THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CLOTHING CARE

In many parts of the world, including India there is a very high tendency to discard clothes at a very early stage of the garment. There are many reasons for it, varying from fast fashion trends to taking poor care of the garments.We all love our wardrobe and it’s the worst feeling to see our favorite outfits wear out so soon. But it is possible to keep them in good condition for a long time by simply valuing them by following a few basic maintenance rules. In this blog we are going to guide you through different ways to take care of your clothes to extend their shelf life. We will be covering a wide area in this blog ranging from new clothes care guides to precautions and care required for different fabrics. Below are few tips to be followed-

• WASH NEW GARMENTS BEFORE WEARING THEM  - 

The best practice to follow is that the clothes should always be washed before starting to wear them. The first and most important step in this process, especially for dark colored clothes, is to soak them in crystal salt water for 30 minutes and then rinse them in freshwater . This helps the color to fix properly on cloth hence reducing the possibility of the garment to lose its luster soon. Some also feel that washing before starting to wear the clothes removes the stiffness from them, it happens because when washing breaks down the starch making the clothes more breathable. 

Note: Always observe the label before following this step as it doesn’t suit all types of fabrics. Reading labels before washing is a good habit because that will tell you what exactly you need for washing and drying of the piece. 

• HOW TO TAKE CARE OF OFFICE : FORMAL FITS - 

Formal fits make you look smarter and professional , and it is important to have a bunch in your wardrobe but owning them is not enough. One needs to even take care of it in the best way possible. Shirts usually consist of collars and cuffs and with time they wear out due to its rubbing against your skin or other surfaces constantly which leads to fraying and thinning of the garment. Use oxygen based bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide before washing on the collars and rub it together to brighten and remove the stains from such areas. When washing at home make sure that you are using cold water, hot water ruins the yarns by not keeping them intact. 

• WASH LIGHT AND DARK COLOR GARMENTS SEPARATELY - 

Many questions revolve around why is this step important? The simple answer is that dark dyes bleed more than light dyes which can end up ruining your light shade clothes.For garments which are light in color, they need to be washed after every wear and less amount of detergent is enough for the maintenance and for the dark colored clothes , the best way to wash them is inside out in cold water on a delicate cycle . Make sure to pre soak your clothes when they are heavily soiled when using cold water. 

• POST WASH CARE TIPS - 

After washing the clothes , use fabric softener in your rinse cycle to make the clothes feel more softer and comfortable against your skin while enhancing the overall feel , smell and comfort of the freshly washed clothes . A best practice to follow is to air dry the clothes rather than using the dryer which causes the fabric to shrink and elasticity to break down while air drying is a lot more gentle and prevents static clinging on fabrics. Also if you dry your clothes the right way the need to iron them doesn't rise. The best way to store the clothes is in a clean , dry and cool environment which has no direct contact with the sunlight giving your clothes some ‘Breathing space’ and prevents fading . 

FAQ 

Q -  How to remove pet hair from the clothes while washing? 

ANS-  Make use of vinegar or fabric softeners while washing which helps loosen pet hair from fabric and make the removal to be very easy. 

Q-  Can I wash all my clothes together ? 

ANS-  No. Sorting of clothes before washing is a very important step to prevent any unwanted dye transfer and damage while maintaining its lustour. 

Q-  How often should I wash jackets?

ANS-  The jackets worn regularly can be washed once in 3 weeks in order to preserve their material and functionality.