How to keep your clothes like new!

The secret to a wonderful closet, where you can find clothes in a blink of an eye, is to organize. Keep only your most flattering pieces! The old adage of throwing out what you haven’t worn in a year is a good one, but not across the board.

I prefer that you conduct an inventory at the end of every season. Ask yourself, “Did I wear it this season?” “Did it go with more than one item?” “Did I receive any compliments?” These questions are a good barometer as to the value of the piece. If you can’t answer yes to at least two of these questions, ditch it.

So What Are You Going to Do with Your Cast Offs?

Find a resale store and put it on consignment and make some money.
Sell it on eBay if it’s in excellent condition.
Donate it charity. Don’t forget to get a receipt for a tax deduction.
Toss it or use it as a rag if it’s not in such good shape that you would give to a friend.

Treat your clothes right

Close the closet door. Some fabrics fade or streak when exposed to light.
Don’t wash or dry clean unless necessary. Each time you do, you lessen the life of the fabric.
Never store clothing in plastic. Fabrics need to “breathe”.

Jackets

Hang all jackets and coats on heavy wooden hangers that can support their weight. Otherwise your garments will sag and lose their shape. Keep all items buttoned or zipped.

Shoulder Surgery

To quickly remove “shoulder bumps” from a blouse or sweater, sprinkle water on the bumps. Then, with the setting on high, use a hair dryer and direct air flow on the bumpy spots. The heat will loosen the warped fibers so that the fabric settles back into its original shape.

Swim Suit Care & Cleaning

Gravy

Right after swimming, rinse suit out in cool water. If you have any creams, oils, sunscreen or lotion on your suit, use shampoo to sponge it off.
Wash suit in a gentle detergent or baby shampoo. Regular detergents can harm swimsuit fabrics.
Block dry your suit. Do not put it in the dryer.
Always hand wash your suits, because a washing machine will cause a suit to become misshapen.

Save on Dry cleaning

Toss your dry cleanables in the dryer with a towel dipped in a third of a cup of fabric softener and three quarters cup water for 10 to 15 minutes under very low heat. The heat will release wrinkling while the fabric softener mixture will freshen the fabric.

Whitening Tip

Whiten whites by adding ‘A cup baking soda to your detergent.

Panty Hose Trick

Place an old pair of panty hose in the dryer with dark items. The hose attracts the lint, leaving everything else lint free! Try to find clothing that has been treated with Teflon. Don’t worry, it won’t make the garment shiny or uncomfortable, and it will allow stains to fall right off.

Freshen your wool items

Throw your woolens in the dryer on a cool setting along with a couple of fabric softener sheets every few days. It will freshen and fluff them up. It will also remove moisture from the fabric, which is a magnet for dust mites. Circulating and heating your garments will dislodge small particles from the wool, leaving them allergen free.

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