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A few tips on general garment care which will help reduce environmental impact while saving you money and time….We will update this from time to time and are always interested in hearing what you might have to say. So, if there is something that you do, that you think others might like to know about, please do let us know xx
Machine Washing
80% of the energy used by washing machines, goes on heating the water, so fill the machine. When you want to wash your precious pieces, your delicates or your whites separately, use the shortest cold cycle on the machine. Most modern machines have a 30°, 30 minute cycle., which is perfect for most things. Invest in a good detergent, this is what will remove stains more effectively than a longer wash at a higher temperature. When it comes to detergents, please check for optical whiteners. These are only suitable for your whites and can cause discolouration and spotting on other colours.
Hand Washing
If you only have a few things to freshen up, do a little hand wash. We recommended that this is the only way you wash our knits & delicate items like lace & sheer voiles etc. Use a mild soap, warm water and some fabric conditioner. There are several benefits to this including prolonging the life of your garments, less costs in heating water and mild soaps are kinder to the environment. Just be sure to reshape the garment before letting it line or air dry. Where possible stretching does not prohibit, hang garments on a hanger to dry, which minimises creasing.
Steaming
Steam can be a great way to clean clothes and also to freshen them up between washes. The heat kills bacteria which helps eliminate odours . There are a few different ways to do this. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to a damp washcloth and pop your delicates in the dryer on a short cycle. You can also hang your garments in the bathroom when you are having a shower. Or you can use a garment steamer which is also much faster than ironing (works perfectly for all except the heaviest of garments) once you get used to it. You can also use a sheet of fabric softener in the dryer for a few minutes to freshen garments in between washes.
Brushing
In times past, people used to brush their clothes. It’s an easy way to remove surface dirt and dust. Invest in a soft clothes brush and brush gently. ( We don’t recommend doing this on your knitwear or delicate items!)
Green Dry Cleaners
We recommend dry cleaning some of our pieces which could just be difficult to keeping looking their best by washing, pieces like coats & jackets. These only need cleaning occasionally.
Chemicals in dry cleaning can be really harsh on the environment, on your delicate pieces and are not kind to your skin. Look for “green” dry cleaners who use pressurised CO2 in stead of PERC *
*PERC =Tetrachloroethylene, also known under the systematic name tetrachloroethene, orperchloroethyleneis a chlorocarbon with the formula Cl2C=CCl2. It is a colorless liquid widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics, hence it is sometimes called “dry-cleaning fluid”.
Caring for your cashmere
Always hand wash your cashmere in a gentle soap detergent. Squeeze out the water gently, never rub or wring. Reshape on a large (preferably white) bath towel & roll. Your cashmere can be left to dry like this, in a place that allows the air to circulate.
When completely dry, you can pop into the tumble drier for no more than 2/3 minutes on a COLD cycle. Never ever dry completely in a drier as your cashmere will shrink.
As this is a completely nature wool fibre, pilling may occur especially in areas of friction. This is not a flaw & can be removed with a battery operated pill remover which can be purchased in our accessories department here on the site or in a haberdashery store.
To protect your cashmere out of season, fold in a fabric garment bag with some dried lavender or cedar balls. This will help to protect it from moths.
Always store your cashmere folded rather than hanging & be careful of jewellery. If it is in any way rough, or has prongs typically used for holding stones, do not wear it with your cashmere. Be extra careful around velcro!