Winter Clothes Out of Storage? Here is How to Get Rid of the Musty Smell and other Garment Care Tips
Photo by Alena Shekhovtcova | @alenashekhovtcova
With fall already here and winter just around the corner, it's that time again to bring out your cold season clothes. After being stored away for so many months, they need some care and attention to liven them up before wearing all of them again. Taking proper care of your winter clothes is essential to ensure they will survive many winters and still look brand new. Follow these simple tips to help you do that.
Get rid of the musty smell
The best thing to do immediately after removing your clean sweaters from storage is to place them inside out into the dryer. Make sure to use the gentle cycle and set the temperature to "air" for no heat. Leave them for 5 to 10 minutes and add an unscented fabric softener sheet to help catch any lint or dust. This will help remove any wrinkles, smells, and marks from being stored for so long. It is also a great first step for storage, although it is not a substitute for any item that may require laundering or dry cleaning.
Avoid over washing between wears to make them last longer
During wintertime, it's true that more layers are required, which could significantly increase your laundry pile, but only our inside layers will demand to be washed more every day. Since we are less prone to sweating, the outer layer can be worn more than once without needing to be sent to the laundry basket. Make sure you always wear a t-shirt underneath your sweaters and jackets. It will help you avoid doing more laundry than necessary and give you the option to remove layers in case a place gets too warm. You can also use the method above with your jackets, sweater, and jeans between wears to keep your clothes fresh.
Remove from slush, mud, and salt stains as soon as possible
It is of utmost importance to treat any kind of stain immediately after noticing them. It becomes way more difficult to remove stains after they have set into the fabric. Use a stain remover to treat any spots on your clothes, keep in mind the type of fabric you are cleaning and what you can use on it so as not to damage it. Alternatively, room temperature water with soap is often the best option with a white clean cloth (as not to stain the garment). Blot the stained area until the stain is lifted. Avoid using paper towels since they can shed, creating more of a mess, and never rub the fabric to remove stains as this just spreads it.
Use a netted laundry bag to keep small items together
Phot by Greta Hoffman | @pexels
For hats, beanies, scarves, mittens, and gloves, place them in a sealable, netted laundry bag. It will keep pairs of gloves from becoming separated and stop scarves from getting caught up in other laundry items and getting damaged. Wash these items at least once a month and lay them flat to dry.
Save money on dry cleaning by caring for cashmere, velvet, and other delicate fabrics at home
When dealing with cashmere, despite what it says on the tag, the best way to clean it is to wash it by hand in cold water with a mild shampoo or Woolite for optimal softness and protection from chemicals. Unless required, wash cashmere items only twice in the season.
Velvet is a special fabric that may demand some extra attention so make sure to always read the instruction label. Some fabrics must be dry cleaned but there are others, like crushed velvet, that can be machine washed. Never iron velvet, as the fibers will get crushed and it will leave an imprint from the iron. To remove mild wrinkles, turn the garment inside out and use a steamer instead. Another option is to hang wrinkled velvet in a steamy bathroom to remove any creases. Velvet can get flattened quite easily so never press it or blot it and use a lint roller to remove anything stuck on it.
To clean a hand-knitted sweater or any delicate fabric, wash by hand in your sink. Fill the sink with water, add a few drops of laundry soap and swish the sweater around being careful not to twist the material as this can damage the fabric. To rinse, empty the sink and fill it again with just water and swish it again until all soap is rinsed out. Repeat the process until it's thoroughly rinsed. Make sure to air dry all sweaters and lay them flat to retain their shape.
Wash your down coat once a year at least
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio | @andreapiacquadio_
A down coat can be machine washed without a problem, just make sure to use the gentle cycle with cold water and mild laundry soap. To dry, squish all excess water, be careful not to twist the jacket, and place it in the dryer on a low setting. Add some dryer balls or even tennis balls to help fluff the coat again.
Storing Your Winter Clothes
After winter is gone and you'll no longer need all your jackets and sweaters for a while, make sure to follow some simple but effective steps to guarantee your garments will stay in order and look great for the next winter:
Wash all the pieces that have been worn before putting them away to remove any scents like perfume and food stains that could attract moths.
Place all clothing into sealed bags or in plastic containers with natural cedar balls to further prevent moths from ruining your pieces.
Avoid vacuum bags as, without proper airflow, your wool and cashmere can dry out.