How to Take Care of Winter Clothes: Some Useful Advice!
The winter has fully arrived, now it’s just about enjoying the cold. But remember to take care so that the cold doesn’t catch you off guard while enjoying it. That’s why everyone has brought out their warm winter clothes for protection. Some are also exploring the market for new collections, which is the right time indeed. The market has been filled with a variety of warm clothing options for quite some time now. Over the past couple of years, jackets have become a trend in women’s fashion, and hopefully, the trend will continue this year as well. We all have various types of winter clothes like wool, cashmere, leather, flannel, etc., but many of us are not aware of how to properly care for these fabrics. Just as there is diversity in these fabrics, there are also different ways to care for them. With proper care, you can use your favorite winter clothes for many years. So let’s learn how to take care of winter clothes properly.
Wool:
Generally, wool should be soaked in water mixed with detergent or liquid detergent for about 20/30 minutes and then gently washed by hand without applying too much force. Wool can also be washed in a washing machine, but you should use the wool mode. If there are any stains on wool, they should be treated with lemon juice.
Flannel:
Flannel fabric should be soaked in water mixed with detergent or liquid detergent for 20/30 minutes and then washed gently by hand. This fabric can be washed in a washing machine using the general mode, but before washing, it should be soaked in water mixed with vinegar for a while to prevent color fading.
Angora:
Extra caution should be taken when washing cashmere or angora fabric. These fabrics cannot be washed in a washing machine, and they should only be hand-washed using winter wash or liquid detergent. After soaking for 5/10 minutes, they should be gently washed and squeezed out by hand. Cashmere garments should not be soaked or washed with other fabrics, or else the fibers may cling to other fabrics. You can opt for dry washing if desired. After washing, they should be dried by spreading them on tissue paper, ironed with another cloth or a piece of cloth, and hung on a hanger.
Leather:
Leather jackets cannot be washed frequently. Occasionally, they should be brushed lightly with a little moisture and hung to air out. Dry-washing them once or twice a year is advisable. Leather jackets must be hung on a hanger. If not used for a long time, the zipper may get stuck. Applying beeswax or coconut oil to the zipper chain can help it move smoothly.
Cashmere:
Cashmere shawls or sweaters can be hand-washed at home with liquid detergent. After gently washing, excess water should be squeezed out by pressing them between towels, and they should be dried by hanging them in a shaded area. When ironing, place a towel or cloth on top of them. After drying cashmere shawls or sweaters, they should be hung on a hanger or folded and stored in a polythene bag with mothballs.
Winter clothes should be aired out occasionally to prevent them from catching too much moisture, but care should be taken so that they do not get too much moisture, which could cause the colors of your favorite clothes to fade. So, 10-12 minutes of airing in the morning is sufficient. There is a possibility of clothes getting damaged by the strong sunlight during noon. Make sure to keep them in a closet with naphthalene before storing them. Never apply perfume directly on clothes, or else they may get stained.
SOME ADVICE FOR THE DAILY CARE OF YOUR SWEATERS
- Don’t hang your sweaters on hangers since they are likely to lose their shape;
- Air them out regularly;
- Never remove pilling with scissors, do it by hand or use a pilling brush;
- When ironing, make sure to use a quality iron with temperature control. Some technologies, such as Laurastar DMS steam generators, can iron your clothes effectively while fluffing them.