Aside the quality of the clothing materials, the way we care for our clothes also contribute to how long it will last for us. Clothing is an investment for dealers and knowing how to properly care for your Clothes will help extent it's stay for you and your customers, it will also make you retain customers and build trust.
It is not rocket science to care for clothes, but the proper care comes from the day to day proper handling and maintenance of the clothes that will determine its longevity. All clothes no matter the material can become weak and not last if it is not properly handled, or roughly handled.
Tips to care for Clothes
Below are some practical tips to help you keep your clothes fresh and new for a longer period of time;
Read Care Label
Most clothes come with care label which many don't pay attention to. It may sound childish for someone to advice you to read them, but they often carry useful information on how to treat and care for that particular clothe materials or fabrics
You may not see this in all the clothes, more especially secondhand clothes, but clothes labels may give similar tips that may be applied to other clothing materials.
Sort Your Laundry
Washing your clothes is a general care method before you wash clothes. But to give clothes the best washing treatment, it is recommended you chose them based on colours, fabrics and apply the required washing instructions to each set of clothing material. Some materials requires warm water wash while others do not require. Sorting your laundry prevents color bleeding and ensures that delicate materials are treated with care.
Choose the right Detergent
A very important care tip is seen in the choice of washing detergent you get. It is not new that some washing soaps, detergent and chemicals are harsh and rapidly weakens the fabrics. The most recommended type of detergent are always the mild detergents or soaps that tend to be suitable for clothe washing.
They also contribute to the reason why clothes fade in colour quickly or bleed while being washed.
Wash with Cold Water
Washing clothes with cold water is always gentler on fabrics and tend to preserve the colors. It is also eco-friendly because it reduces energy consumption on the clothes.
Turning Cloths Inside Out
Particularly for dark or vibrant colors garment, turning them inside out before washing often reduces friction and also prevents color from fading. Many people may not see the usefulness but it has been proven by a lot of laundry personals.
Air-dry When Possible
Air-drying clothes is not only when you wash them, you can air your clothes after you remove them before hanging them. This helps to maintain their shape and prevent clothes shrinkage.
Naturally drying fabrics is also preferred to using a drying machine.
Store Properly
Remember to carefully fold your clothes neatly and store a cool dry play when you will not be using it soon. Use proper hangers to hang them too as this will help maintain its shape.
Don't Overload the Washer
For people that wash with washers or those running a laundry shops, should not overload the washing machine as it leads friction and reduce the effectiveness of cleaning. Much friction on clothes leads to wrinkles and weakening of the material.
Don't Save Stains
Always try to remove stains as soon as they occur, you don't need to save it until your next washing day as it may become harder to remove. Understand that improper stain treatment can damage fabrics.
Rotate your Wardrobe
Wearing one cloth always can weaken and contribute to early damage to the clothe. If you have a couple of them, try rotate them to evenly distribute the wear and tear on the clothes. This will also help you to appear smart.
Reduce Excessive Sunshine
To much exposure of fabrics to sunlight not only weakens the fabrics but always fades the colors. This is common in vibrant coloured clothe materials. If you must sun it in high intensity sunlight don't allow it to last more than 4-6 hours to preserve the clothes.
Don't Soak for Long
Leaving your clothes in water overnight is not good for the fabrics. Yes soaking clothes before washing helps to soften the stains and aids easy remover. But soaking also weakens and make the colors bleed even from newly purchased clothes.
also read: How to Choose between English and Traditional Attire for Occasions
Conclusion
Every clothes will begin to spoil or grow with age but with proper treatment, clothes will last longer. Incorporating these above tips into your clothing care routine will prolong the lifespan of your Wardrobe. It is worthy to understand that taking care of your clothes but yet impactful way to reduce wast and cut costs.