How do you keep your clothes looking nice?

[OFAHmusical]

I love buying nice clothes from Cos etc, but after the first wash everything comes out stiff and crunchy. Where am I going wrong, mumsnetters? I have a brand new washing machine, a water softener and I use normal powder. Only wash at 30. What else can I do? I can’t bear the thought of hand washing!

Oh I also store all wool/cashmere in ziplock bags with lavender to beat moths!

Tiny amount of liquid non-bio and no fabric softener. I use about one capful for a wash. I rub a bit into DS's stains first! Or washing up liquid on tough stuff e.g. bean sauce stains.

Great thread! I’ve just bought some lovely stuff in the sales. A couple of the pairs of trousers are 100% wool and one pair 100% viscose and are labelled as dry clean only. In people’s experience could you get away with washing at home?

@AmethystMoonShine sorry to jump on but very interested in protecting my cashmere - do you use sprigs of real lavender?

I use method liquid for my non-tumble dry stuff. Powder for everything else.

Squirt of white vinegar in the fabric conditioner compartment.

And definitely use a steamy iron. Clothes look so much better and feel much softer.

I have never had any luck washing dry clean only trousers. I do though was dry cleaner only tops and dresses all the time. But trousers tend to go ‘funny’ for me and not sit right. I got a clothes steamer to use on trousers to get out the creasers and to stretch out the dry cleaning cycle.

@Nettersrunboulder86

Great thread! I’ve just bought some lovely stuff in the sales. A couple of the pairs of trousers are 100% wool and one pair 100% viscose and are labelled as dry clean only. In people’s experience could you get away with washing at home?

If they were £20, I'd risk a cool wool cycle.

If hey were £80 I wouldn't, while they were still new and pristine.

@gnatgnu I use little moth repellent sachet thingies which smell of lavender or also cedar wood balls. I do have a sachet of dried lavender in the draw too. I’ll try to find a link to the little sachets...

@gnatgnu here they are:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008BG6JFK/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_fabc_akY7Fb84Z5EDD?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

@viewsoftheshard @PickAChew thank you. I’ve been thinking about purchasing a steamer for a while so now may be the time!

@AmethystMoonShine Thank you! I’ll get some of those and add ziplock bags to my shopping list which is getting longer after falling down the rabbit hole of that AMA thread - amazing!