You’ve spent time and effort collecting some wonderful pieces, and hope they will give you years of wear! Read on for some tips to keep enjoying your treasures season after season!
It was mutual infatuation at first sight when I spotted a stunning white cotton blouse by Robert Rodriguez at Neiman’s Last Call some years past. I resisted the “Call” to buy because the elaborate styling looked difficult to iron. Rarely, do I take my white cotton blouses to the cleaners because they seem to discolor and wear out pretty fast.
My point, always consider the care of a garment as part of the actual “cost”. Frequent dry cleaning will severely shorten the life of your garment. Manufacturers often tag a garment as “Dry Clean Only”, but they do this only to protect themselves against the unwitting gal who would machine wash her silk in hot water and agitate the garment into a frenzy. I only take my jackets and coats in for cleaning on an annual basis! Another tip to cut down on dry cleaning trips is to wear thin tees under your clothes, and then air your clothes out after each wear.
Most dry cleaners will provide a cold water wash service upon request, but the best, cheapest, and easiest way to clean your favs is simply using the hand wash cycle on your front loader. Top loaders can agitate and tear down delicate fibers. Tumble in your dryer for a few minutes on the no heat setting, and you can touch up with a warm iron. Certain rayons, acetates, and a few other blends may not respond as well to cold water washing as natural fibers. Presoak heavily soiled items.
