An icy winter chill is in the air, but as comfy as all those warm winter woollies are, winter essentials can also be oh-so-bulky in your washing machine and tricky to care for. More layering also means more laundry. Doing a little bit of research about the best ways to wash, organise and store your winter clothes can help keep your clothing looking great, reduce how much time you spend doing laundry, and even save you money. Taking care of your winter garments isn’t as difficult as you may think, to help you keep your winter gear in tip-top shape, here are a few helpful tips for easy ways to wash and care for your winter clothes.
Laundry tips for washing winter clothes
- Wear a base layer. A winter base layer (like a T-shirt, vest or camisole) will help keep you warm, and helps keep your jerseys clean and sweat-free, so you don’t need to wash them as often.
- Treat winter woollen items with care. Winter woollens can be machine washed at 30 degrees or below on a delicate cycle, alternatively, handwash knitted jerseys or cashmere scarves with a few drops of gentle washing-up liquid. Fill a bucket or sink with cold water, add the soap, and swish the garments around. Empty the bucket, refill with cold water, and swish again until they are rinsed clean. Repeat if needed to get all the soap out. Keep your jerseys in shape by gently rolling the garment in a towel after washing to remove extra water, then re-shape it and dry it on a flat surface.
- Start washing your clothes in cold water. Cold water is generally gentler on clothes, cuts energy use and can trim your electricity bill, while also helping to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Treat stains quickly. Set-in stains are tougher to remove. Spray stains with an enzyme-based stain spray and wash as soon as you can.
Also read: How to Clean and Care for Your Shoes at Home
- Wash down items throughout the season. It’s a good idea to wash down coats a couple of times every season. Start by giving them a cold-water soak with a little detergent for a half hour. Then, wash on gentle and gently squeeze out excess water before drying on low. Toss in a few clean tennis balls to help them re-fluff.
- Machine wash coats. Winter coats can generally be machine washed if they are down or nylon (wool coats should be dry cleaned). Make sure the zips and pockets are closed and wash separately on a cold wash with liquid detergent.
- Separate small items. Organise socks, scarves, and gloves in a mesh bag, this helps keep gloves in pairs and scarves from tying other laundry in knots.
- Keep air-dried clothes from going crunchy. Toss in 120ml of white vinegar while your laundry is rinsing to help remove the extra detergent and soften clothes. Make sure you also choose a concentrated detergent to get more value with each load.
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How to organise your winter wardrobe
A few tips for organising your winter wardrobe and storing your clothes with care:
- Make way for the mohair and welcome back the wool. In winter, store away off-season clothes like lightweight tops and dresses, summer-print items, shorts or sandals to make space in your wardrobe for winter essentials.
- Section up your wardrobe. Divide your wardrobe by clothes type, for example, jumpers, jeans, trousers, blouses, jackets, etc.
- Fold knitwear. Fold knitwear, don’t hang it, as it may stretch and lose its shape. If space is an issue, fold it in half over a hanger.
- Store leather boots upright. Leather boots can be kept clean with a brush and leather cleaner, applying beeswax or leather conditioner to keep supple. A leather protector can also be applied to prevent staining. Store long boots upright and stuff with newspaper to keep their shape. You can lay them flat if you don’t have space.
- Use the correct hangers for specific garments. Thicker hangers will be sturdier and able to hold the weight of your heavier winter clothes without misshaping them.
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Find a home for your bulky winter essentials
But what about when winter is over? How can you safely store your winter items to ensure they stay in good condition for the next season? Let’s take a look at some alternative storage places outside the closet.
- Invest in a coat rack. If you have room in your entrance hall or bedroom, this is a great space saver for those bulky coats.
- Try using hooks. Hooks are a simple solution to space-saving and can be put on the backs of doors and walls. Avoid hanging extremely heavy coats, and always use the hanging loop.
- Use baskets. Use baskets for hats, gloves, and scarves. Fold them up, sort them into sets, and put them in a basket for easy access.
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