Making Your Clothes Look Good and Last Longer

The cost of quality clothes has gone up and with the economy as it is, we all want to make sure we protect our clothes – after all, they are an investment.  So what does it take to properly care for your clothing and ensure its longevity? To start, learning how to wash your clothes properly is important.

Remember to read the care labels of your clothes before even doing laundry, some clothes cannot be washed but can only be dry-cleaned. For those articles of clothing that can be washed, some are not recommended for the dryer, but rather need to be washed with cold water, or not go in the washing machine at all. Now, separate the colored clothes from the whites, this way your colored clothes don’t bleed into your whites.

When setting the machine at respective temperatures, you're better off choosing warm water to wash the clothes, cold to rinse. Using hot water to wash clothes is not only more expensive, but it should not be used to wash cotton clothing. Next of course you follow all the washing rules regarding load size and amount of detergent. But another tip to help keep your clothes that have color lasting longer is to turn them inside out.  

Once your clothes are washed, now to store them. Most articles of clothing are best when hung up properly in your closet. What does it mean to hang them properly? To start, make sure your closets aren't overcrowded. If your closet is jammed full, hanging your clothes may make them wrinkleier.

Second, there are some things that should never be hung up. One of these items is a sweater. Sweaters will sag and get pulled out of shape when put on a typical hanger. If you really want to preserve your sweaters look, fold it with a sheet of tissue paper laid inside. This will help keep them from wrinkling. If you are pressed for space, sweaters can be folded lengthwise and hung on a wooden hanger. Place a sheet of tissue paper between the bar and the sweater to prevent creases.

When it comes to hanging up shirts, there is only one rule to remember and that is do not use wire hangers. Wire hangers are the enemy of all clothing. If you have had your clothes dry-cleaned, as soon as it is returned, make sure to immediately remove it from the hanger. The hangers can be collected and returned to your cleaners to be used again. A proper hanger should be curved to follow the slope of your shoulder. Once on the hanger, button the second button from the top so it retains its shape while on the hanger.

Now for other rules of hanging clothes. Be sure to read the requirements on your clothing to find out if it should be hung in a particular way. Every outfit has special requirements. For hanging blazers, leather jackets etc, you should look out for heavy wooden or plastic clothes folding hangers, that can give your ensemble that extra support to carry off their weight.

Pants demand a proper folding style, which is placing both the legs parallel one on the top of the other. While hanging them ensure that there is enough space between different trousers in the cupboard.

Right folding of clothes is as important as proper hanging. There is a proper folding style that will help your clothes help retain the luster and crispness of the cloth and the hassles of ironing every time is reduced because of no or less wrinkle development.

Knitwear, including tops, pants, skirts, and dresses, should usually be folded. Casual pants and shorts made from rugged materials, such as jeans, khakis, and corduroys, also can be folded. And you should fold long evening dresses; particularly those weighted with ornamentation, because hanging can distort their shape.

Practicing these simple steps will help you protect your clothing investment while maintaining your clothes neat and tidy look each time you are ready to wear them.