You only have to be out of doors briefly most days to know that the weather is changing rapidly. We are moving into the much cooler days followed by briskly cold nights. It’s time to get out the layering pieces to our wardrobes and start adding warmth to our mornings and evenings. If you are attending a football game you know you will need a coat, mittens, and a hat to help keep your body temperature up in the warm range. With this need for heavier clothing comes different ways to launder your cold weather gear. Over the next three blogs we are going to look at how to best take care of those winter staples we depend on to not only keep us warm but also to look good doing it!
Washing Winter Clothing | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC
One of the hardest items to care for are our parkas and and any other down-filled items. It is recommended that you wash these items at least twice a season but how you do that is very important. If these items are washed to often the down feathers can break and ruin the appearance of the item. The two times a season method will alleviate this problem and keep your parka looking good. Follow these tips for washing:
- Machine wash in cool to cold water.
- Use a non-detergent agent to clean. Regular detergents can flatten your down feathers as can dry-cleaning.
- Once washed take three or four tennis balls that are clean and place them in the dryer along with your down item and tumble dry on a low setting. The tennis balls will help to redistribute the down feathers in the item.
- Make sure that your item dries thoroughly so that the down does not clump together. This can take a while so just keep checking it.
The next item we wear a lot are our fleece jackets and sweatshirts. We love everything fleece for their warmth and softness. They also require care if you want them to remain looking good throughout the season. Wash them as follows:
- Turn inside out and be sure to wash with like colors . No Towels so you get no lint.
- They should be rinsed no less than twice to get rid of all detergent.
- Air Dry to retain any water resistance the item has been treated with.
Doing it right means your fleece will stay smooth and soft all winter long.
We all love our accessories. Gloves, Hats, and Scarves are not only necessary for warmth but we LOVE to use them to make a statement in the colder months. Care must be taken to keep them looking fantastic. These items should be washed a minimum of three to five times the entire season. Keep in mind that as we wear these items we put them in contact with oils from our face, the makeup we wear, and perfumes. Gross but true we pickup loads of germs with those pretty gloves we are wearing to keep our hands toasty warm.
- Hand Wash all items that are knit and air dry thoroughly.
- Leather items are dry clean only along with any structured hats.
- Be sure not to store your gloves in a coat pocket if they are at all damp. Even perspiration….They can smell from the mildew that builds up over time. Leave them out to air dry after you wear them.
Following these great tips for your outerwear will ensure your warm clothing looks good all winter long. Visit back soon for more tips!
Laundry Express | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC
Need help getting your cold weather gear ready to go? Stop by Laundry Express, coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC. We offer you a great place to do all your laundry at once.
