We’re in the peak of winter and all the extensive warm clothes are in full use. However, many of us notice that our winter wear doesn’t stand the test of time. Is it a fast fashion to blame or our lack of care towards clothes? If you’re a minimalist who likes to buy high-quality clothes for your wardrobe, part of the job is to learn how to maintain them well. One such aspect of clothing is our winterwear, which we use for only a few months throughout the year and then have to store away until the next winter arrives. However, as you may have noticed, the clothes may not seem to have the same beauty or finish after use.
One reason why winterwear at our parents’ homes lasted a long time was that they knew how to care for them organically and these home secrets have been lost over time. Today, we’re going to take you back to the basics and help rediscover the lost art of caring for a winter wardrobe. This will include maintaining and cleaning your regular winterwear as well as the expensive outfits you’ve worn only to celebratory events and festivals. Want to know how you can retain the shine, color strength, and soft texture of your winter wardrobe? Keep reading our tips below!
1. Washing hand-knit winterwear
Handwash hand-knitted clothes: scarves and sweaters using a little gentle dishwashing liquid. You can use the bathroom sink, kitchen sink, or a bucket for this task. Fill the space with cold water and add a few drops of dishwashing soap. Create foam by mixing the solution well, then dip the hand-knitted clothes in the sink or tub. Don’t wring, pull, or twist the material as this may damage the shape. Once done swishing the material in soapy water, drain and repeat the process with clean water; repeat the step until there are no more soap bubbles.
2. Machine washing winterwear
Gently wash your regular-wear coats and jackets in the washer. Turn the woolen setting on or use the delicate preset so that your jacket or coat does not get wrung. Add some gentle fabric cleaner and let it swish in the cold water. Once done, remove the cleaned jacket and do not wring. You can hang this winter wear on a drying line or use the dryer on the lowest setting.
3. Wear the winter clothes multiple times
You can absolutely re-wear the same jeans, sweaters, and winter pajamas a few times before washing them. This applies if they are not stained or smelly, of course. If you want to freshen up the clothes before each re-wear, make sure to put them in your dryer and let them sit there for five minutes on the lowest setting. Jeans and sweaters are difficult to dirty quickly, so make sure you use them a few times before washing.
4. Add a thin layer under the sweater
One of the tips that makes the biggest difference is to wear a light t-shirt or camisole under the sweaters so that they don’t get sweaty directly. This will help you wear them for a prolonged time without getting them dirty and odorous from the inside.
5. Get wine stains removed by professionals
If your coats and sweaters have been the victim of spilled wine, you know that the damage can be permanent. However, move into action quickly, and you can still preserve the outfit. If the material is not luxe, you can bab all the excess spilled wine, and then use a gentle solution of baking soda and water (3:1). If your outfit is couture or branded, it would be best to deliver your expensive clothing to a luxury dry cleaning that knows how to deal with luxe fabrics. They understand how to remove stains from different wools and will hand you a spotless outfit once done. You can also get all your expensive coats and winter dresses cleaned by them right before putting them away at the end of winter.
6. Treat mud, food, slush, and salt stains
You could be tempted to let the stains be treated until afterward, but the damage of these substances may be permanent if left to cure. Treat mud, salt, and food stains immediately on woolens since they retain the color. You can use organic solutions to get rid of particles, odor, and stains altogether if you work quickly.
7. Retain your winterwear’s shape
Scared that your knitwear can go out of shape after drying? There’s an easy solution to it. Draw the outline of your sweater on a piece of paper before washing it. Once it is washed. You can use a towel to soak up all the excessive water. Next, lay the sweater flat on the parchment reshape it according to the outline and let it dry like that.
8. Use separate net bags for winter accessories
If you have lost knitwear accessories to pulled fabric or the crowd of a regular laundry bag, you understand the importance of maintaining pairs. Keep your scarves, gloves, socks, and hats separately into netted bags and dry them flat. There are many kinds of sealable net bags you’ll find at the nearest store which are cheap but very handy in such situations!
9. Remove odor from stinky snow boots
Make your job easier and your nose more comfortable by soaking your smelly boots in a bucket with cold water. Add one cup of laundry detergent along with half a part of vinegar to kill the microbial activity. Make sure to remove the foot inserts first and clean these with a rag dipped in 3 parts of baking soda and one part water. You can rinse your boots in fabric conditioner or fragrance if the material contains fur or fleece inside. Do not wring the shoes but hang them upside down to let the water drip away.
Wrapping Up
Try to air-dry your clothes on a line during the winters so that they dry naturally. This will also put back some of the moisture into the air! Our tips will help you keep your winter clothes fresh, fragrant, and vibrant for a long time!
