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Winter laundry tips to keep your clothes in top condition

Winter brings hot chocolate, cosy nights, and crisp fresh air in the morning. With all the joy winter can bring, it can also be the source of laundry frustrations. Clothes take longer to dry in the winter due to the cold air but with better preparations, you can stay on top of your laundry. To help you do just that, we’ve compiled a list of winter laundry tips!

winter laundry tips
Photo credit: Adnana Kelic

1. Choose a Room With The Best Drying Space

As the rainy days come more frequently, doing the laundry gets more frustrating. There is less heat so in turn, clothes take longer to dry. Luckily, there are effective ways to dry your clothes indoors.

To keep your clothes in top condition, we recommend drying your clothes in a room that has ventilation as it prevents mould, dampness and moisture damage.

When you do dry your clothes, be sure to place the drying rack next to an open window so there is good airflow that speeds up the drying process. It’s best you also close the door to allow the air to circulate around the room.

winter laundry tips - drying clothes

2. Hang Clothes Properly

As far as winter laundry tips go, hanging clothes properly is right up there in terms of importance. While it may sound obvious, it is unfortunately a common mistake many do. When you are hanging clothes, make sure the thicker clothes go on top so they can dry faster because air circulates most at the top.

For the clothes (i.e. thinner and smaller clothes) that require less time to dry, place them at the bottom.

winter laundry tips - hang clothes properly

3. Make Use Of The Sun

Doing laundry in the winter is like a game of cat and mouse; you need to take advantage of the sun when it is out. If it’s out, get on top of your laundry chores and use the drying clothesline outside so your garments can dry much quicker.

winter laundry tips - hang clothes outside when sunny

4. Re-wear Clothes

In the wintertime, you are less prone to sweating so clothes have less chance of smelling bad. Re-wearing clothes also reduce the amount of time you need to wash your clothes. In reality, washing clothes that aren’t dirty will not preserve their condition and will only waste energy and laundry detergent.

sweater for winter

5. Wash Coats Twice In Winter

Your winter coats are essential for the season. Make sure you take care of them. The minimum times you should be washing them is twice in the winter.

To do this, you need to pour laundry detergent in cold water and place the jacket in it. After this, put the coat inside the washing machine and wash on a gentle cycle for 30 minutes. It’s essential you squeeze it gently before drying it on very low heat.

An extra tip for you, if you do add tennis balls in the dryer with the winter coat, it will help regain the fluffiness!

fur winter clothes

Everybody has a love/hate relationship with winter. As beautiful the scenery can be during this season, it does make laundry difficult, but we hope these 5 winter laundry tips have prepared you well!

laundry service - laundryheap

To learn more about Laundryheap, visit our website or download the free app on iOS or Android.


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Trench coat care guide

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

As we adjust to the changing autumn weather, it’s time to dig out and brush off our coats. The best way to ensure that your coat lasts the whole autumn and winter season is to properly care for it. This is your trench coat care guide

  • Always check the care label 
  • Spot clean
  • Pretreat
  • Machine wash 
  • Dry
  • Keep fresh
  • Store

Always check the care label

As with any item of clothing, before you begin caring for your trench coat you must check the care label. Checking your coats care label will inform you of what fabrics your coat is made from, whether it is safe to machine wash, what temperature you should be washing it at, and whether it is tumble dryer safe. All of this information will help you to care for your trench coat in the appropriate manner. 

Spot clean

Per season you should only be washing your coat 2-3 times. If your trench has a handful of stains, don’t immediately wash it, try and spot clean. To spot clean your trench coat dampen a soft, clean, cloth with diluted vinegar, and gently dab at each stain until it lifts. Avoid rubbing or wiping motions as this can set the stain further into your coat rather than lifting it. You should notice your stains lifting after a handful of dabs, leaving your trench coat clean and ready to wear. 

Photo by Tony Schnagl from Pexels

Pre-treat 

If you have decided that it’s time to wash your trench coat, make sure that you pre-treat any stains before putting it in the washing machine. To pre-treat your stains make a paste from equal parts vinegar and baking soda. Rub this paste into your stains using your fingers, or a soft-bristled brush, and leave it to soak for a minimum of 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, rinse the paste off with lukewarm water. If your stains persist, add two tablespoons of vinegar and two tablespoons of laundry detergent to a bucket of water and leave your trench coat to soak overnight. The mixture will penetrate the stains, lifting them and leaving your trench coat ready for the washing machine. 

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

Machine wash

Even if your trench coat is safe to wash in the washing machine it’s best to take precautions. Before putting your coat in the washing machine turn it inside out and place it in a mesh laundry bag. This will help protect any buttons, zips, and fastenings your trench coat has. Wash your coat on a normal, warm water, cycle, using a gentle laundry detergent. Avoid washing your coat with any other items. 

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Dry

Once your trench coat has been washed, remove it immediately from the washing machine to limit creasing. You should avoid using your tumble dryer, or any other form of heating, to dry your trench coat, instead opting to air dry. Hang your trench coat on a wooden hanger, making sure that it is sitting on the hanger properly to avoid any stretching, and leave it to air dry in an airy open space. It may take a while for your coat to dry completely, but air drying is the best way to ensure that your coat maintains its shape and is not damaged by heat. 

Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels

Keep fresh

To keep your coat healthy it’s important to freshen it up in between washes. If you own a steam cleaner steaming your trench coat a handful of times between washes will help kill bacteria and remove any creases in your coat. To lift odours, you can spray your trench coat with fabric spray, which is perfect for not only removing smells but giving your coat a quick refresher. The final way to keep your coat looking fresh is by regularly brushing it. Gently run a soft-bristled brush over your coat in between wears to lift lint, hair, and fluff. This will ensure that your coat stays looking pristine and ready to wear at all times. 

Photo by Abdulrhman Elkady from Pexels

Store 

During the autumn and winter months make sure that you hang your trench coat up using a clothes hanger, never on a coat peg. Hanging your trench on a clothes hanger will ensure that it maintains its shape and will not stretch. You may also want to avoid hanging your trench in direct sunlight as this can sometimes make the colour fade. 

When the autumn and winter is over, wash your trench coat one last time, making sure that your pockets are empty, fold it, and store it in a cotton storage bin. This will help keep it fresh and mould free until you need it again next year. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

If you are concerned about washing your trench coat, or your coat is dry clean only, we’re here to help. Book your Laundryheap service by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app. 


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Winter coat care guide

A winter coat is a wardrobe essential this time of year. In order for it to last the whole of winter, and beyond, you must make sure that you are taking care of it. 

  • Empty your pockets
  • Always hang it up 
  • Brush it over
  • Remove stains immediately
  • Wash twice a season 
  • Always read the care label 
  • Send it to Laundryheap

Empty your pockets 

Every time you take off your coat make sure that you empty out your pockets. Leaving heavy objects, such as keys, in your pocket for an extended period of time can lead to sagging and your coat becoming misshapen. 

Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

Always hang it up 

Hanging up your coat will prevent it from becoming wrinkled and dirtied by people interacting with it. It’s best to hang your coat on a wooden hanger as these are sturdy and less likely to break. Make sure it is hung in an airy location so that it has room to reshape and rid itself of any lingering smells it may be carrying. For the best results, leave your coat for 24 hours before re-wearing.

Brush it over

To maintain the cleanliness of your coat, brush it after every wear. A suede brush will help to remove any oils that have built up throughout the day, and a lint roller will remove any lint, fluff, or threads on the surface. This will increase your coats longevity and help you maintain a presentable appearance.

Remove stains immediately 

If you find a stain, do not panic. Use a damp cloth to gently pat the stain, making sure that you do not rub it as this could damage the fibres. If your coat is woollen, you can add a small amount of laundry detergent to your cloth and continue patting. If your coat is suede, try using a pencil eraser to remove the stain

Remember, it is always best to treat stains as soon as you notice them.

Wash twice a season

Your coat should be washed at the beginning and end of every season. This will help prevent moths from infesting it during the spring and summer months. In addition, washing your coat twice a season will remove the dust, bacteria, and pollution that it picks up as you wear it, ensuring that it remains in top condition. 

Photo by Ekaterina Belinskaya from Pexels

Always read the care label

Before you wash your coat you should always read the care label. Some coats, such as those made of wool, can be hand washed at home using a mild detergent and lukewarm water. Other coats, such as suede ones, may be dry clean only. To make sure that you are taking care of your coat in the appropriate way you must always check the care label first. 

Send it to Laundryheap  

If you are not confident when it comes to washing your coat, we’ve got you covered. We will pick up your coat, wash or dry-clean it depending on the care label instructions, and re-deliver it back to you, in top condition, within 24-hours.

To book your Laundryheap service, head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.