Great ‘Take care of your wardrobe’ Hunt

LameWolf

Check all pockets in clothing you're about to wash. I've lost count of the coins, mucky hankies and other detritus I've found in pockets that Mr LW swears he's emptied. Even found a £5 note once!

We have a rotary dryer in the garden, and my "decent" tops and dresses get hung up, inside out, on plastic hangers and hung on the corners of this, rather than pegged up.

debtdesperado

I do all the above, but another 'tip' I have is that when you think a well-loved dry clean only garment is worn out, or too shiny, or has a stain etc and is fit only for the charity shop, before you get rid of it, put it through the washing machine... 9 times out of ten, it will come out fine, it won't be shiny any more, and any odd stains will be gone and as a bonus you will get at least a few more wears out of, and no need to pay for dry cleaning it again!

The worst thing that will happen is that it will shrink, but as it was going to the charity shop anyway it doesn't matter if this happens.

The exception to materials that should never be washed as it will always shrink in water is acetate, often used as a lining material. Even when this has happened to me, I just cut the lining out and wear the skirt/coat etc as unlined... you'll still get a few more wears out of it.

My other tip is to buy high heel tips on ebay etc and change them yourself (saves at least a fiver each time) and have a pair of trainers/pumps to wear to work to save reheeling high heels every week.

julie777

QUOTE when you think a well-loved dry clean only garment is worn out, or too shiny, or has a stain etc and is fit only for the charity shop, before you get rid of it, put it through the washing machine... 9 times out of ten, it will come out fine, it won't be shiny any more, and any odd stains will be gone and as a bonus you will get at least a few more wears out of, and no need to pay for dry cleaning it again!

The worst thing that will happen is that it will shrink, but as it was going to the charity shop anyway it doesn't matter if this happens.

The exception to materials that should never be washed as it will always shrink in water is acetate, often used as a lining material. Even when this has happened to me, I just cut the lining out and wear the skirt/coat etc as unlined... you'll still get a few more wears out of it.

My other tip is to buy high heel tips on ebay etc and change them yourself (saves at least a fiver each time) /QUOTE]

GREAT TIPS!

ALSO, WHEN SUITS ARE not OLD I ALWAYS HANDWASH THE TROUSERS IN COOL WATER AND THEY ARE FINE. MY MUM WA A TAILORESS AND TOLD ME THEY USUALLY RECOMMENDDRY CLEANING BECAUSE OF THE PADDING IN THE JACKET BUT TROUSERS DON'T HAVE PADDING SO THEY ARE FINE.

One more idea, I find distilled or white vinegar removes those sweaty smells which can sometimes build up. I used to get rid of those niffy garments but not any more!;)

LFM

My tip would be don't use Fabric Softner. If breaks down the fabric and clothes last so much longer if you only use washing powder.;)

tangletop

This works a treat - has saved several favourite items of clothing from the bin. First remove the worst of the gum with a blunt knife. Then soak in neat vinegar for a few hours and scrub with washing up liquid or standard detergent. Smells horrible but it works! - and although it sounds like it should bleach the fabric too, I've never had any problems with colour run.

If anyone has any similar tips to get snail slime out of a faux suede jacket (found one crawling up it on the coat hook, ugh) I'd appreciate it - it's a nightmare to shift!

Also for trousers that fray round the bottom due to being long (tends to happen to my flares a lot), buy a fringe or trimmings from the haberdashery store for a few quid and sew on to cover it, or use scraps of pretty fabric to cover the frayed edges. Fabric ironed onto iron-on patches and then stitched under the knees of worn-through jeans works really well too and gets a few more months wear out of them.

floss2

blackberry-rum wrote: »

(off topic, but I cannot resist saving those little strips of ribbon that are inside everything from sweaters to trousers these days. I snip them off as I don't use them for hanging things but they must be useful for something .....???)

Use them to tie up a pretty cotton hankie with some dried lavender into scented bags for keeping clothes fresh...

stumpy-polecat

To make leather more supple rub baby oil into it a little at a time this may take some time but works a treat

Winged_one

I got a sewing kit from a hotel once, and popped it into my desk drawer at work - and that has saved a few embarrassments over the years (between a popped button for me, and a few other emergency repairs of various sorts for ladies in the office, and recently a guy who popped a shirt button came quietly over to ask could he borrow my sewing kit?). I keep afew spare safety pins with it now too. (My desk drawer is a great resource to many for emergency tissues, painkillers, nail varnish wipes, small spray deodorant, babywipes,,,,,,)

SCAMPIDOODLE

QUOTE as a kid I hated having to wear 'home made' clothes & resented being given an 18th birthday sewing machine (bratty me wanted a gold necklace ) but I can now alter or even remake garments, replace zips etc


you lucky thing, I would love to be able to do this, I've chucked out many items because I can't repair them, latest one is my sons Bench jacket, zip has gone on it after only few months wear, (no receipt) got price of £30 for replacement, (Jacket was £60) I can't decide whether to go ahead with this or have a try at replacing it myself.

blackberry-rum

mum2one wrote: »

Its almost digresiing, but theres method in my madness.

Obviously try and avoid clothes that say Dry Clean only, but as most coats / suits etc are "Dry Clean only", please avoid any shade of red.

I. x

I would agree with this except for silk and linen which are ancient fabrics and no-one will convince me the ancient chinese and old irish had dry cleaning shops. Use a handwash programme to wash them, and if they aren't damaged just use 30 degrees with the rest of your clothes next time.;)