Tips To Keep Your Clothes Looking Better For Longer

WASHING
•    Use cold water for washing coloured clothes. Hot water is only recommended for towels, bed linen and baby nappies/ clothes.
•    Sort coloured clothes into groups. Black and red are notorious for staining other items in the wash.
•    The first time you wash brightly coloured or black clothes, add a handful of salt to the washing water as this will set the colour and prevent excess running.
•    Wash clothes inside out – it prevents the right side from fading and also prevents ‘pilling’ which are those
little balls that show up on clothes expecially cotton and jersery.
•    Rinse, rinse, rinse – I cannot emphasize this enough. The more you rinse the less chemicals remain in the fabric.
•    Fabric softener/ conditioner help keep fabrics longer, and can be used both in machine and hand washing.

DRYING 
•    Prevent colours from fading by hanging them inside out to dry. Hang your black clothes inside the house.
•    Ensure clothes do not too close to one another or they will dry with a smell that shows up when you least want it to! During the rainy season, this cannot be helped, but if you don’t have an electric dryer, try using a fan on high speed instead.
•    When using pegs, put them on the seams of clothes such as hems (for cottons) on the shoulders or under the sleeves (for jerseys) as the marks they leave can be very difficult to iron out.
•    When using the electric dryer, ensure the temperature is moderate as high heat can quickly cause clothes to fade. If high heat is needed then let it be for the least possible time.

IRONING
•    Buying the best steam iron you can afford, preferably one with a spray nozzle and a Teflon coated or stainless base.
•    Always use the right temperature for the type of fabric you are ironing. Synthetic fabrics need a lower temperature than cotton and linen
•    To prevent black, dark blue and brown fabrics from shinning, use a damp cotton ironing cloth over the fabric (I learnt this from my husband whose black uniform trousers have never been shiny even once).
•    Also use the ironing cloth to protect images, beading and other embellishments on clothes.
•    Clean the base of your iron from time to time. If there is a starchy build up, use a clean cloth dipped in white vinegar to remove it then wipe clean with a cloth damped in water. Never, ever use any sharp object as this will cause scratches and subsequently the iron will begin to stick to and burn clothes. 

RECOMMENDATIONS
•    For babies and young children – use Non-Bio Washing powders, liquid soaps (Which tend to be milder) and bar soap.
•    For older children in school, kitchen towels and heavy duty clothes (gym wear etc) – use Bio washing powder, regularly detergents like Omo, Ariel or Key Soap.
•     For Whites – use any detergent with bleaching agents unless you are allergic to it.
•    For coloured clothes – use colour care/safe detergents which contain no bleach or liquid soap.
•    For black and dark coloured clothes – use colour care/ safe detergent or liquid soap.
•    For people with allergies or eczema – use non perfumed, mild liquid or bar soaps.
•    For bed linen and towels – use colour care/ safe detergents or if they are white any detergent with bleaching agents.
•    For underwear and delicates – use colour care soaps on blacks, reds etc or mild liquid soap. Also use a fabric conditioner to maintain softness.