Virtues of wardrobe maintenance
Keeping your clothes in great
shape takes a little work but that effort will keep everything in runway
shape for a long time. Though the natural aging of fabric and leather
and wearing down of cuffs and elbows are normal, it should be held off
as long as possible.
Doing so allows your possessions to keep their appeal while still
developing the character that makes you want to keep them around for
years to come. Here are a few basics that will help your cherished
clothes last longer while still looking great.
Hang up you cloths
Hang up your clothing and invest in sturdy wooden hangers. Using a
solid and well sized hanger (suit hangers for suits, slimmer hangers for
shirts) will add years to your clothing and help protect your garments
from snags, wrinkles and stains.
When you get home after a long day at work, change right away and
either hang up your work clothes or toss them in the laundry/dry
cleaning bin. Make a point to keep your closet in order too, no
crowding.
Garments need room to breathe and space to air out. In most cases,
wrinkles will work themselves out in between wearings. An impromptu
steaming can help too – just hang your day’s outfit next to the shower.
Dry-clean only once a year
Most suits and sport coats only need to be dry-cleaned once a year.
Delicate fabrics and linen may need more attention, but on the whole
brushing your garments with a clothing brush will remove most dust and
dirt.
Spot cleaning can address minor stains and help avoid unnecessary
trips to the cleaners. If your suit is looking a little too lived in, go
ahead and take it in for a pressing only.
It will look refreshed without being unnecessarily exposed to
damaging dry cleaning chemicals. Though some people insist on dry
cleaning their dress shirts, I prefer to launder them at home.
When it comes to home laundering, cold water is usually best but
always look for the care tag first. Iron on a slightly cooler setting
and lay off the starch. If you are still compelled to use it, starch
only those areas that can get a little unruly, like the cuffs, collars
and plackets.
If you regularly send your shirts off to the cleaners, pass on the
starch there as well. Commercial presses do a fine job of working out
wrinkles without the need for extra chemicals. |
