How to look after things - tips and tricks

[Piccolino2]

I realise this post may make me look like an idiot but here goes.... I’ve reached my late 30’s and started to buy some really good quality things that I want to look after and I want them to last for ages. It has now occurred to me that I need some tips (especially for shoes). How did I never learn this stuff before??!

So far I’ve got:

• cashmere bags - to prevent moth holes and those wooden disks to deter them

• proper handwashing of cashmere/wool jumpers - using woolite - is there anything better?

• using a good cashmere comb on jumpers to debobble- hate doing this but it looks so much better

• shoes - I need to start using protector spray - but how often? How do I actually clean muddy leather boots and with what? What about suede cleaning? What do the shoe brushes do and what about buffing?

• leather nourishing - got some Renapur from Amazon to treat boots, shoes and handbags. How often?

• washing:

Denim - cold wash, as little as possible Woolite dark for dark loads Bio for whites - will it fade colours? I also put vanish white/colours in with the load. Best stain removers? I recently got some mould and oil stains out of clothes with some fairy and a nail brush so very pleased with that too.

Dry cleaning - I’ve started trying to use the dry cleaners as little as possible - never feel my clothes are really clean after, I’ve been lazy and surprisingly a lot of things can just be hand washed or machine hand washed.

Anyone use a steamer instead of ironing? Any good recs?

Jewellery - real stuff to be cleaned with some fairy and a toothbrush at least weekly.

Any tips and tricks welcome

I was told that taking out your jumpers and giving them a good shake every couple of weeks gives the moths less chance to leave their mark.

Thanks bike for the iron on patch link :)

With suede shoes, if there’s an actual mark where something has spilled on the shoe, I rub it off gently with a little piece of sandpaper.

As for the blue jumper, it depends on what it’s made of. If it’s anything natural you will be able to dye it. If wool, be careful to follow the instructions carefully. Anything too hot followed by cold water will leave you with a very small, felted jumper.

Thanks @EnidButton - going to order a brush now!

Lakeland do a very nice Lavender Wool Wash which comes in a bigger bottle than Woolite, I think. £4.99 for a litre. It's very gentle and the Lavender scent is said to deter moths.
I also buy the lavender moth killer plastic sachets (when they have run out the word END appears) to put in with my cashmere jumpers. I also use the hanging version of the same thing in the wardrobes.
www.amazon.co.uk/Acana-Freshener-Sachets-Lavender-Fragrance/dp/B008BG6JFK/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&keywords=moth+killer&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1521653514&sr=1-5

How to clean a leather handbag:

1. Do it. Every six months, and your handbags will last years longer, really.
2. Antibac and wipe the outside, especially the bottom corners and the straps. Ditto inside zips - these are the areas that get usage grime.
3. Hoover, wipe and febreze the inside lining and pockets.
4. Polish the outside with clear shoe polish, esp corners and straps. 6. There you go, look at that massive difference.

Tipz:

1. Never ever use coloured shoe polish unless you want to ruin your jackets and coats.
2. If you've got scuffs and bits where the colour is coming off, match the colour to a suede (not leather) dye on ebay and paint over the dodgy bits, rub it in and then polish.
3. If you're cleaning prior to storing them, stuff a couple of carrier bags or newspapers in so they don't get crushed and knackered in the cupboard.

I have never had any cashmere items, or jewels, or leather etc,it must be quite tedious to keep going out to purchase products to keep things in good order. I was thinking, that if you have all these expensive items, that the places that you bought them from, would have given you advice, or information about keeping them all looking good for ever.

There's a 15 minute cycle on my washing machine. I've started using that with just three or four items in it rather than a full wash that ruins fabric and colour.

I only ever buy cashmere sweaters now and ime, tumbling them on a cool setting is far better for them than drying them flat. They come up fluffy and even, with no shrinking or pilling.

Shoe trees are good to keep the shape of good quality shoes. Same goes for boot supports.

@LanaorAna2 do those helpful instructions apply to leather jackets too? I love mine and want to make it last as long as possible. Loving this thread OP!

I have never had any cashmere items, or jewels, or leather etc,it must be quite tedious to keep going out to purchase products to keep things in good order. I was thinking, that if you have all these expensive items, that the places that you bought them from, would have given you advice, or information about keeping them all looking good for ever.

My cashmere comes from Uniqlo which is a high street shop. It has a care label the same as any other garment from there. It doesn't come with a full manual, no.

I don't find it tedious to have things that will last for years and years if looked after properly

I did find it tedious and a false economy to buy cheap clothes and shoes and bags that wouldn't last, and would either cost almost as much as the original item to be repaired, or simply wasn't able to be repaired. It's less tedious to maintain items than to keep having to replace them!

Yes they do. But you want to spend time on the inside collar and cuffs, because that's where the wear is.

Don't scrub that hard on these areas or the colour will come out. You can redye with a paintbrush and a £3 pot from ebay if so, but be gentle because they'll go in the end. When they go they look better, by the way, so that's not a problem. You want a jacket to have a bit more wear than a bag and it looks best when it's authentic ie from you.

If a jacket is really knackered, stuff it in the washing machine on a wool wash. Cool water, little spin. The better quality the jacket, the better the result.

Do not sue me if it dies - but I have to say this has never happened to me. Stretch it out over a hanger and dry it sloooowly. I've chucked leather in with disinfectant if I've bought it second hand, too.

And yes, I do machine wash Burberrys and designer coats. Thing is, the more expensive the fabric, the tougher it is. As long as you don't boil it for 2 hours, you should be ok.

It doesn't come with a full manual, no.

Someaddedsugar. My Dad taught me to steam my suede shoes/boots over the steam from a kettle - works a treat - I use a rubber brush bought from Shoe stor/Wilkinsons

Make sure you have a surfeit of cashmere combs. They are the sartorial version of lip balm and you can never find the buggers when you need one. Oh - and more lint roller than is humanly possible.

I would say boot shapers
My dune boots I got in 2011 still doing well

I wash jewellery in fairy but use very hot water leave to stand for half hour comes up lovely without any brushing that may scratch jewellery

Bio POWDER (except colour or eco powders) will eventually fade colour as it contains bleaching agents, liquids won’t as quickly as they don’t contain bleaching agents, but downside to liquids is that bleach agents are handy for keeping machine free of mould and mildew and keeping clothes sanitary.

Vanish will also eventually fade colours (even the one for colours) as again they both contain oxygen based bleaching agents.

Another thing to watch for is detergents also contain optical brighteners, this gives whites that white glow and will make bright colours “pop” and brighter, but it can also cause a whitish/dusty hue on darks, so woolite dark really is the best for this, or another a detergent without optical brightners (Persil colour liquid springs to mind).

But remember, if a detergent can remove stains (coffee, curry, black currant etc, then it has the capability to remove dye colour).

But no matter how good the quality of clothes, no matter how good the machine and even if you use the top of the range and most expensive detergents, eventually just the act of laundering (and wearing) will cause colours to fade, there is no stopping it, just slowing it down.