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Hanging out.
If you’re lucky enough to enjoy an outdoor clothesline, there are a few tricks to drying laundry outdoors. Shake damp laundry to smooth out wrinkles before hanging. Dry shirts on hangers for crease-free results, ready for touchup ironing. Hang pants by the bottom hem. That’s the way to hang t-shirts and polos, too. Hang “departments”…
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Eco-awareness.
Summer’s a great time to change habits for a cleaner, healthier environment. Start by cutting down on water waste with shorter showers, full loads of laundry and dishes, filtered water instead of bottled. Repair and recycle appliances, furniture and clothing. Instead of tossing (eventually into a landfill) repair worn heels, replace zippers or restitch a…
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Necktie wisdom.
“A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life,” said poet Oscar Wilde, famous for his “living well is the best revenge.” Before your well-tied knot has a chance to help, be sure your tie is spotless. It’s another universal truth that the more expensive the tie, the more prone it seems to attract…
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Wash or clean?
When to dryclean, when to throw it in the wash machine? Convenience and quality aside, there are situations when dry cleaning simply is the best choice: Acetate, rayon or silk, leather or fur garments or trim, tricky to iron, structured or tailored with interfacing, specially finished, stiffened garments. The number one reason to trust it…
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Post-winter cleaning.
Before you stow away your warm winter items, make sure they’re thoroughly clean. Down items can often be home laundered, but woolen or cashmere overcoats and scarves definitely need dry cleaning. Don’t forget your footwear—salt stains can ruin expensive leather. White vinegar mixed one to one with water can remove salt: dampen a soft cloth…
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Slipcover strategies.
To refresh linen, cotton or synthetic fabric that’s been preshrunk and colorfast, you can machine-wash slipcovers. Launder separate from other articles on gentle in color water with an all-purpose detergent. Air dry or tumble on low, then reposition on the furniture while slightly damp to minimize wrinkles and help with fit if there’s any shrinkage.…
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Stow away winter leathers.
Anything made of leather needs maintenance, especially if it’s been exposed to winter weather conditions. Shoes and boots should be wiped with a damp cloth, especially if salt-stained. Inspect jackets and coats for damage, tears or stains before hanging on a well-padded hanger for storage. Use leather conditioner on dry spots like elbows and seams.…
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Spring trends.
Freshen your wardrobe with affordable trend pieces inspired by major designers. Lavender is the it color for 2018, add a piece or two to brighten your basics. Dark raw selvedge black denim is seen in tailored pieces, suit separates and skirts. Trench coats, glittery sequins and feathers show up in surprising ways. Whatever you find,…