Nothing frustrates a fashionista quite like the creasing or tearing of a new garment! But throughout college, we store our favorite pieces in tiny dorm closets, and worse, wear them to class and to parties. All of this wear and tear (literally!) damages even the most quality and valuable pieces we own. While it is true that many pieces get better with age (such as our beloved leather boots), overuse causes our garments tons of unwanted imperfections. In order to protect the longevity and worth of our wardrobes, I have compiled this list of simple precautions. Virtually effective for any wardrobe, these steps will guard so much as your laciest delicates from harm!
Clean Your Closet Frequently
College students have little time to spare, but putting the effort into maintaining an orderly closet will save you time in the long run! Every so often, take the time to sort through garments and place the seldom worn or out-of-season pieces towards the back, and place your favorite pieces in a place where you can easily reach them. Not only will knowing which pieces are where lessen the amount of time you spend rummaging through your closet, but less rummaging will save your garments from any unnecessary wrinkles or creases!
Similarly, when storing garments, be sure to do so properly: zipper every zipper, button every button, fold pieces neatly, and line up your shoes. In other words, don’t throw everything in haphazardly! Think about it — you just spent time and money to do laundry, don’t waste your resources by allowing your clothes to wrinkle and collect dirt and dust on the floor of your closet! In addition to causing wrinkles and dirt, it is likely this type of carelessness will cause buttons to break off and zippers to become stuck. Take care of your pieces, even when you are not wearing them!
Invest In A Garment Bag
Any piece you wash using the delicate cycle, hand wash, or have dry cleaned needs this special treatment for a reason — it is fragile and therefore, more easily damaged! In addition to being cleaned separately, it only makes sense that these pieces be stored separately. All embellished and embroidered garments (such as sequined dresses), and garments made of specialty fabrics (such as ornate lace, chiffon, and taffeta) should be placed in a garment bag. A garment bag is a dress-shaped sack that hangs in your closet and zippers to encase the pieces inside it. Relatively inexpensive, garment bags are available at major retailers such as Target, and a single bag will store several pieces. So next time you’re out running errands, pick up a garment bag to protect your delicates!
Utilize The Hanging Strings
Ever notice that many of your shirts and dresses come with long, skinny lopps sewn on the inside? These strings aren’t attached to annoy you or to get in the way (although many times, they do!); they are attached to protect tops from developing shoulder bumps and/or from slipping off the hanger. A top that spends an extended amount of time on a hanger begins to take on the shape of a hanger and develop pesky little bumps on the shoulders that just won’t stay down! Additionally, a silky top or a top with a low neckline has these strings because, when hung normally, they tend to slip off the hanger. By utilizing the hanging strings, your tops will stay neatly on their hangers and wear just as well as the day you bought them!
Avoid Washing Garments After Only One Use
Unless you’ve sweat excessively in a particular piece or have had something spill on it, there is no need to wash it after only one use. Too many washes will cause colors to fade and the fabric and stitching to become more susceptible to breakage. After the first or second uses, fold your garments neatly and store them as you would normally. When you notice a piece wears either stretched (i.e., fitting more loosely than usual) or wrinkled (these problems typically occur after two uses), it is time to throw it in the hamper! It is also important to remember the age-old rule: wash darks, lights, and delicates separately, and check the tags of new garments to be sure they are safe for conventional washing and drying machines.
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