How to care for outerwear: useful tips from Season

Outerwear is not only protection from the cold, but also an important part of the wardrobe that somehow creates the first impression of a meeting. That’s why proper care of outerwear, such as coats, jackets, and trench coats, helps to maintain the attractive appearance of your clothes and extend their service life. Let’s figure out how to properly care for outerwear and share some useful tips.

Why is proper care important?

In addition to being a matter of aesthetics and hygiene, outerwear care is also an element of investment in your wardrobe. Proper care, taking into account the specifics of the fabric and filler, will preserve the quality of your outfit for longer and save you money on buying a new one. In addition to being a good opportunity to keep your favorite item, long-term use of clothing helps reduce waste and negative impact on the environment. That’s why the Ukrainian brand Season focuses on eco-friendly and ethical fashion and helps to preserve both nature and the quality of clothing. It is clear that expensive clothes are more resistant to wear and tear and retain their shape, color, and texture even after prolonged use. However, even they can lose their properties if not properly maintained:

• Wool and cashmere can lose their shape, and lint will appear on the products;
• Synthetic materials will break down and stretch when exposed to high temperatures;
• Waterproof fabrics can lose their properties.

Proper care will help to preserve the original appearance even at home.

How to properly care for outerwear?

Each fabric has its own characteristics, and accordingly, caring for it requires certain knowledge. We’ll tell you how to wash your coat at home and when it’s better to go to a dry cleaner.

Since coats are most often made of wool or wool with cashmere, here are tips for caring for coats, jackets, and trench coats that will help you take care of your outerwear at home and preserve its quality for longer.

If it’s woolen clothing:

• You should not wash your coat at home, but rather take it to a dry cleaner. Otherwise, the machine may damage the fabric itself, the adhesive, the sheepskin, or the coat construction;
• If the coat gets wet, it should only be dried on a horizontal surface, otherwise the garment may stretch;
• If lint has formed, it can only be removed with a special machine or roller. Do not unscrew or tear them off, otherwise the product will deteriorate faster.

Coat made of wool with cashmere:

• To clean it from dirt, it should be dry-cleaned, where professionals will take care of the coat properly. It is not recommended to wash it yourself;
• The coat should only be ironed with a steam generator or a low temperature iron through gauze;
• Store the coat on a hanger with wide shoulders to avoid deformation and stretching of the product.

Outerwear with bio-down, synthetic down and thermoloft:

• This garment can be washed in a washing machine in a delicate cycle, and you can add a few tennis balls to evenly distribute the filling during washing;
• For drying, you can use a tumble dryer or lay the product out on a horizontal surface and regularly beat the filler to restore its shape.
• Store outerwear in special spacious cases so that the product does not lose its shape.

Trench coats are popular not only because of their stylish design, but also because of their waterproof properties. Therefore, they should be regularly treated with special sprays to protect them from water and dirt. To remove stains, use mild detergents and soft-bristled brushes.

It is very important to keep the label on the garment, which contains care recommendations. This will make it easier to navigate the temperature regimes and washing methods, and thus preserve the quality of the outerwear.

How to clean outerwear and remove stains?

As we’ve seen, regular care will help preserve the quality of your clothes for longer, but no one is immune to coffee or greasy food stains. In this section, we’ll figure out how best to remove stains from a jacket, and when it’s best to take your outfit to a dry cleaner.

Simple stains can also be removed at home – in this case, it is better to use a soft sponge, soapy water and a damp cloth. Depending on the type of stain, you should choose the appropriate cleaning agent, but avoid aggressive products. Fresh stains should be treated before washing, but do not leave the stain remover on for a long time.

However, it is better to schedule a professional cleaning if:

• The clothes are made of delicate fabrics (cashmere or natural wool). And although you can take care of these fabrics at home, it is better to entrust cleaning to professionals;
• There are difficult stains that are difficult or impossible to remove yourself at home. In this case, you shouldn’t risk a quality item, but rather take it to a dry cleaner;
• The season is over and you can freshen up your clothes before storing them.

How to store outerwear correctly?

In fact, proper storage of winter clothing can make it much easier to care for your outfit and prolong its neat appearance. The rules for storage are quite simple: coats should be hung on hangers with wide shoulders, jackets should be folded neatly but avoid excessive pressure, and trench coats should be stored in special covers to protect them from dust. In general, for better storage, garment covers are a must-have in any wardrobe. We also recommend using special natural moth repellents, such as a lavender bag or cedarwood.

Additional tips from Season

• Use of steam generators. They work well to remove fine wrinkles and odors during storage. This is especially useful for delicate fabrics that cannot be washed frequently.
• Repair minor defects. You can avoid serious problems with your clothes by replacing buttons, fixing seams, or repairing minor damage in advance and regularly.
• Fabric fresheners are a great way to avoid frequent laundry, while freshening clothes and neutralizing unpleasant odors.
• Fresh air. Yes, you can let your clothes “breathe” in the fresh air to get rid of the musty aroma after prolonged storage.
• Check the covers. If outerwear is stored in covers, you should regularly check them for dust or moisture to avoid mold. Or unwanted pests.
• Follow the instructions. Always check the labels on your clothing and follow the manufacturer’s care recommendations.
• No sunlight. Do not leave outerwear in direct sunlight to prevent color fading.

We hope that Season’s tips will help you preserve your clothes and enjoy your stylish and high-quality wardrobe for as long as possible.