Look After Your Clothing And It Will Look After You!

Clothing is massively important to people, whether it is work or play, smart or casual - clothing is what defines us. Clothing can express personalities and give people an insight into the type of person you are. Looking after your items of clothing and giving them the maintenance they deserve will prolong the lifespan and keep them looking good.

There are lots of things that can be done to look after your clothing in washing, drying and storage.

 

Washing

Now washing may seem a like a straight forward job but getting it wrong may lead to a chest of drawers full of shrunken or pink t-shirts. Sorting clothes into correct piles prior to washing is important; a general rule of thumb is to avoid mixing whites with colours in the washing machine. Wash white items in a separate load from colours, keeping colour groups together is also advisable. Reds, pinks and oranges can be kept together as can blues, purples and greys.

Every item of clothing will come with a label, these labels will give directions on how the item should be washed, it is advisable to follow the label guidelines at all times. The label will give you information on what temperature the item should washed at, whether or not it should be bleached and also details on drying and ironing.

 

Drying

Drying your clothing will once again involve following label instructions, some items will need to be dried on a washing line or clothing rack while others are able to be placed in a dryer. Using the dryer is a straight forward task, making sure to empty the lint tray prior to drying will improve the dryer performance. Adding a fabric softener sheet to the dryer will give clothes freshness.

 

Ironing

Ironing your clothes properly is important when it comes to them staying in shape and looking good. Each item of clothing will have ironing instructions on the labelling, ironing at the correct temperature is essential as you could end up with burnt or creased items. Some clothing items will have a very low tolerance to heat, fabrics such as; silk, nylon and polyester will need to be ironed on the lowest setting. Cotton and linen will require a high heat, make sure when using a steam iron to fill up with water.

 

Storing

Storing clothes correctly will keep them fresh and prevent the need for re-ironing. Items such as t-shirts, shorts, underwear and socks can easily be stored in a chest of drawers; other items will benefit more from hanging. Shirts, suits, jackets and leather will benefit from being hung in a wardrobe. They should be rotated and aired every few days to allow moisture to evaporate and wrinkles to hang out.

Laminate Flooring and Stairs

As a general rule, installing laminate flooring is a pretty straightforward and simple process for anyone who is the slightest bit handy. If you can accurately use a tape measure and some basic cutting tools, laminate floor installations can be done in a relatively short period of time. The one exception to this is installing laminate on stairs. Staircases pose a special challenge to laminate for a variety of reasons, and if not done properly, could pose a safety risk to those who use the staircase.

 

When a professional installer is ready to apply laminate to a staircase, the first thing he checks is the evenness of each step's surface. An uneven surface will not allow the laminate to lie flat, which can cause it to move as weight is applied. If the board moves significantly in any one direction, it could cause the user to lose his balance and fall down the stairs. A professional will use a variety of means to repair uneven surfaces, including planing, sanding, and adding shams.

 

Cutting the individual pieces poses another interesting problem. The outside edge of the product must be cut in such a way as to ensure tight fitting joints that will resist popping out if a person walking up the stairs drags his feet. Just like laminate that moves, an edge that pops out could cause an unfortunate fall. Professionals use a specific cutting technique to ensure edges that are safe and secure.

 

To cover the side edges where the laminate meets the wall and the outside edge of the staircase, a baseboard is generally applied. While this is not a concern for most people, for home owners who have an abnormally narrow staircase or who have difficulty seeing, the addition of the baseboard could pose a problem. If you're a home owner in this position you may want to consider an alternative material for your staircase.

 

Beyond the safety issue, the application of baseboards is a cosmetic issue which can look terrible if not done properly. Again, a professional floor installer knows the specific techniques for proper installation of the baseboards.

 

Finally, the issue of risers is the last challenge for laminate installation on staircases. While the tendency is to only be concerned with the cosmetic aspects of the riser, applying laminate to this part of staircase is just as important as applying it to the steps. Laminate which comes loose from risers could bubble, bow, or even fall off altogether, causing damage to the step underneath. The combination of these things makes a staircase unsafe to walk on.

 

If you are at all unsure about installing laminate flooring on your staircase, hire a professional. You're better off safe than sorry.