|
Top
20 Clothing Tips
by Steve Boorstein, THE CLOTHING DOCTOR
| 1. |
Assess
your lifestyle and buy for that lifestyle. If you've changed, so should
the style of clothing that you buy. |
| 2. |
Make
a list of your favorite colors, fabrics and styles before you begin to
shop. If you need help with this, then get a friend or professional to
help you! |
| 3. |
Look
at the big picture when you shop for clothing; how to wear, care for,
clean and store a garment for its entire life. |
| 4. |
When
you find a salesperson that tells you when not to buy something, then
you've really made a connection! |
| 5. |
Buy
clothing that fits your current body. |
| 6. |
Buy
clothing that looks great in the store, looks great at home 72 hours
later, and stop buying "maybes." |
| 7. |
Read
all care labels and content labels before you buy. |
| 8. |
Before
you reach the cash register, do my 6-Point Quality Check™. Hang the garment,
spin it around, and spend two minutes to inspect zippers, hooks, hems,
seams, snags/stains and buttons. |
| 9. |
Buttons
mysteriously disappear and often break, so check the sewing and ask for
extra buttons at the time of purchase. |
| 10. |
To
balance your closet, every time you buy a new garment, discard or donate
an old one. |
| 11. |
Apply
hairspray, perfume and deodorant before you dress and let it completely
dry. |
| 12. |
Never
rub a stain, blot only with a dry, white cloth or napkin. |
| 13. |
Water-based
stains have a line around them like a road map. Oil-based stains are
absorbed into the fabric and have no outline. |
| 14. |
Never
put water or club soda on oily stains; French fries, gravy, lipstick
… Most fresh oily stains come out easily in dry cleaning. |
| 15. |
Save
needless trips to the drycleaner by using a Jiffy Steamer. |
| 16. |
Choose
a drycleaner for quality, service, convenience, and price - in that order
|
| 17. |
Show
your drycleaner all stains, fabric pills, snags, pressing problems, and
minor repairs. |
| 18. |
Always
remove dry cleaning plastic, but keep the paper shoulder-covers on each
garment. |
| 19. |
All
clothing must be washed or dry cleaned before storing, even if its only
been worn for 5 minutes. Insects are attracted to moisture, food particles,
perspiration, body oil, cologne and perfume. |
| 20. |
Store
clothing in dry, well-ventilated areas whenever possible and keep clothing
and rugs out of moist basements! |
Stain-removal
Techniques
The
following stain removal techniques are intended for washable items only.
To make the diluted dishwashing solution mentioned below, mix one tablespoon
of fragrance-free and dye-free soap (containing sodium laurel sulfate,
or sodium laureth sulfate) and 10 ounces of water. This may be kept in
a spray bottle to facilitate application. Do not use the enzyme detergent
(look on the product label under list of ingredients to see if the detergent
contains enzymes) below on protein fibers (like wool, silk, angora or cashmere).
Never use acetone on acetate and always wash garments that have been treated
with a dry solvent (like mineral spirits or acetone). These are simply
suggestions and Jiffy Steamer does not warranty the effectiveness of these
treatments.
Stain
|
Removal
Technique |
GREASE
(oil, mayonnaise, butter, margarine) |
After
treating the stain with a dry solvent (like mineral spirits or acetone),
rinse with isopropyl alcohol and dry thoroughly. Spray the area with
the diluted dishwashing-soap solution and soak in an enzyme-detergent
before washing. |
PROTEIN
(blood, egg) |
Allow
the stain to rest in the diluted dishwashing-soap solution. If, after
rinsing in lukewarm water, the stain persists, apply the enzyme detergent
and wash as normal. |
VEGETABLES
& FRUITS
(juice, jelly) |
Begin
by applying the diluted dishwashing-soap solution to the area. Next
flush the stain with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Finally, treat
the area with an enzyme detergent and wash as indicated by label instructions. |
| GRASS |
Apply
a dry solvent to the stain (making sure to do so in a well-ventilated
area). Remove as much of the stain as possible by pressing with cheesecloth
and dabbing with a soft-bristled brush. Rinse stain with isopropyl
alcohol and allow to dry. Apply an enzyme detergent and wash according
to care instructions. |
| LIPSTICK |
Begin
by scraping as much of the stain off as possible. Apply a dry solvent
to the area and dab with a soft brush. Rinse the area with isopropyl
alcohol. Continue this process until no pigment remains and allow
to dry. Apply diluted dishwashing-soap solution and an enzyme detergent,
and wash as usual. |
| RED
WINE |
Flush
the area with the diluted dishwashing-soap mixture and dab gently
with a soft-bristled brush. Rinse with water and apply vinegar, dabbing
lightly, allowing the item to sit for a few minutes before repeating
the process. If the stain persists, let it sit for a few moments after
treating with hydrogen peroxide. A few drops of ammonia may be added
to the area if the hydrogen peroxide does not remove all of the stain.
Rinse with water, apply an enzyme detergent and wash. If the stain
still exists, treat with a powdered nonchlorinated color-safe bleach
(like sodium percarbonate) and wash again. |
| WHITE
WINE |
Rinse
the area with cool water and apply the diluted dish-soap solution.
After applying an enzyme detergent, launder as usual. |
| TEA
OR COFFEE |
Rinse
the area thoroughly with vinegar or lemon juice and then, if necessary,
apply a stronger bleach. If the beverage contained milk or sugar,
treat with diluted dishwashing-soap solution and then wash with an
enzyme detergent. |
| GUM
OR WAX |
First
freeze the substance by placing in a freezer or applying ice cubes,
then try to crack off as much as possible. To eliminate the remainder
of the substance use an oil solvent or mineral spirits, rinsing with
isopropyl alcohol. Allow to dry and use an enzyme detergent. |
| CHOCOLATE |
Remove
as much chocolate as possible and apply the diluted dish soap. Treat
with an enzyme detergent and wash according to care instructions. |
RED
SAUCES
(ketchup, BBQ, marinara) |
Remove
as much sauce as possible and treat stain with diluted dish soap before
soaking in lukewarm water. Use white vinegar to eliminate any remaining
color, then apply an enzyme detergent and wash as normal. If the stain
is still present, apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, allowing
it to sit. Finally, rinse and apply again with an enzyme detergent. |
| MUSTARD |
Rinse
the area thoroughly with white vinegar and wash with dishwashing detergent. |
| VINAIGRETTE |
Follow
the instructions for a grease stain and then rinse the area thoroughly
with vinegar. Use an enzyme detergent. |
| SOY
SAUCE |
Spray
the diluted dishwashing soap and dab with a soft brush. Rinse with
water and then dab with vinegar, allowing stain to sit for a few minutes
before rinsing again. Hydrogen peroxide may be used to treat any remaining
stain. If the stain persists after that, a few drops of ammonia may
be added to the wetted area, which should then be rinsed with water.
Apply an enzyme detergent to the area and wash according to garment
care instructions. A nonchloronated color-safe bleach (like sodium
percarbonate) may be used to treat the area if, after washing, the
stain is still present. Finally, rewash the garment. |
INK
(BALLPOINT) |
Using
a can of aerosol hair spray, saturate the stain and allow it to sit
for a few moments before laundering as normal. |
INK
(FELT-TIP) |
First
line the border of the stain with petroleum jelly to protect the area
around it. Then determine whether isopropyl alcohol or water will
more effectively remove the ink by the following test: Dip one cotton
swab in water and another in isopropyl alcohol. Apply each to the
stain and see which removes more ink. If the water-dipped cotton swab
removed more, apply the diluted dishwashing soap to the stain, and
then rinse with cold water. If the alcohol worked better, apply isopropyl
alcohol to the stain. Use a dry solvent on any remaining pigment,
and allow to dry. Flush with the diluted dishwashing soap solution
and cold water. Then wash as directed by the garment care label. |
| MUD |
Remove
as much mud as possible, then apply the diluted dishwashing soap solution
and allow stain to soak. Finally, treat with an enzyme detergent and
wash as usual. |
|
DISCLAIMER:
In no event shall Jiffy Steamer Company, LLC be liable for any damages
whatsoever (including, but not limited to, damaged or ruined clothing,
damaged or ruined property or any other personal losses) arising out of
the recommendations made in this guide.
|
