Don’t Forget Your Outerwear!

Many people neglect to wash their coats, assuming that, because it doesn’t directly touch their skin, it doesn’t need to be washed as frequently. This is a bad idea, both because coats get frequent use during the colder months and because they’re exposed to the elements. The same goes for your hats and gloves. Who hasn’t occasionally spilled something on their coat or removed their gloves with their teeth? It’s important, now more than ever, that we’re disinfecting all of our clothing on a regular basis.

Confused about how to wash your outerwear? Always start by reading the care instructions on the label. If your coat needs to be dry cleaned, resist the urge to wash it yourself at home. You’re liable to damage it in the process. When in doubt, wash your clothing with cool water on a gentle cycle. Hot water can shrink clothing and mess with colors.

Remind yourself not to go overboard with your cycle size. It may feel tempting to wash all of your family’s coats at once but an overly full washer can both damage your clothing and leave it unclean. You want your laundry to be able to move freely in the washer, not crushed at the bottom of a large pile.

Our final tip is to air dry sweaters. Putting them in the dryer can result in them shrinking and losing their shape. You can’t go wrong with air drying.