As much as we like to keep our clothes looking good as new, constant wash and wear as well as improper washing wore them out.
A council composed of fashion designers and mothers were formed to help individuals care for their precious pieces of clothing.
Electrolux’s FashionCare ambassador Rajo Laurel, and council members Mommy Mundo founder and mompreneur Janice Villanueva and creative director of fashion accessories and bag label ARANÁZ Amina Aranaz-Alunan share hacks that will help keep clothes looking new for longer.
1. Turn clothes inside out
When it comes to machine washing, Laurel advises everyone to turn their clothes in reverse and wash them inside out. It not only helps preserve color but also minimizes the risk of damage to the clothes’ stitching or embroidery.
2. Pre-wash store-bought garments
Thinking of wearing your clothes fresh from the store rack? According to Laurel, this is a no-no as companies treat their clothes with a certain spray to protect them from insects, especially here in the Philippines where the weather is hot and humid. Laurel strongly recommends washing clothes as soon as they’re bought and before they are worn.
3. Read the care instructions
Both Aranaz-Alunan and Laurel stress the importance of reading the laundry care instructions on the clothing labels. From using cold versus hot water in the wash to recommendations on how best to iron or hang clothes, these guidelines are there to help ensure clothes remain in their best shape.
4. Hang or fold?
To help keep clothes in the right shape, Aranaz-Alunan says it is important to know whether a certain piece needs to be hung or best to be folded to keep its form. “The best example of this is a sweater. By hanging a sweater, the fabric used might stretch. In order to keep its form, it’s best to fold it instead,” she says.
5. Protect delicate items with an old stocking
To protect clothes with beading or embroidery, Laurel advises placing them inside an old stocking. He explains that “the stocking is more pino (finer). The holes basically are able to protect them. The water can penetrate but the beads won’t fly out.”
6. Yellowing? Use candle wax
Laurel shares a creative way to keep whites white—by using candle wax.
“What you do is simple. You get a white candle and you rub it around the collar especially if you’re going to store it. Like any fabric, the main enemy of the material is sunlight and humidity so light and water. The wax protects it from both humidity and light,” explains Rajo.
7. Use the right machine
When it comes to caring for clothes, Villanueva emphasizes investing in the right machine, tools, and technology. “Technology is there for convenience because we live busy lives,” she says.
Electrolux aims to help individuals keep their clothes looking new for longer with its UltimateCare range of washing machines and dryers. These come with UltraMix technology that not only promises to clean and remove stains but also help retain the color, shape, and softness of all types of clothing fabrics and materials.