Money-Saving Clothes Care Tips
A good way to stretch your budget is to provide proper care and maintenance for anything you own. This is an especially sound idea when it comes to your wardrobe. If you take the steps needed to properly clean and store your clothes, you can make them last longer. A little extra time and effort can result in saving you hundreds of dollars.
The first habit to develop is to repair any damage to your clothes and remove any stains as soon as they occur. What starts as a loose hem can become an unraveled, unrivaled disaster over time. As for stains, the longer they set, the harder it will be to get them out.
Another money-saving idea is to dry clean your clothes only when absolutely necessary. The harsh chemicals used in dry cleaning can weaken and fade the fabric of your clothes. Dry-cleaned shirts can actually be touched up a few times between trips to the cleaners. Just be careful not to iron the armpits, necks, or cuffs because this will set any perspiration stains right into the fabric.
When it comes to the care and cleaning of your clothes, sometimes the label guidance can be ignored. A silk item, for example, will last longer if you hand-wash it in a mild laundry product, hang it on a line or flat dry it, and then iron it as needed.
When you wash your machine washables, always use cold water and dry them at lower temperatures. A quality detergent combined with cold water will get your clothes fresh and clean. Stain sticks are a wiser option to remove spots than hot water. Using lower dryer temperatures can also help your clothes last longer. For maximum protection from dryer wear and tear, your best bet is to line dry your clothes.
In addition, any leather goods you own, from coats to shoes, should be treated every six months with a waterproofing spray that will protect them from stains. Also, be sure to polish your leather shoes on a regular basis and invest in some cedar shoetrees. They absorb moisture while also helping the shoes keep their "like new" shape.
Finally, be sure to use some common sense. To protect your clothes from unnecessary soiling and stains, wear an apron when you are cooking. Wear old clothes whenever you are doing messy house or yard work. And always be ready for bad weather by having an umbrella handy as well as a raincoat and boots.
Just these basic steps can help you stretch out your clothing budget by extending the life of your clothes and helping you avoid having to constantly replace old, worn out clothes with new ones.
