Clothes caring tips
Things I have learned along the way
Caring for clothes properly is one of the key parts of having a wardrobe you love that will last a long time.
Cleaning those tough stains.
For tough stains, I find nothing beats a traditional bar of stain removing soap and some elbow grease. I have found out when visiting a specialist soap shop in Marseille last year that with those types of soaps, cold water is best to remove the stain. It might take a few trys to get the stain out but I find most of them end up going.
I like those soaps as they are so much more natural than other options that are full of chemicals and I don’t find efficient. If you can’t access those, a bar of Marseille soap works wonders too, L’Occitane does a great one and it will last you forever.
Here is a small selection.
Refresh clothes
Use a steamer to iron out clothes, it takes less time and takes away the hassle of needing an ironing board. You can also use it to freshen up clothes that don’t go in the washing machine. It will also save you on dry cleaning fees, which don’t need to happen after every wear. You can target tough areas with more steam as the steam will help kill bacteria and freshen up the garment.
Here is a small selection of steamers
How to wash cashmere
Cashmere loves water so wash it regularly, after 4-5 wears. It needs to go on a low temperature cycle (20 degrees, but not colder). The amount of spins are very important, keep it at a maximum of 600 which is what your wool cycle should offer. If you can’t do that, best to wash the jumper by hand. If you choose to wash the sweater by hand, wrap it in a towel afterwards to remove most of the water before keeping it flat to dry.
Cashmere jumpers will naturally release bobbles, I recommend getting a good quality shaver which will make your jumpers look like new. I can’t rate them enough and I love using them. The pilling should decrease in time, it is a normal occurence for cashmere jumpers, especially in the earlier stages, it does not mean your jumper is bad quality.
Here is a small selection of bobble shavers
Paraphernalia that I recommend
Nets for delicates and thin t shirts, I love nothing more than “tissue” t shirts but they can be quite fragile, I pop them into the little protective nets.
Tumble dryer wool balls help reduce the amount of time you use your tumble dryer for.
A soft fabric brush is great help with tough stains, use gently on delicate fabrics. They really help get tough stains out.
If you have any questions or any other tips, leave a comment!