Clothing is something we all need to spend money on. Whether we buy our clothes from an op shop, chain department store or a high end boutique, it is an investment of our time to find the perfect piece. It's also an investment of our hard earned money and should be treated with loving care.
There are some pieces in my wardrobe that I've been wearing on a regular basis year in, year out for well over 10 years. There are a few tricks and tips I've learnt along the way to help keep my clothes looking fresh, clean and tidy without extra work and for very little money.
* Separate your clothes from the towels when you put a load of washing on. Towels release lots of fluff and lint during the wash cycle and attach themselves to your clothes. By separating your towels, you'll help prevent pilling on your clothes.
* Speaking of pilling, if those pesky little balls start to form on your clothes, use a hand held, battery operated fabric shaver. These little devices are fantastic for removing those little balls and it's quite addictive to use. I purchased a Philips branded one for just under $20 about 4 years ago and it's paid for itself many times over. Clothes that I thought were beyond saving have been given a new lease on life.
* Separate your whites from your darks / colors when filling the washing machine. Even if your clothes are old, there is always some die or dark lint released in the washing machine that will discolor your whites.
* When you sort your clothes for washing, keep a look out for stains. If you find any, pre treat with a stain removing spray as you go, allowing time for the spray to work before you wash them.
* When possible, treat stains as soon as they occur. Delaying can make it harder or even impossible to remove all of the discoloration.
* Underarm odours can be removed by spraying the offending area with white vinegar. I keep a spray bottle of vinegar in the laundry cupboard to spray on smelly clothes as I'm sorting them to wash. Giving the vinegar 5 - 10 minutes to work also really helps. For stubborn underarm odours, repeated applications and a longer soaking time might be needed.
Next week I'll have more tips for keeping your clothes looking fresh.
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| Hanging jeans and jumpers in the shower |
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| Jeans over a ducted heating vent |
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| For getting rid of pilling. |
I have given granddaughter s those piling things and they love them.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you have a toaster oven or use the big one a friend years ago told me to buy one when there is only two of you. She made scones and warmed things in hers. I have not got one but have been tempted my brother lives alone and bought an air fryer but doesn’t seem to use it much. Blessings Marie
Hi Marie. No we don't have a toaster oven. I know lots of people who have one but they are too big for our small kitchen. We have 2 wall ovens, but we try to restrict their use to only cooking things that wont cook well in an air fryer - like cakes, biscuits and scones.
DeleteAn air fryer is great for roasting veggies far quicker than an oven. I bulk cook and freeze many of our meals. When I pull one out of the freezer it's either defrosted overnight in the fridge or defrosted on the spot in the microwave. If it's something like shepherds pie, we brown the top in the air fryer. Same with salmon patties and other things that go soggy in the microwave.
Yes, I use just about every single tip here! And here's another:
ReplyDeleteTurn your clothes inside-out before putting in the washer! It reduces wear on the "good" side.
Also, the best preventative for underarm stains that I know is to keep underarm hair short or shave it completely. Yes, that applies to men as well!
DH was ruining expensive dress shirts until I convinced him to trim (not razor) his underarm hair short and use clear gel (not solid white) anti-perspirant.
Thankyou for your tip.
DeleteYes, I separate my washing and always try to treat stains straight away. It's so annoying to get an item out of the washing machine and realise that I forgot to treat a stain and it has got washed into the fabric. I used to use the vinegar trick, but that was mainly on my husband's work shirts. Since he retired that is no longer a problem, as he lives in t-shirts. I think a change in the brand of deodorant he uses might have helped with that too. Some seem to rub off onto clothing, carrying any odours with them. I haven't used a de-piller, so may have to investigate that.
ReplyDeleteConsidering a pill shaver now ... thanks for your recommendation - Madelyne
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy. I love all your tips! The majority of my wardrobe has been thrifted, with a few new purchases from Kohl's department store, purchased only with super-duper reduced prices. I use blue Dawn dish soap on our stains, and scrub it in with an old toothbrush. The stains disappear 99 % of the time but if persistent I will re-try and pour almost boiling water on stain with the detergent and toothbrush. Fabulous results!
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