Hey friends. Today I want to share a super practical topic with you — how to make your clothes look better with each wash. As a post-95 generation person obsessed with clothing care, I have so many experiences to share! I know many young people care a lot about fashion, but even expensive clothes will be quickly ruined without proper care. Have you also encountered these problems: new clothes becoming misshapen after a few washes? White T-shirts turning yellow? Severe pilling on sweaters? Don't worry, today I'll tell you how to care for your clothes like a professional and make them look high-end!
First, you need to know that the most important first step in washing clothes is sorting. In college dorms, I've seen too many people throw all their clothes into the washing machine together, resulting in white clothes getting dyed, wool sweaters shrinking and deforming, and finally having to tearfully throw away their beloved clothes. As a fashion blogger, I can responsibly tell you that proper sorting can extend the life of your clothes several times over!
Speaking of sorting, first sort by color. Mainly divide into three categories: dark, light, and white. Dark clothes, especially black and navy blue ones, will fade in the first few washes. If you wash a new pair of dark jeans with other clothes, you're really playing with fire! I had a friend who washed a pair of black jeans with her favorite white dress, and the white dress turned grayish-blue - it was painful to see. So, new dark clothes should be washed separately at least three times until they stop bleeding color before washing with other clothes.
Besides color sorting, fabric sorting is also particularly important. Different fabrics need different care methods, just like different skin types need different skincare products. Cotton and linen clothes are best washed separately because they wrinkle easily and need moderate water temperature and gentle detergent. Wool sweaters are the most delicate - they must use special wool detergent, wool wash cycle, and water temperature cannot exceed 30 degrees, otherwise they easily shrink and deform. As for silk, I recommend hand washing. I have a Chanel silk blouse that I rinse in cold water after each wash and lay flat to dry - it still looks as lustrous as new after several years.
Another particularly important point is sorting underwear. Underwear is best hand-washed or machine-washed in a laundry bag to prevent underwire deformation or damaging other clothes. Sports clothes should also be washed separately because they often have heavy sweat stains and odors that need special sports clothing detergent.
When it comes to clothing care, there's a super important golden rule: treat stains immediately! This is no joke - treating stains after they've dried increases the difficulty several times over. I once attended a wine tasting event and accidentally spilled red wine on my favorite white YSL shirt. I immediately ran to the bathroom, rinsed it with cold water, and treated it with a portable stain removal pen. Now that shirt shows no sign it ever had a stain and still looks stunning every time I wear it.
Different stains need different treatment methods, this is especially important. Oil stains are one of the most common stains - if you love hotpot like me, remember this tip: after discovering an oil stain, first draw over the stain area with chalk several times. Chalk's main component is calcium carbonate, which has strong oil absorption capabilities. After the chalk absorbs the oil, treat it with professional oil stain remover for better results.
Coffee stains are also a headache for many people. Many young people nowadays have coffee-drinking habits and inevitably encounter coffee spills on clothes. For coffee stains, my exclusive secret is making a paste with baking soda and water and applying it to the stain. Baking soda not only removes stains but also eliminates coffee odors. However, note that after applying, let it dry naturally - don't rush to scrub hard, or you'll push the stain deeper into the fabric.
Fruit juice stains also require special treatment. The most important thing is to use cold water - never use hot water! Hot water causes fruit pigments and fibers to chemically react and fix into the fabric. Once when I got dragon fruit on my clothes, I immediately rinsed with cold water, then used professional juice stain remover, and now that piece is still one of my favorites.
Makeup stains are also common problems for women. Lipstick marks and foundation can leave permanent marks on clothes if not treated properly. For these stains, first gently rub with professional makeup remover oil to dissolve the makeup, then rinse with clean water. For foundation or concealer stains, first wipe with baby wipes, then treat with professional stain remover.
Regarding washing techniques, first let's correct a misconception many people have: using more detergent for dirtier clothes. This thinking is completely wrong! Based on my years of experience, using the appropriate amount of detergent is the correct choice. Excess detergent not only doesn't clean better but will leave residue on clothes, causing them to become hard and yellow, and very uncomfortable to wear.
So how much detergent should you use? Generally, for a 7kg capacity washing machine, normally soiled clothes only need one cap of detergent. For especially dirty clothes, at most use one and a half caps. When using detergent, note that you should wait until the water reaches a certain level before adding detergent - this allows it to dissolve fully for better cleaning results.
For intimate apparel, I have a special trick: add some white vinegar during the final rinse. Vinegar not only softens clothes but also removes bacteria and odors. I usually add half a cup of vinegar - after drying, clothes have no vinegar smell but are especially fresh and soft. This method is particularly effective for sports clothes that often retain sweat odors.
Speaking of sports clothes, many people may not know they actually need special care. Most sports clothes use quick-dry fabrics - using regular detergent can damage the fabric's functionality. I recommend using special sports clothing detergent and controlling water temperature around 30 degrees to maintain the fabric's elasticity and quick-dry properties.
As for drying clothes, this is also an art. Different fabrics need different drying methods. Cotton clothes can be hung on hangers, but make sure the hanger width is appropriate - too narrow hangers will deform shoulder areas. Sweaters are best dried flat - you can lay out a drying net on the balcony to maintain the sweater's shape. Silk clothes should avoid direct sunlight and are best dried in ventilated shade to maintain fabric luster.
Post-wash storage is also important. I recommend categorizing clothes for storage, keeping similar types together. For example, fold T-shirts together, hang shirts together - this makes them easy to find and reduces wrinkling. For delicate clothes like silk and cashmere, it's best to store them in dust bags to avoid dust and moths.
Finally, I want to emphasize that not all clothes are suitable for machine washing. Some high-end fabrics or clothes with special craftsmanship, like those with rhinestones, sequins, or lace decorations, are best dry cleaned. Although dry cleaning is more expensive, compared to buying new clothes, this investment is worth it. Regular professional care can keep clothes in better condition and looking more refined when worn.
I believe that by mastering these cleaning and care tips, your clothes will definitely look better with each wear! Remember, taking care of your clothes is taking care of your image - let's be refined people together!
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