Keeping new clothes looking...new

[SAHW]

My husband and I received new clothes from family for Christmas. Among these are work clothes for my husband. Clothes seem to wear out fast in our family. What are some expert tips in keeping them looking new?

 

[gardenswithkids]

Keep the clothes clean, but don’t over-launder them. Washing and drying clothes breaks down the fabric. You didn’t mention the fabric contents but that makes a difference on how you wash them. Some fabrics need dry cleaning or gentle hand washing.

Treat stains right away so they don’t set in. Rinse spills with cold water and/or applying an effective* stain remover and then wash the item soon, (*what’s effective depends on the stain.) Careful again with the dryer because heat can set a stain if the stain isn’t completely out.

The dryer seems particularly hard on clothes. Beyond just setting in stains and breaking down fabric, many clothes shrink in the dryer. Taking clothes out while still damp or line-drying may be best for clothes you want to keep looking new. Line dried clothes usually need ironing. Ironing can help keep clothes looking crisp and new, (as long as you don’t scorch the fabric.)

Those are some ideas. If you don’t know how to wash them properly, take them to a dry-cleaner/laundry service. That can be costly, but it might be cheaper than ruining the clothes by improper washing. Again, while clothes should be kept clean, overwashing or overdrying can ruin them.

 

[Seatuck]

In addition there are some detergent products on the market that claim to keep clothes looking new. Give them a try.

 

[SAHW]

Thank you for the suggestions. I have never had this much trouble with clothes. We recently moved to a more humid climate. I wonder if that could have anything to do with it? I would think not, but you never know.

gardenswithkids: We already use delicate cycle. Cold water and no fabric softener. We have to wash clothes frequently (only one or two wears) as the mostly warm weather here causes obvious perspiration issues. We also hang dry all his work clothes, and our sweaters and dress clothes and all. I do have to iron them, maybe that is the problem. I try to move the iron quickly and don’t even iron parts that don’t need it. Also, all our clothes are machine washable and most are machine dry too.

Seatuck: We just buy whatever brand is on sale. Is there any brand in particular you recommend? We do not have an HE washer, just a regular one.

 

[shannyk]

Wash in cold water.

Wash clothes inside out. Especially jeans.

Hang dry. Drying things is very wearing on them. I try to only dry my ‘whites’, towels and sheets, socks underwear etc.

When you do fry, use a medium setting rather than hot for dark and colored items.

Use a good stain remover (I like fels naptha soap bars) and a shorter wash cycle to get stains out.

Don’t use a lot of detergent with enzymes, or add things like biz which are hard on fabrics.

If you have hard water (even somewhat hard) try using something to soften it, borax, calgon, because the mineral build can wear fabrics. Using a diluted vinegar rinse in the rinse cycle can help get minerals out of fabrics and is a good fabric softener.

 

[SAHW]

Good suggestions ‘shannyk’. Thank you. I have been turning my DH’s work shirts inside out as they get less ‘fuzzies’ and things. I never thought to turn the pants inside out. Good suggestion. I turn DH’s clothes inside out to iron them. Maybe I’ll lower the heat a bit and just spend more time at ‘the board.’ It’s a good excuse to watch extra tv.

 

[Em_in_FL]

I’m a big fan of consumer reports… I buy the products that work the best at the best price.
Tide is my personal fav… but Cheer and Gain also lead the pack on Consumer Reports…

HTH!

 

[SAHW]

I’m a big fan of consumer reports… I buy the products that work the best at the best price.
Tide is my personal fav… but Cheer and Gain also lead the pack on Consumer Reports…

HTH!

Thank you Em in Fl. We like Gain too. It really does smell as good as they say. Tide is out of our budget range, but, maybe if it helped us buy clothes less it would be worth it. I believe you are in Florida, from your name? Do you find the heat and humidity does added damage to your clothes? Maybe it’s all in my head.

Does anyone know if you are supposed to change detergents. Mix them up like you do shampoo? Weird question I know.

 

[happymommy]

Thank you Em in Fl. We like Gain too. It really does smell as good as they say. Tide is out of our budget range, but, maybe if it helped us buy clothes less it would be worth it. I believe you are in Florida, from your name? Do you find the heat and humidity does added damage to your clothes? Maybe it’s all in my head.

Does anyone know if you are supposed to change detergents. Mix them up like you do shampoo? Weird question I know.

I think changing detergents would be okay if you don’t have sensitive skin. Sometimes changing from one to another will cause skin irritation.

 

[Em_in_FL]

Thank you Em in Fl. We like Gain too. It really does smell as good as they say. Tide is out of our budget range, but, maybe if it helped us buy clothes less it would be worth it. I believe you are in Florida, from your name? Do you find the heat and humidity does added damage to your clothes? Maybe it’s all in my head.

Does anyone know if you are supposed to change detergents. Mix them up like you do shampoo? Weird question I know.

Yup, we’re here in FL! I understand what you mean about having to wash clothes all the time from the humidity… sweat is just a way of life down here.
I buy my Tide at Costco… REALLY helps with the cost! I only buy detergent once every 8 or 9 months because the boxes are so big at Costco, so it’s a GREAT deal for us… and keeps the clothes looking new (I’ve never really noticed an issue with that, honestly!)…

Join a warehouse club (Sams, Costco, BJs)… it’s WELL worth the cost!

 

[Zooey]

I remember that my grandmother always ironed “good” clothes (ones that had to be made to last) through a linen tea towel.
Now, I do realize that there are:wink: mighty few linen tea towels out there anymore …but I’m thinking that a pillowcase should work.
The cloth that has direct contact with the iron is the one that gets the most wear. ( :doh2: Maybe the reason none of her linen tea towels has survived is that she wore them all out, ironing through them? Don’t use:nope: your favorite/best pillowcase, in case that’s true).

:bigyikes: I** am giving uch:advice on laundry???:dts:…Be warned!!!

 

[SAHW]

Yup, we’re here in FL! I understand what you mean about having to wash clothes all the time from the humidity… sweat is just a way of life down here.
I buy my Tide at Costco… REALLY helps with the cost! I only buy detergent once every 8 or 9 months because the boxes are so big at Costco, so it’s a GREAT deal for us… and keeps the clothes looking new (I’ve never really noticed an issue with that, honestly!)…

Join a warehouse club (Sams, Costco, BJs)… it’s WELL worth the cost!

We are fellow Costco members. I love that store.

You know I thought that the more intense sun or the increased sweat itself might be the culprit. I never figured it was simply because we were washing the clothes more often. Duh! :doh2:

happymommy: I don’t seem to get irritation from detergents, at least not the liquids. The powders yes and they cause more damage to the clothes I think.

 

[kage_ar]

Good cotton undergarments are a MUST in hot, humid climates. This includes socks.

These will absorb the perspiration, keep it from your clothes. Some people who perspire a great deal may want to carry a fresh cotton T-undershirt in the laptop case or briefcase and change once during the day.

It will make a world of difference in the way your clothes last (in addition to the tips listed above).

 

[SAHW]

Good cotton undergarments are a MUST in hot, humid climates. This includes socks.

These will absorb the perspiration, keep it from your clothes. Some people who perspire a great deal may want to carry a fresh cotton T-undershirt in the laptop case or briefcase and change once during the day.

It will make a world of difference in the way your clothes last (in addition to the tips listed above).

Thank you for this! I didn’t think it was *all *in my head. I will try these ways of keeping perspiration away from the clothes. The change of climate seems to really have done the most damage, though until now I never could quite figure why. I think it’s a cross between the added perspiration on the clothes and the extra washings needed because of the frequent changing of clothes. You all are a huge help.

 

[gardenswithkids]

One other thought I had about perspiration on clothes. There is a difference between anti-perspirants (which help limit perspiration) and deodorants (which help with odor.) Just mentioning it because not everyone knows there’s a difference. I like anti-perspirants designed not to leave white marks on clothing.

 

[os_justi]

Make sure the work clothes are worn at work, and the home clothes are worn at home. When I get home, I immediately change into a t-shirt and jeans or pj pants – that way I’m not doing housework or cooking in my nice work clothes.