Q. I love the versatility of black plants, but mine fade too quickly. And please don’t say I need to take them to the dry cleaner. I just don’t have the time.
Mary Messinger
Albuquerque, New Mexico
A. Don’t wash them (as much). If you primarily wear your black pants indoors―in an office, for example―you can get away with wearing them four or five times between washings. A purse-size bottle of OxiClean Spray-A-Way Instant Stain Remover ($5 for two at drugstores) will help you spot-treat stains (blot; don’t rub) and avoid excessive washings. To eliminate chalky marks from makeup, deodorant, or powder, try a dry sponge like Miss Oops Rescue Sponge ($10, missoops.com).
When you are ready to do a load of laundry, turn the pants inside out to minimize color loss caused by the friction from rubbing against other clothes, then choose a short, delicate cycle. “The colder the temperature, the better, since warm water tends to break down fibers and fade clothes faster,” says Steve Boorstein, author of The Clothing Doctor’s 99 Secrets to Cleaning and Clothing Care ($5, amazon.com). A specialized detergent for cold-water loads, such as Tide Coldwater ($8 at drugstores), helps neutralize the color-sucking chlorine that can be found in tap water. Then hang or lay the pants flat to dry; don’t throw them in the dryer. And the next time you’re in the market for black trousers, look for a fabric that retains dark dyes, like a washable wool blend or nylon, as opposed to acetate or linen.
From: Real simple
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Do I Really Need to Dry-Clean This?
Do I Really Need to Dry-Clean This?
If you’re on the fence, these three considerations will guide you to your answer.
2. Consider the fabric. Unless the label suggests otherwise, bring silk, acetate, velvet, wool, and taffeta items to the dry cleaner. Cotton, linen, cashmere, polyester, acrylic, and nylon can usually be washed at home. Just check for colorfastness first: Moisten a cotton swab with mild detergent and dab it on a hidden seam to see if any dye comes off.
3. Test the detailing. Often care instructions are for the fabric only―not the accents, which may be tacked on at another factory. That’s why you see EXCLUSIVE OF DECORATIVE TRIM on some tags. Before you wash anything with beading, sequins, and the like, make sure they are sewn on (you’ll see stitches, not glue) and colorfast (quickly dab a wet cotton swab over each type of accent to see if any dye comes off).
Determined to Wash It at Home? Here’s How
1. Machine-wash the garment if you’re certain that’s OK (always check first before washing). To minimize agitation, turn the item inside out, place it in a mesh bag, and run a short, delicate cycle.2. In every other case, hand wash. Use cold water to prevent shrinking and bleeding, and a mild detergent (try Ivory Snow 2X Concentrated liquid detergent; $4.50 for 25 ounces).
3. Always―always―skip the dryer. Too much heat harms the accents and the fibers. Instead, gently push out excess water (don’t twist) and lay the garment flat to dry on a white towel to prevent discoloring. Or let a garment air-dry on top of a working dryer. The moderate heat given off by the machine will speed up the process.
How to Protect Your Wardrobe
How to Protect Your Wardrobe
A few preventive measures will prolong the life of your clothes.
These simple strategies will head off common clothing problems―and help you curb wardrobe crises.
Dimples
"In museums we use padded hangers," says Deborah Bede, a Bradford, New Hampshire, textile conservator who restored the cotton wings of an airplane the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk. A soft, wide hanger gives a garment more support.
Mildew
Mold spores need certain conditions to grow: warmth, dampness, and a food source. Before storing a garment, wash it to remove any soilage (the food source) and let it dry completely. If your storage area is humid, keep a bundle of kids' sidewalk chalk near the clothes to absorb moisture.
Misshapen Handbags
Stuff them with tissue paper and hang them on a hook.
Stains
The sooner you treat a spot, the better the result. Heat from the dryer can bake stains In, so don't machine-dry a garment until it's 100 percent clean.
Static
Use fabric-softener sheets in the dryer or add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle. The acidic vinegar removes soap residue and softens the fabric, thus cutting down on friction in the dryer and minimizing static.
Tarnished Silver Jewelry
Tarnish builds up when silver comes into contact with sulfur in the air. Wrap jewelry in a soft cloth and then place in an airtight container, such as a sandwich bag or a piece of Tupperware. Contact with skin also slows tarnishing, so the easiest way to maintain your jewelry is to wear it.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Trusty Threads now sells gifts online!
Order your Gifts @ www.trustythreads.com
We have stationary, notepads, action figures, playing cards, candles, candy and more!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Care for your clothes....they take care of you.
Care for your clothes
Washing instructions
For the sake of the environment and your clothes, we would like to share with you some garment care and laundry advice.
Sorting
Sort garments by colour and given washing temperatures. A coloured garment that’s meant to be washed hot can release excess dye if washed warm or by hand. It isn’t always better to choose a lower washing temperature.
Detergent
Detergent with an eco-label is less harmful to the environment.
Do not use too much! Too much detergent does not give better results. The excess may remain in the clothes and cause skin irritation. Measure out the detergent according to the instructions on the packet. It’s important to know whether the water in your area is hard (use more detergent) or soft (use less detergent). Call your local water authority if you’re not sure. Do not use detergent with optical whitening or bleaching agents on coloured garments, this is because the colours may fade.
Fabric softener
Fabric softener is not only an unnecessary expense; it also contributes to needless environmental impact.
Fill your washing machine!
It is always best to fill your washing machine. If you need to wash small quantities, it is particularly important to use an energy-saving cycle, which most modern washing machines have.
Wash temperature
Sort your clothes by colour and always follow the temperature instructions on the garments. The dye in a coloured garment that is supposed to be washed in hot water could run if it is washed in warm water or by hand. It is not always better to select a lower temperature.
Hand wash only
Dissolve the detergent carefully in the water before you add the garment. Avoid soaking. Squeeze the garment in the water, don't rub or wring. Rinse carefully.
Dry-cleaning
For some of our garments we recommend dry-cleaning. The reason for this may be that the clothes contain details or materials such as shoulder pads, fur collars or acetate linings that may discolour or shrink if washed in water. Leather and suede garments should always be cleaned by a leather specialist.
Drying
To maintain the garment's original look it is important to notice whether it can be tumble dried or not. Never tumble dry garments that cannot take tumble-drying! If you choose to dry your garments in a drying cupboard you have to make sure that the temperature does not exceed the one given on the care label. Heavy knits should be reshaped and dried flat.
Drying your clothes in a tumble dryer or drying cupboard uses a lot of energy. It is therefore important to spin your clothes thoroughly before drying them. It is best to dry your clothes at room temperature if possible.
Give your clothes away!
When you no longer want your clothes, donate them to an organisation that gives them to the needy. This prolongs the life of the clothes.
Good advice
Your clothes will last longer if you treat them the right way. Here's some good advice on how to best take care of a few selected garments and materials.
Denim
Denim is given its characteristic look through a special dying method. Therefore tiny excess dye may be left on the surface and may cause dryrubbing. Wash your jeans inside out to maintain the colour and to avoid white creases.
Details
Remove detachable details and close zippers and velcros before washing. Wash delicate items such as nylons in a washing bag.
Down jackets
Use tennis balls in the dryer when you're drying your down garment and you'll get an even division of the down.
Heavy knits
Heavy knits should be dried flat to maintain their original shape.
Linen
Linen is a natural material that easily shrinks when wet. You'll get the original shape back through ironing the garment on maximum heat while damp. To maintain the lustre iron the garment on the inside out.
Rain clothes
Rain clothes should be hangdried. If you still choose to dry them in an airing cupboard you have to do this on a very low temperature.
Viscose
Viscose is a natural material that easily shrinks when wet. You'll get the original shape back through ironing the garment while damp.
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Washing
Maximum temperature 60°C. Normal spin cycle.
Maximum temperature 60°C. Slow spin cycle.
Maximum temperature 40°C. Normal spin cycle.
Maximum temperature 40°C. Slow spin cycle.
Maximum temperature 30°C. Slow spin cycle. If you do not have this symbol on your washing machine we recommend that you handwash the garment.
Dissolve the detergent carefully in the water (35°C - 40°C) before you add the garment. Avoid soaking. Squeeze the garment in the water, don't rub or wring. Rinse carefully.
Do not wash.
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Chlorine-based bleaching
Chlorine-based bleaching allowed. Only cold and dilute solution.
Do not use chlorine-based bleach.
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Ironing
Iron at a maximum temperature of 200°C.
Iron at a maximum temperature of 150°C.
Iron at a maximum temperature of 110°C. Steam ironing may cause damage.
Do not iron. Steaming and steam treatments not recommended.
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Drying
To maintain the garment's original look it's important to notice the symbol that indicates whether it should be tumble dried or not. Never tumble dry garments that cannot take tumble-drying! If you choose to dry your garments in an airing cupboard you have to make sure that the temperature does not exceed the one given on the care label. Drying at room temperature is the best thing for many garments. Heavy knits should be reshaped and dried flat - H&M uses the additional text "dry flat".
Tumble dry at normal temperature settings. Maximum temperature 60°C.
Tumble dry at lower temperature settings. Maximum temperature 45°C.
Tumble dry at normal temperature settings. Maximum temperature 60°C.
No tumble dry.
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Dry-cleaning/Leather specialist
For some of our garments we recommend dry-cleaning. The reason for this may be that the clothes contain details/materials such as shoulder pads, fur collars and acetate linings that may discolour or shrink if washed in water. Leather and suede garments should always be cleaned by a leather specialist.
Dry-clean with regular dry cleaning fluids.
Do not dry-clean. No stain removal with solvents.
Secondary content
Wash symbols
Here you'll find explanations to the wash care labels in our garments, as well as some good advice on washing in general. Please note: Always follow the instructions given on the label!
Click on the symbol to learn more!
Do's and don'ts
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