This post has been in my drafts for over two months. A reader had asked that since my clothes from over a decade as are still in pristine condition I should share how I maintain them. Hence, I decided to share my know-how on the basis of most fabrics that occupy my closet.
However, I should mention that while purchasing the investment pieces I always make sure I read the labels. If something costs a few hundred dollars and I plan to use it for years, there is no way in hell that I will be relying on my hand washing skills or taking the risk of putting it in the washer.
For everyday wear clothing I use the washer-dryer 90% of the times and indulge in hand washing rarely. When buying casual clothing I am aware that those pieces will not last me more than a few seasons and hence I never spend too much money on them (e.g. tees, pajamas, summer tops, etc.) So without further ado, let's get to the post ...
Knitwear it is the trickiest to maintain as it easily lose it's shape if not taken care properly. I hand-wash my light knits and use the washing machine on delicate cycle for thicker knits. You can also do the same for wool, however if something is expensive and the label states 'dry cleaning' I would suggest to follow the label. For daily wear wool garments I use a special detergent Knitwear
Woolite or The Laundress, soak it in warm water and then hand wash. Do not use the dryer, and instead lay them flat over a towel, to air dry.
Honestly, I avoid purchasing silk just because it is a pain to maintain it. As an Indian, who loves wearing Silk
Saree, a six yard of silk is something I definitely CANNOT clean at home. Nonetheless, the few other silk pieces that I do own such as dresses and blouses I choose to get them dry cleaned and hand-wash others like scarves, camis, etc. in cold water (with The Laundress or Woolite). Always test for color fastness first before hand washing or using the delicate cycle in the washer.
Cotton
Thank god for Cotton! It is the best fabric, not only to wear but also to clean. It can be washed in the machine with any detergent. Does not require much special care. Use the color appropriate cycle (if your machine provides that) or wash it on normal and warm setting. For white pieces, you can use bleach and a hot water setting. For cotton towels, robes, and washcloths use the softener to maintain the texture and keep them fluffy.
Viscose or Rayon
Viscose has a silky appearance and feel, it breathes like cotton, can be easily draped, and it's lightweight. If the garment is expensive or has intricate work, hand-washing in cool to lukewarm water would probably be ideal . Else follow the same washing cycle as you would for cottons.
Denims
Now for the denims. They are durable and relatively easy to maintain. To retain its color and feel turn them inside out and wash them normal cycle with cold water. While some people suggest to hang them to dry I prefer the dryer as it helps get them back into their original shape which they lose after a few wears.
Don't forget to separate them from the rest of your laundry. I have also read that denim fanatics never ever wash their jeans but instead put them in the freezer to get rid of the smell. I don't think I could do that after a hot summer day. I need to wash them out of all the sweat and dirt. But to each their own!
I love leather. It is my favorite material, especially for winters. Leather is so luxurious. It deserves to be stored and maintained with love and care. I hang all my leather jackets on wooden hangers and cover them with custom muslin cloth covers. You can use the Once a year, condition your leather using a leather moisturizer. This will keep the skin soft and supple, and prevent 'greying'. You can find out more about caring for leather in my post Leather
garment cover bags just ensure that the leather can breathe at all times. You should never fold leather or store it in plastic bags.
here.
Silk, satin, and lace lingerie should be always hand-washed and left out to dry ideals. Machines can damage the fabric. I have, however, put mine in the dryer at delicate setting (using Delicates or Lingerie
this) and they have been fine.
You should definitely hand wash the extra delicate pieces. Fill the sink with cold water and add one capfuls of mild detergent. Swirl your pieces around in the water for a few minutes, before rinsing each piece individually. Lightly wring out each item and lay it flat on a towel to air dry. Hand-wash light and dark lingerie separately.
Keep your bras and camis organized and folded properly to maintain the cups. For padded or underwire bras, fold them in half with the straps tucked under the cups. Try not to wear the same bra two days in a row, as it needs time to regain its shape after wear.
And that's all that I have got. Let me know if I missed something or if you have some tips to share as well in the comments below.
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