Think of your favorite coat or jacket. Now, try to think about the last time you had it cleaned. It’s easy to forget to care for outerwear as the seasons change and your wardrobe staples rotate, but just like your trusty pair of blue jeans, your coats and jackets needs regular care to keep looking good.
By Rinse TeamIn Care
We’ve outlined basic guidelines to help you decide when to clean your outerwear, so you can give these pieces top-notch treatment.
Consider the fabric
The fabric of your coat or jacket is one of the key factors in deciding how frequently it needs to be cleaned.
- Down jackets, leather jackets, and wool coats: Once a season, if worn sporadically; twice a season, if worn regularly.
- Suit jackets and blazers: After four to five wears.
- Fleece jackets: After six or seven wears.
- Rain jackets: Once a month, if worn infrequently; twice a month, if worn regularly. You should also use a durable water repellent finish to ensure the jacket’s waterproof coating is doing its job.
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By the end of the season
In order to prolong the life of your coat or jacket, don’t forget to tend to your outerwear during the offseason. Before storing it at the end of the season, make sure your jacket is clean—even if you don’t see any visible traces of dirt or stains. Moths are attracted to perfume and food odors, so if your coat or jacket isn’t freshly cleaned, it can end up with pesky moth holes.
While many coats and jackets can behand washed or machine washed, dry cleaning is ideal for wool coats or ones with embellishments.
Keep in mind thatleather jacketsrequire special care; leather can’t be exposed to water, sobringing it to a specialty cleaner will ensure your jacket gets professional treatment.
Pro-tip: Let the clothing care experts at Rinse take care of your coats and jackets and we’ll make sure they are returned cleaned and ready-to-wear. We offer Wash & Fold, Dry Cleaning, and Leather Cleaning - no matter what type of coat you have we’re able to take care of it. Schedule a pickup on our homepage.
Storage considerations
Clean outerwear and appropriate storage go hand in hand. In order to ensure your outerwear is in excellent condition for the following season, you want to make sure everything is taken out of your coat or jacket pockets. Besides that, check that the zippers are zipped, buttons are buttoned and snaps are snapped. This will help your coat or jacket maintain its original shape.
When it comes to storage, your outerwear, especially a leather jacket or down jacket, needs to be given room to breathe. This means you shouldn’t store your coats or jackets in plastic garment bags but rather in fabric storage bags. Plastic bins are also acceptable, but only if you don’t store too many coats and jackets in one bin.
By following these cleaning and storage guidelines, you can continue to wear your coats or jackets in the years to come. After all, they keep you warm and cozy through cooler weather, so they deserve a little TLC in return.
Photos: progressman / Shutterstock.com, Dmitry_Tsvetkov / Shutterstock.com, topnatthapon / Shutterstock.com
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Closet Hacks: How to properly store your clothes
Rinse Team
Whether your closet looks like you were just visited by Marie Kondo or a Dothraki Horde, we could all do with a couple organization tips to keep our closet manageable and our clothes in optimal condition.
It’s okay, these organization tips will still be helpful long after the references above ;)
So read on! It’s time to clean up your closet and create a polished and personalized space that you can enjoy each time you get dressed.
Keep your daily essentials in the front row
You've heard the phrase "out of sight, out of mind"—while that usually applies to former flames, the same rule also works for closet organization.
Store your least-worn items at the back so you can dedicate prime closet real estate to your most beloved pieces. This will make getting dressed a lot more convenient, and you'll avoid the all-too-familiar situation of rummaging through the closet and ending up with a pile of discarded clothes on the floor or bed.
Style tip: Organize your go-to accessories, like a classic watch or simple jewelry, on a small tray next to your closet. Having them visible will encourage you to wear them and give you a more complete and polished look.
Think like a pro: know when to fold 'em
It might seem basic, but improper storage can cause a garment to lose its shape. Make sure you properly note which items to fold and which items to hang.
Clothes you should fold:
Gently fold delicate items such as cashmere sweaters and heavy knits. For extra care you can add a layer of acid-free tissue between garments.
Denim should also be folded, as hanging can cause it to stretch out in the wrong areas. Casual items such as T-shirts and tops can work both ways, based on personal preference.
Clothes you should hang:
Keep your outerwear fresh by hanging them for storage. Your vintage leather jacket, silk blouse or suit would appreciate the extra TLC.
Invest in some flocked hangers with velvet lining to keep your choice garments in mint condition. As always, any co*cktail attire is best stored in a garment bag.
Out of season items don’t need prime real estate
Before putting anything in the closet at the end of each season, make sure your clothes are prepped for storage.
Launder items as needed, or send your clothes to a trusted dry cleaner for professional service—especially important for winter coats. This removes any scents or stains, as moths are attracted to undetectable smells.
Don't forget to clean your closet at least once per season (it can get dusty). It's also a good idea to go through and remove any items you don't wear on a regular basis. Consider selling or donating the pieces that are in good condition—doing so will help keep your closet organized as well as help those in need.
The elements of style: invest in the right storage
The essentials: Storage bins are your best friend. Instead of unsightly plastic bins, consider linen storage organizers. Fabric organizers help your clothing stay fresh by allowing air to circulate. Try borrowing elements from Scandinavian decor, such as a set of wooden or copper hangers, to help your closet achieve a minimalist and uniformed aesthetic.
The extras: Personalizing your space does not always require an involved process. Switching out little things can make a huge difference, such as adding some decorative items or art in or around your wardrobe. You can also paint or wallpaper the inside of your closet to inject a little more color and personal style.
Fill some sachets with dried lavender buds and place them in your closet to keep your clothes smelling great and repel any moths that might be creeping around your wardrobe—it's a pleasantly scented alternative to using moth balls.
Cedar chests are also a smart choice for woolens, as Red Cedar has natural oils that kill moth larvae (it's a good idea to first put the clothing in a resealable plastic bag for more protection).
While closet maintenance might seem like a chore, keeping these tips in mind will help you streamline the process and stay organized. Just like a morning workout or healthy breakfast, a well organized closet and easy to access closet helps set the right tone for the day -- the great one that you deserve!
Photos: WorldWide / Shutterstock.com, Chelsea Francis, Milada Vigerova, Crew, Mary Whitney
Oh no! I ripped my jeans... What to expect when you patch your jeans
Some jeans are not meant to be ripped. If you happen to damage your favorite pair of pants we're here to help you salvage them.
Rinse Team
We’ve all been there... You make one small movement and a frightful tearing sound comes from the seat of your favorite pair of jeans. It has happened to the best of us and despite our better judgement, we’ve all kept a pair of pants around for one wear longer than we should have.
Everyone has ripped a hole in their jeans… You’re not alone!
It’s time we talked openly and honestly about the reality of that unfortunate tear in the seat of your pants.
When jeans begin to rip, which typically a sign that the jean is nearing it’s end, it is usually the result of a seam burst or tear in the seat of the jean. Adding a patch to the tear in your jeans is a service that most professional cleaners will provide. However, this treatment will only delay the inevitable for a short period of time.
When you apply a patch to denim, you're introducing new and most likely stronger fabric to the garment. As you wear the garment more, the area surrounding the patch will take on additional stress, causing it to wear and eventually tear. Since the fabric of the patch is strong and the surrounding area is most likely weaker, the point of defect usually just moves from the patched tear to the surrounding area.
While a patch may add some extra life to your garment, it's really just a matter of time until you create more damage to the garment. On the bright side, you can think of this as an opportunity to upgrade to that new pair of denim you had your eye on.
How Dry Cleaning can actually save you Money
Dry Cleaning not only effectively cleans certain garments but it is an investment in your wardrobe. Learn more why Dry Cleaning saves you money.
Rinse Team
People are often reluctant to dry clean their clothing because it is more expensive than traditional laundry, but a professional cleaning service can be a great investment for your lifestyle and closet that saves you money in the long run. Consider these three cost-effective conveniences the next time you're headed to the laundromat.
It helps your polished pieces last longer
While there are items that you can take care of at home, certain upscale pieces such as your silk dress or structured wool blazer are best left in the care of a professional dry cleaner. Pieces that aren’t properly cleaned before being put away can carry undetectable odors that attract insects and moths. These pests can eat certain fabrics, including wool, cashmere, silk and cotton, gradually ruining your favourite items. Sensitive fabrics may also fade in color or stretch in shape in a washing machine or dryer. By using a professional cleaning service, your pieces will last much longer so you won't have to replace them as often, ultimately saving you money.
Care tip: Familiarize yourself with different fabrics and the appropriate treatment for each material. For instance, cashmere can often be hand washed with a gentle laundry soap. Before doing so, it's always good to double check the clothing label to see if hand washing is appropriate. Other fabrics like silkrequireprofessional dry cleaning. Our guide on which pieces can be dry cleaned provides an in-depth breakdown.
It can treat stubborn stains
Besides helping your pieces maintain their color and shape, dry cleaning can help treat stubborn stains like grass, which you might not be able to remove using traditional laundry means. A professional service might be able to salvage your favorite sweater or slacks so you don't waste money on different detergents or DIY treatments just to end up with a slightly faded but still visible mark. Furthermore, if you don't pre-treat stains or if you use the wrong cleaning agent, you might actually cause further damage to your clothing. Either way you can be left having to replace these pieces altogether, and wasting money on your wardrobe.
Care tip: Food stains can affect fabrics differently than sweat residue. In some cases, you might be able to apply a DIY treatment. Know when to treat the stain yourself and when to visit a dry cleaner with our summer stains guide.
It adds professionalism to your workplace attire
First impressions are extremely important. Being smartly dressed will help you make your mark at a job interview or client meeting—which can lead to financial gain down the road. An inexpensive way to elevate your office style is to ensure that your pieces are always freshly pressed. You don't need to spend a lot to create a chic ensemble: well tailored and maintained pieces create a professional look that will help you get ahead in the workplace. To keep your business attire looking top notch, leave your suit or dress shirt with the dry cleaners. Even if you work in a creative or casual environment, a creased shirt can make you look sloppy. Unsightly wrinkles, stains or smells on worn clothing detract from your professionalism. A trusted service will help you take care of these smaller details so you can focus on the big picture and impress your boss or client.
Care tip: Besides taking care of your basic clothing maintenance needs, most modern dry cleaners provide additional options such as alterations or repairs. Take advantage of their services to ensure your office outfit is always as impressive as your portfolio.
While you save on short-term costs doing laundry at home, your finest attire requires professional care to keep them looking as fresh as the day you bought them. And that's a worthwhile investment.
Photos: DeVaul / Shutterstock.com, Chelsea Francis, Nico Beard, Benjamin Child
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