Home instructions on keeping clothes and shoes to last longer
In many cases, expensive clothing items are of high quality and long-lasting. However, even the highest quality clothes lose their softness and quality over time after a series of washes. There are tips on extending the quality and wearability of each garment.
Wool and cashmere – wash clothes made of wool and cashmere by hand in warm water. Use a neutral or special detergent for wool. Wash these items in the washing machine only if the machine has such a program. There is no need to add fabric softener to the last water every time you wash, because frequent use of fabric softener can soften the wool and change the shape of the garment. It is enough to occasionally soak a woolen sweater in water with ammonia (in the proportion of 1 spoon of ammonia in 3 liters of water). Rinse after 10 minutes. Do not wring the washed item, but wrap it in a towel. Pat gently. Spread out on a flat surface. Make the original shape and let it dry naturally. Store items made of wool and cashmere on round and ribbed hangers (which will not create dents on the shoulders). Or even better, arrange these items neatly and store them in thin canvas bags (which you put lavender or moth repellant).
Silk -You can take the silk-silk dress to the laundry room for dry cleaning. Or wash it by hand in almost cold water with detergent for fine fabrics. Then wrap it in a towel to drain. Iron the silk dress while it is still wet with a warm iron, which you just put close to the material (do not drag it up and down on the material). Thus, the silk item is dried at the same time. Keep the dresses on hangers and neatly stack the shirts like men’s shirts. Hold a piece of thin paper in the middle. Keep silk shirts in boxes. Put in the boxes and a mild fragrance.
Cotton and linen – even the dirtiest cotton shirt will wash well in the washing machine on a 40 °C program if you rub the collar, cuffs (and other dirty places) with homemade soap (or some other soap for removing stains from clothes) before washing. Avoid the centrifuge, which destroys collars and cuffs. Dry wet shirts by hanging them on hangers. Iron linen clothes while they are still damp with a less warm iron.
Jeans clothes – jeans are washed inside out because that way they will not fade. Wash the jeans in the washing machine at a maximum temperature of 40°C. Drain the jeans well, shake and stretch them and fasten them to the belt with clothespins. Fold it into 3 parts and store them dried in the closet. Stack your jeans in the same way traders stack clothes in a store.
Jackets, coats, skirts, trousers, costumes – do not overdo it with dry cleaning. Once a year is enough. Brush your clothes during the season. Return the clothes to their original shape and without wrinkles with mild steam from the iron. Periodically refresh black clothes with a brush dipped in a mild vinegar solution. Brush and air. It is important to put the clothes on a suitable hanger (which fits according to size and anatomically). Then protect the clothes with a canvas bag. Always keep leather items in the best ventilated part of the wardrobe to prevent the leather from drying out and creating cracks.
Canvas handbags are best dry cleaned. Brush suede handbags with a suede brush. Leather handbags will be refreshed with a piece of cotton dipped in whole milk. Stuff purses you don’t use with crumpled thin paper. Keep them attached to the handles or put those purses in canvas bags.
Footwear – wipe leather footwear with a soft cloth every time before use. In this way, impurities are removed and the footwear lasts longer. Coat your shoes regularly with enamel to keep the leather elastic. Coat your shoes with a thick layer of shoe cream before storing them in the closet until the next season. Avoid instant shoe polishes because they contain silicone (which dries out the skin). Place the lacquered shoes on the mold and coat with olive oil. Leave overnight. In this way, you will restore the shine and shape of the lacquered shoes and correct any creases. Fill wet leather and suede shoes with crumpled paper (or old crumpled newspaper) and leave them away from heat. Dry leather and velour shoes should be brushed, coated with enamel and polished.