Garment care tips
Clothing Care Basics
Clothing care starts the moment you begin to shop. It ends when you retire or donate the garment. We will follow the life of a garment, from the time of purchase to staining, cleaning and, finally, storing for the season – with everything in between.
- By choosing the right fabric and fit for your lifestyle
- By reading the care label on each garment, before you buy
- By recognizing stains – and their origins – and knowing if they require pre-treatment, and then dry cleaning or wet cleaning (in water)
Recognizing water-based stains
Water-based stains from soda, coffee, and wine usually have a ring around the outside.
Recognizing Oil-based stains
Oil-based stains from food oils, French fry grease, and mayonnaise are absorbed into the fabric and do not have a ring. These stains can be set by soap and water and usually require dry cleaning.
What to do with stains
If you identify these stains, take them to the cleaner within 48 hours or so, and then point them out to your drycleaner, most of your spots will come out!
This tip is ©2008 The Clothing Doctor and used with permission. May not be reproduced in any form without written permission.
More tips
- Oxidized Stains
- We’ve talked about stains that turn yellow or brown over time, and that these colors often tell you that a stain has “set” with time. How can you tell if these stains will come out and if they will respond to bleach and other special care from your drycleaner? ... Continue reading
- Everyday Problems ... Easy Answers
- Did you know that most drink spills and fruit sprays contain sugar, and that the sugar in these drinks and can turn spots yellow or brown? ... Continue reading
- Clothing Care Basics: Part 2
- You now know that water-based stains have a ring around the outside and that oily stains look absorbed and do not have a ring, so we can move on! ... Continue reading
- Clothing Care Basics: Part 1
- How to recognize the different types of stains ... Continue reading
- Home Dry Cleaning Kits
- Find out what they can and cannot do. An honest look at these kits by the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute ... Continue reading
- Crayon stains
- Find out how to deal with these pesky stains when you discover them ... Continue reading
