Clothes Steamers

Dress Clothes Maintenance

Properly caring for your button up shirts, neckties, suits and other dress apparel can help to look
their best and last until you're ready to update.
It takes a lot of work to find a business wardrobe that fits well, looks good, is versatile and can be
worn to a number of events and occasions. So once you have assembled a collection of dress
clothes, it is well worth it to invest the time in caring for them properly. After all, if you don't
properly care for your dress clothes, you will be out buying new ones before your time. Maintaining
your dress clothes helps them to age gracefully and look good each time you wear them.



 







Button Up Shirts:



Chances are you have a good number of button up dress shirts in your wardrobe because they
are so versatile. Most button up shirts are machine washable, and should be washed in cold or
lukewarm water on a gentle cycle. Don't wash your white shirts in bleach every time, as this can
actually cause yellowing. Only wash your white shirts in bleach if they start to look dingy and need
to be freshened up, maybe every 6 months or so. Before ironing any shirt, you will need to check it
for rips, tears, stains, or loose buttons. If you do spot a stain at any time, make sure to treat it
before ironing it or putting it in the dryer, as heat will cause the stain to set. Do not use starch
when ironing a shirt, as this will weaken the fibers and cause them to quickly wear down. For a
crisp look, purchase shirts with a high quality thread count and iron them using steam. When
hanging button up shirts in your closet, try to leave an inch or two between each hanger in order to
allow the shirts to drape naturally. If you aren't one to spend the time in your laundry room, dress
shirts should only be dry cleaned every so often. Not after every time you wear them or they will
need to be replaced more frequently. A suggestion to prolong the life of the shirt is to wear an
undershirt and wash that each time.

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Ties and Necktie Accessories:



Any time you remove a tie, take the time to basically follow the tying steps in reverse. If you simply
pull the thin end of the tie through the knot to remove it, you risk ruining the tie's shape. The way
you store your ties is also very important to maintaining their shape and appearance. As soon as
you take a tie off, hang it on a tie hanger or dowel in your closet. Whether a tie is silk or wool, the
fabric is impressionable, and your ties should therefore be hung with care. When traveling, you
can safely transport your ties by folding them into fours, or rolling them, then tucking them inside a
sock. To avoid wrinkles, never wear the same tie two days in a row. Allow it to hang in order to
regain its shape. When storing tie accessories, it is best to store sterling silver away from other
pieces made of the same material. Storing sterling silver items together causes them to rub up
against each other and possibly tarnish. An easy solution is to store your necktie accessories and
cuff links in simple felt pouches, in a compartmentalized jewelry box, or wrapped in a piece of
tissue paper.



 



Suits, Trousers, and Sport Jackets:



It may seem like a good idea to keep items such as this in airtight plastic garment bags. However,
it is much more beneficial to store your suits in a place where air flow can get to them and they
can breathe a bit. Plastic covering actually makes your clothing susceptible to mold, mildew and
musty smells. Suits, trousers and sport jackets should be hung upright on wooden hangers. Cedar
hangers are also a good option because they help absorb moisture and prevent moths. It is
commonly thought that any time you get a item of dress clothing wrinkled, you must get it dry
cleaned. In truth, you only need to get these items dry cleaned if they get irrecoverably dirty or
smelly. Most items will be fine if you simply hang them up on your wooden hangers and let them
breathe for a while. Plus, dry cleaning uses chemicals that wear down the fiber of your clothing, so
it is best to do it as infrequently as possible. To freshen up your suits, trousers, sport jackets and

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even ties between wears, consider investing in a hand held steamer. Small stains can be steamed
out, as can wrinkles.



 



To care for your dress clothes, of course a little bit of prevention and caution is always wise. Use
care when you are wearing your dress clothes. Because if you are walking to the subway while
listening to your Ipod and texting on your phone, and carrying a cup of coffee and a newspaper,
well, and a trip to the dry cleaner's is inevitably in your future!



 Author: Michael Taylor is a Marketing Manager at TIE SNUG. TIE SNUG eliminates
continuous adjusting and makes wearing a tie more comfortable. The right tie accessories can
ensure you look professional and help you stand out for the right reasons. So be confident
knowing your tie knots look great. For more information, please visit http://www.tiesnug.com.

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