns Elena R. Aronson, a San Francisco–based stylist and personal shopper. Drive in simple flats.

3. Launder whites after every wear. It’s tempting to put a white blouse back into the closet after a spill-free wearing. After all, it looks spotless. But "body oils and perspiration, along with other time-released stains (like perfume, white wine, and oil splatters), will start to give a once-bright white a yellowish tint," says Steve Boorstein, developer of the DVD Clothing Care.

4. But don’t overwash darks. Boorstein blames frequent washings for faded clothing. Black pants, in particular, can be worn several times before laundering. For best results when you wash, run darks on a short cycle in cold water and let them air-dry. Blot any stains, since rubbing will create a lighter spot.

5. Beware the dryer. "Excessive heat makes fibers brittle, causing the fabric to break down," says Boorstein. Combat this by removing lightweight garments, like T-shirts and camisoles, and anything containing spandex (which can lose elasticity over time when exposed to too much heat) 10 minutes earlier than heavy garments, such as jeans and sweatshirts. “Most of the damage is done in the last 10 minutes of drying,” says Boorstein.

6. Iron clothing inside out. "Ironing can fade dark colors as well as create shine marks on fabrics with sheen, like gabardine, acetate, and polished cottons," says Chris Allsbrooks, a textile analyst with the Dry Cleaning & Laundry Institute, in Laurel, Maryland. Avoid damage by using the appropriate heat setting and pressing the item on the reverse side. Or use a cloth between garment and iron. And, adds Boorstein, “never iron a crease on a black garment―it can leave a permanent line.”

7. Zip up to avert snags. Your clothing goes into the wash perfectly intact. Later you notice a mysterious pull. "The teeth of zippers (especially those made of metal, as on jeans) or any kind of hook closure is typically the culprit," says Boorstein. Next time close all zippers and clasps before tossing clothes into the washing machine (or, better yet, the hamper).

8. Store handbags on shelves. It may sound counterintuitive, but “hanging a bag by the handles lessens the life span of the bag,” says Chris Moore, owner of Artbag, a New York City handbag boutique and repair shop. Hanging puts stress on the strap seams, and “it can leave unsightly marks on the handles,” says Moore.

9. Never leave sneakers in the car. Extreme temperatures―hot or cold―will wear down the rubber, and heat especially can warp EVA (the material in the midsole). "That will mean less shock absorption for your feet when you’re working out," says Sharon Barbano, a spokesperson for Saucony. For the same reason, don’t dry running shoes on a radiator or in a hot dryer. Let the shoes air-dry.

10. Dry-clean all the separates of an outfit together. Otherwise one piece will fade at a faster rate than the others. "And when it comes to dry-cleaning suits," says John Mahdessian, president of Madame Paulette, a dry cleaner in New York City, don’t overdo it. Three or four times a year is sufficient, as the finishing and pressing process can damage fabric over time.The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own (or paste your own from a different source).
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