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.