Breathing Life Back Into Your Autumn Wardrobe
While out and about in our hometown of Chester-le-Street recently, changes to the colour of the leaves and in the sudden drop of temperature, become notable. Yes, autumn has indeed arrived!
Autumn is a truly beautiful season, which is typically defined by the duration of daylight shortening, the darker nights extending, and the temperature dropping considerably following the summer season. This season ushers in with it a celebration of an abundance of rich autumnal colours from the most glorious of golds to the richest of deep reds that simply take your breath away!
Given that the autumn season is now truly upon us and well underway, so too will begin the need to dig deep into your wardrobes and drawers in search of your favourite cosy clothing that has been quietly hibernating since last year.
HOW TO STORE AWAY YOUR SUMMER CLOTHING SAFETY
i) Before you even think about sorting out this season’s clothing, the task of storing last season’s summer clothing needs to be tackled first.
Sounds straightforward, but the task of storing away your summer clothing needs to be done properly and safely to prevent mould, moth holes, and/or discolouration occurring from the fibres in your favourite garments. A big mistake is often made by placing worn clothing in storage. All that sweat, dry skin, deodorant and perfume can promote the perfect breeding conditions for bacteria to grow and thrive. Our advice, therefore, is to wash all clothing items and then ensure each of these is completely dry before storing them away.
ii) Ensure all your summer clothing is free from any plastic bags, plastic coverings etc. Whilst this may appear to be the perfect storage solution, using plastic seriously traps moisture that can lead to the discolouration of clothing.
iii) When using storage boxes, it’s important to ensure that a gap between the top of the storage box and the lid is kept clear to ensure air can circulate around clothing.
iv) Store suits, outerwear, sports jackets etc. on large wooden hangers in fabric garment bags. Knitwear, T-shirts, shorts, and all delicate items can be folded and placed in storage boxes.
v) It’s good practice to use moth repellants to protect your clothing when in storage. Moth repellants can be purchased from High Street shops, or online, they can also be handmade. There are plenty of organic options available too!
vi) Store garment bags and boxes in a dark, cool, dry and well-ventilated space that is free from insects, mice, and excessive odours.
PREPARING FOR THIS SEASONS WARDROBE
Once last season’s clothing has been dealt with, your attention can turn to this season’s autumn wardrobe. This is going to be a lot easier now there is plenty of space to make way for your jumpers, woollies, jeans etc.
It is perhaps not a good idea to pull your entire autumn wardrobe out of storage all at once. We would recommend that this be done in phases based on what you’ll be wearing first and then introduce other garments into the mix as the colder season progresses, as and when required
HOW TO LAUNDER AND CARE FOR KNITWEAR
Knitwear has long been an autumn favourite, however, these clothing items are very delicate, which means they can be easily stretched and snagged during the laundry process. It is, therefore, necessary to determine which items can and cannot be laundered together as a safeguard against damage to your knitwear items.
When working with knitwear there is a delicate balance to observe between over washing and under washing. To be on the safe side, we would advise it’s best to launder knitwear every two to three wears. Any more than this then this raises the risk of items picking up a range of germs and bacteria, especially if worn outside of the home.
READ THE CARE LABEL
It is essential to take extra care and read the care labels on knitwear items to keep them in the best possible condition. If a label on a knitwear item instructs you to machine wash it, to stay on the safe side we would highly recommend using a knitwear-specific laundry liquid detergent. Furthermore, we would also advise on using the delicate setting on your washing machine.
OVER-STRETCHED KNITWEAR SOLUTION
From time to time we have all had to deal with a knitwear disaster. In the event of this occurring, try the following tip. Fill a bucket or bowl full of cold water and add a cap full of conditioner to the solution. Place your knitwear item into the solution and leave it overnight. In the morning wring the knitwear item out and then gently mould it back into shape. This should hopefully have corrected your knitwear disaster.
AVOID USING HANGERS ON KNITWEAR
It’s always best to fold knitwear after it has been washed, dried, and ironed. Never place knitwear items on hangers as this will simply stretch them and mould them into the shape of the hanger creating unsightly lumps and bumps, particularly around the neck and the shoulder areas.
HOW TO LAUNDER AND CARE FOR OUTDOOR CLOTHING
Washing waterproof clothing can be a tricky task. They should not be treated like a regular laundry load. Always read the care label on each item carefully for the best results.
A few factors can impact the effectiveness of waterproof clothing. For example, if you sweat on these items whilst wearing them, this can affect how well they will work.
It is crucial to select the right laundry detergent to wash waterproofs as standard types may cause damage to the waterproof membrane owing to the harsh levels of chemicals contained within them. Choose a specialist laundry detergent for this task. Alternatively, silk or wool laundry detergent will do a good job as they have a neutral pH value and, therefore, are alkaline-free.
Our guide below sets out useful tips on washing and drying waterproof clothing.
A BRIEF GUIDE TO WASHING AND DRYING WATERPROOF CLOTHING
i) Brush off any loose dirt and mud before washing- ensure all zips and buttons are closed.
ii) Do not pour laundry detergents directly onto waterproof clothing, as this can interfere with the integrity of the material and also cause staining.
iii) Pour detergents into your washing machine compartment carefully trying to avoid any spillages.
iv) Wash waterproof clothing on their own or with a maximum of two other garments. Never overload your washing machine drum.
v) To be on the safe side, always wash waterproof clothing on a low setting, and always remember to read care labels carefully for exact information to avoid costly mistakes.
vi) For best results, we would recommend waterproofs are air-dried. When drying these sorts of items always minimise the use of heat to avoid damage to the waterproof membrane.
vii) It’s advisable to keep the ironing of waterproof clothing to a minimum- steam instead while always following the care label instructions.
If you require professional Laundry, Ironing and/or Cleaning services, contact us and we’ll take care of all your needs and requirements. We are based in Chester-le-Street and cover surrounding areas from Great Lumley to Seaham in County Durham.
