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With the start of fall, many homeowners are packing up their swimsuits and board shorts. Baseball caps are swapped for scarves, and tank tops are stored away in lieu of light jackets. We say goodbye to flip-flops and hello to fuzzy socks. Though, how do we make sure that our clothes stay crisp for next summer – or for any season? Take a few laundry tips from Warner Service: 

Don’t wash clothes after one wear. Though cleanlieness is important, if you didn’t get a stain on your garment, consider hanging it up in your closet again. The more you wash an article of clothing, the more wear and tear it’s subjected to.

Wash (and dry clean) as directed. Take a few of Warner Service’s top tips from the laundry room:

  • Mend any tears before throwing clothes into the washing machine. The friction of the washer can make it worse.
  • Turn dark colored clothes, especially jeans, inside out to prevent fading.
  • Turn sweaters and knits inside out to reduce pilling.
  • Undo collar buttons on dressy shirts to minimize wear on the folds.
  • Follow the care label’s directions, which will give you washing, drying, dry-cleaning, and ironing instructions.
  • Understand water temperature. Cold water helps preserve bright colors while hot water kills more bacteria.
  • Use a mild, hypoallergenic laundry detergent that produces a lot of lather to reduce washer friction.
  • Pour bleach sparingly. The chemical is harsh on many fabrics, and you can get the brightest whites by doing green laundry. Pour white vinegar in the washer instead of bleach.
  • Hand-wash apparel as often as possible.
  • Shake out clothes before putting it into the dryer to reduce shrinkage.

Treat stains as soon as possible. Forgotten-about stains can lead to serious damage on your clothes. To avoid throwing out stained clothes, carry the best laundry product: An on-the-go stain remover like Tide to Go Stain Releaser Pen, Clorox® Bleach Pen Gel, or Shout® Wipes to quickly blot stains away.

Skip the dryer. Though dryers are extremely convenient, heat deteriorates fabric and can cause garments to shrink. It’s best to put liquid softener in the washing machine then lay everything out on a drying rack after the cycle. This tip will also save money on the energy bill.

Iron with care. Use the lowest setting and lengthwise strokes, and always read the tag’s instructions before turning the iron on. Steam as appropriate. 

Use the proper hangers. Here’s a quick guide on which hangers are right for your clothes:

  • Padded hangers with rounded corners are best for lingerie and other lightweight garments.
  • Wood hangers with rounded corners are great for hanging suits, blazers, and anything with sharp pleats and pads.
  • Plastic hangers are useful for most other clothes, except sweaters. Fold sweaters to prevent sagging and stretching.
  • Skip wire hangers.

Store clothing properly. Most basements and attics lack the adequate temperature and humidity control to ward off insects and mold, so store your clothes in an area that “you would be comfortable sleeping there,” according to John Claude Hallak, president of Hallak Cleaners in New York. Some experts even recommend adding a lavender sachet to a zipped-up breathable garment bag to protect your clothes from moths.

Avoid too much perfume, hairspray, and other aerosols. The chemical composition of each aerosol can damage the fabric so spray fragrances and hair products before getting dressed to reduce build-up on your clothes. 

Invest in quality clothing. Everyone knows that quality trumps quantity, but many people tend to buy less-than-stellar clothes because it’s less expensive or it’s trendy. However, the truth is that if you invest in high quality clothing from the get-go, your clothes will naturally last longer. 

If you want more information, contact us today. We’d be happy to tell you how to keep your washing machine and dryer happy. If you want more info on how to keep your clothes clean with the Laundry Pro, download our easy-to-read Stain Guide: 

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