Cleaning and Prepping your Fall Wardrobe for the School Year Ahead
Opening day at school has begun for most of us here in Tennessee, which means it’s time to prepare for the long school year ahead. Maintaining your Fall wardrobe and school clothes is important to keep them in good shape all year long. Taking care of your new school clothes, whether you are a teacher, student, the principal or a coach, is important in many aspects, especially because new clothes are pricey. From jeans and tee shirts to khaki pants and sweaters maintaining your fall wardrobe is every bit as important as doing your homework since feeling comfortable and confident in your clothes allows you to focus more on your learning and less on your self-image.
When summer comes to an end it goes without saying how important it is to properly store away your summer clothes and pull out your Fall wardrobe getting it ready to wear. Cleaning and prepping your wardrobe is vital to the start of your school year. Typically, students have little to no regard about storing summer clothes since most dread seeing the end of the summer come to a close and the start of the school year beginning.
Storing your Summer Clothes
When cleaning and prepping your wardrobe for storage it is imperative that you make certain all articles of clothing are thoroughly cleaned before you put them into any type of storage. Why, you may ask. To begin with, any stains that are present on your clothing items will yellow drastically over time and soils that are embedded in fabrics can actually attract insects when put in storage and ultimately result in holes in your garments. By cleaning your clothes thoroughly you ensure that soils are no longer present and that there are no stains that can yellow while in storage.
Linens and silks are very prone to invisible stains so make certain that they are cleaned and have not been worn before you pack them away. The folks here at Jimmy’s Cleaners and Alterations recommend that, since silks are so sensitive and delicate, you have them dry cleaned before packing them away so as to protect the garments and extend their life expectancy.
We also want our clients to understand the importance of storing their summer garments in appropriate containers. Many people feel that the plastic bags used for dry cleaning are suitable for summer storage. But this is not the case at all since they many times contain lubricants and are capable of trapping air inside the bags along with the garments. As a matter of fact, plastic bags in general are not suitable for storage because over time they can contribute to the formation of mildew on your stored garments.
Proper Storage of your Summer Garments
Once your summer clothes are all cleaned and dry cleaned as necessary, it is best to store your clean clothing in cardboard boxes in a dark, dry space like those cardboard storage boxes that fit easily under a bed. When storing clothes it is important to make certain there is no sunlight or even artificial light coming in direct contact of the clothes since this can cause color fading over time. In addition, make certain that you do not store your clothing in a damp or moist space since this can create mold and mildew smells which will be near to impossible to remove when you take the clothes out of storage.
Freshen up Your Fall Wardrobe
You more than likely stored away your sweaters, coats, heavier pants, and wool garments at the end of the fall and winter season last year. These items can present with musty smells when you first take them out of storage. Sweaters can become flattened when in storage, and some garments may have small holes as a result of insects or even present with fading. Once you have examined your fall wardrobe and have determined which garments are suitable to wear, make certain you take a couple of simple steps to freshen them up before wearing. Cleaning and prepping your wardrobe for the fall school months ahead will help you feel confident in your clothes and allow you to give greater focus to your learning and your studies.
Having your fall garments professionally cleaned will certainly rejuvenate them and give them that just like new appearance. Here at Jimmy’s Cleaners and Alterations we are equipped to take care of all your dry cleaning needs, stain treatments and perform any mending or alterations that may be needed. In addition, we can get all your stored boots, leather jackets, scarves, coats and rainwear right back into fall fashion.
Yes, summer is coming to a close and school session is around the corner, so why not take advantage of our convenient pickup and delivery services as well as our weekly discounts here at Jimmy’s Cleaners and Alterations. Get your fall wardrobe freshened up and looking like new for the exciting school year ahead. We look forward to serving you and to being an important part of cleaning and prepping your wardrobe, whether winter, spring, summer or fall.