Tip of the week ...

Tip of the week ... how to care for your clothes

To make a wardrobe last, don’t trust valuable clothes to dry cleaners. Take them into your own hands.

Give it air. Rather than washing after every wear, “take your cues from Europe” and let a garment breathe if you’ve only worn it once. If any odor lingers, put it in a cupboard with an open box of baking soda.

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Lather up with the right detergents. Commercial brands are often too harsh. With delicates, try specialty soaps such as Orvus Paste and Ivory Flakes.

Wring by hand. Hand washing at home can be time-consuming, but for knits it’s a good alternative. Turn sweaters inside out, wash them in a tub with a few inches of water, and lay flat on a clean towel to dry.

Turn down the heat. Hot water is no longer necessary for washing or drying. Heat only “accelerates the deterioration of fabrics.” The warm cycle and tumble dry should do the trick. Source: Allure