Clean Fun with Fashion: A Note on Laundry

So remember that clothing we talked about purchasing as an investment during the last blog? Time to take care of it so it lasts. :)

Doing right by your clothing can come as a challenge, especially if you take your clothing to a laundromat. But here are some great ways to make sure that, no matter your method, you keep your clothes in good condition. And, of course, that you are simultaneously eco-friendly.

1. Detergent: Note that most commercial detergents are not extremely human-friendly. They use chemicals that make your clothes look bright and smell good, but they don't necessarily clean and disinfect as you would hope.

Not to worry! There are many things in creation that do the job well, especially for whites. I like to use a baking soda and vinegar mixture or lemon juice. For lemon juice, use it straight (no diluting) as a bleach alternative. NOTE: vinegar isn't good for most washing machines, but you can use it for hand washing. More on that later.

For colored clothing, you can find some great recipes for DIY detergent involving washing powder, borax, and other simple household ingredients.

2. Hand Washing: So the term may sound archaic and laborsome, but hold on...there's more to this! You can keep your delicates in good shape without putting yourself out. When you have high quality, natural fabrics in your wardrobe, tossing them in commercial machines won't work. And remember: NO bras in the washer. I repeat, NO bras in the washer! The rigor of the spin cycle will cause them to become misshapen before their time, even inside a garment bag.

BUT, there's such a thing as a mini washer and dryer you can use in your home! Some are more manual than others, but it makes washing a load of delicates super easy and cost effective. Depending on how automatic you want it to be, you can spend anywhere from $45 (manual) - $500+ (electric) on each appliance. Depending on the brand, you can fit about 7-12 pieces at a time. I have a set of these, and it is such a treat.

One major advantage is that I can soak my clothes, which I can't do at the laundromat. I like adding vinegar to the detergent as it disinfects. Note, however, that you cannot use vinegar on silk or linen garments. It's great for undies and cotton pieces, though.

3. Fabrics: Thankfully, you don't have to be an expert on textiles to know how to keep your clothes well. Always read manufacturer labels. But if you're like me, you may take a look at the "dry clean only" label and wonder if you have to dry clean. So here are some tips:

• Wool: This one is tricky. Wool shrinks more than many other fabrics. I have had some experiences washing it, and have made expensive mistakes. There are, however, ways to do it. Here's a great tutorial.
• Silk: I find that it's best to hand wash silk in cold water, no harsh chemicals. Machine washing can cause premature wear and tear, especially for pieces with frills, drawstrings, and small detailing (buttons, collars, etc.).
• Linen: You can hand wash linen, but be sure not to use vinegar.
• Cotton: This one is pretty durable. No special care needed here!

Hopefully this helps!