Good housekeeping is a hard practice in college, and it's even harder to keep up with your clothes in between the hours of studying, sporting events, class, etc. Some clothing care tips don't always get the job done, either. With that in mind, here are some quick tips on caring for your wardrobe in the midst of this busy life we call college.
Sweaters
The sweater spectrum usually ranges from chunky knit to thin and barely there. It's easy for sweaters to "pill up" and lose their initial attractiveness. Hang heavy duty sweaters on sturdy wood hangers to keep the weight of the sweater from stretching it out. Use a lint brush after wear to remove surface dirt and lint. Never use scalding hot water or bleach on sweater fabrics, and allow 24 hours between wears to allow wrinkles to dissipate and the elasticity of the fabric to bounce back.
Dresses
The best bet in keeping your casual dresses in good shape is hand washing, especially for dresses with beading or fringe. Formal dresses need to be dry cleaned after wearing to remove any stains quickly and keep your budget in a good place. Hand wash and air dry dresses to keep colors from fading and designs like new.
Blouses/Dress Shirts
Delicate fabric shirts need more time and attention to prevent fading, wrinkles, button loss, etc. Read care instructions on shirt tags carefully. Most fabric cannot be machine washed or dried whatsoever. If you don't have the time to avoid the instructions given to you, make sure you wash your shirts in cold water with like colors on a gentle setting. The cold water prevents color bleeding and the wash cycle is shorter and more gentle on your fabrics.
Hang them up to dry. Give your clothes time to dry, and iron them before letting them sit in your closet to keep wrinkles away. If you don't have an iron, place your shirt in the dryer on a low setting with a damp wash cloth. The steam will take out the wrinkles and your shirt will be ready to go in no time.
Tee Shirts
Even though you probably have them by the dozen, don't neglect the most comfortable item in your closet. The wear and tear that comes to your favorite shirt can range from stains, screen prints overheated by the dryer, etc.
For stains: lay your shirt out on a flat surface. Use two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, a tablespoon of dishwashing detergent and a tablespoon of baking soda. Scrub the ingredients on the stain with an old toothbrush, and let the mixture sit for an hour. Voilà! No more stain and you can launder your shirts per usual.
If you're in a fraternity or sorority, you've most likely got event shirts by the dozen. Special designs and prints used on shirt can easily crack and fade from intense dryer heat. Hang your shirts up to dry in your closet instead of high heat drying to keep your designs in tact.
Jeans
Always wash your jeans inside out with other dark colors. When you buy a new pair of jeans, put them in the washer with cold water and a cup of vinegar (no detergent). Your jeans will not smell like vinegar, but it will "seal" the blue color in to prevent fading from washes to come.
Let your jeans air dry or tumble dry on low will prevent your baby blues from shrinking. The minimal use of dryer heat will also prevent fading.
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