Clothing Care
On my continual quest to refine my wardrobe, I've taken to investing in some higher-end pieces, wearing natural fabrics, and avoiding unsustainable fast-fashion pieces made to be frequently bought and quickly discarded.
....Which means I've amassed quite a few things in my closet that require special care, or that I simply want to take good care of because I love them and want them to last.
Putting extra care into how you wash and store your clothes may seem like daunting, but it’s worth it and I’ve personally come to enjoy it. Find time when you won't be rushed, play a podcast, and think of these steps not as chores but as caring rituals:
Delicates & "Dry Clean Only"
I very, very rarely take clothes to the dry cleaner. Instead, I got in the habit of washing items like cashmere sweaters, silk tops, and other "dry clean only" items by hand. I place a plastic tub in my kitchen sink, fill it with cold water, and use this Wool & Cashmere wash for my sweaters or this Delicates wash for silk, underwear, and general "delicate" items. I never let the clothes sit in the water for long (silk should never soak for more than 30 minutes). I just fill, swish swish the item around, maybe let it sit for a few minutes, and rinse.
To dry, I lay things flat on a drying rack like this. You can also lay things flat on a towel, but they won't dry as quickly and this can get a little cumbersome if you're washing several items. Squeeze sweaters to get out excess water after washing, but never wring or twist them.
When my cashmere sweaters start to pill, I lay them flat and carefully go over them with a sweater shaver.
To store sweaters, I always fold them (instead of hanging) so that they keep their shape. To protect my silk and knit items from moths, I have cedar scattered all around my closet.
Swimwear
I try to at least rinse my swimsuits after wearing them, and if I'm being good I'll hand wash them with this gentle wash. I dry swimsuits by laying them flat on a towel, rolling the towel up, pressing gently, and unrolling, leaving the suit flat on the towel to air dry. (You can speed up the drying process for silk and cashmere with the towel-pressing method, too.)
Leather & Suede
To clean my leather shoes, I wipe them with a lightly damp cloth, then use a rag to rub on polish that matches the color of the leather. Once the polish dries, I buff with a brush. For shining shoes on set and when traveling, I use these handy wipes.
To store leather shoes, I leave them out to dry for about a day after I wear them. Then I store them with some cedar inside for freshness. To help with freshness and maintain the shape of shoes more long-term, I recommend stuffing with acid free tissue paper (which some shoes come with). I usually just store the shoes back in the box they came in, but I've heard that photo boxes (because they're acid-free) are a better long-term solution. I'm avoid storing leather in plastic boxes, which can trap moisture.
For leather jackets and purses, I'll occasionally (well...more like once in a blue moon...not enough...) wipe them clean with a lightly damp cloth, then apply Leather Honey cleaner and conditioner.
To store leather handbags, use a dust bag. Which many will come with, so just use that. Don't hang bags for long-term storage, find a shelf, and don't squish them together. Again, stuff with acid-free paper to keep the shape.
To protect suede items, I spray on a thin coat of suede protector. To clean, I use this eraser and brush.
Denim
I wash denim as seldom as possible. Sometimes I'll spot clean if there's a distinct mark rather than general dirtiness. When I do wash denim, I always zip up zippers, button up buttons, turn the item inside out, wash cold, and air dry.
...And a Few More Care Notes
A sweater shaver and a lint roller are what I use most often to spiff up my clothes, so I always keep those easily accessible.
For hanging clothes, I use these wooden hangers, and I’ve also used these slim velvet-y hangers when I had a super tiny closet. For longer-term storage and rarely worn items like special occasion dresses, I store them them in linen garment bags ( linen is protective but breathable, plastic is not).
Fold, don't hang, your t-shirts (to avoid stretching).
Overcrowding any area of your closet — on a rack, on a shelf, or in a drawer — can be damaging. Find out-of-the-way storage solutions for things you rarely wear or that are out of season, and clean out your closet regularly! If something's just not working for you, donate it or sell it on Poshmark, Depop, or Thred Up.
I've recently started adding this bleach alternative to my regular (not delicate) laundry. It’s gentler than bleach and safe for reviving both whites & colors.
To get out wrinkles, I like steaming over ironing. In a pinch you could try hanging something in the bathroom while you take a shower, but this isn't as effective as an actual steamer. I love this little one.
If you invest in a nice pair of shoes, have a cobbler add sole savers before you wear them. Also, check the heels of your shoes frequently, and take them to a cobbler to replace the heel taps before they get totally worn down.
Get some rubber rain boots. Don't risk ruining your shoes when there's even a chance of showers.