Must-Know Care Tips for Winter Clothing Essentials: Leather, Cashmere, and Silk
It's about that time of winter where your fabulous investment pieces—silk blouses, ankle boots, cashmere sweaters—need some cleaning and rejuvenation (um, when was the last time you washed your leather pants?). We consulted some top garment experts to share the best cleaning and resuscitating tips for our winter wardrobe essentials.
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Courtesy of Otte NY1/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Clean Silk Clothing
For dry-cleaning silk, Kay suggests going for "organic and green ingredients over harsh chemicals," so seek out the appropriate cleaners in your neighborhood. But surprise: You can also clean silk at home! "Hand-wash in cold water with gentle oil-free hand soap. Don't use soap bars, as they can leave griminess. Then squeeze or dab with a towel, and hang on a hanger to dry. Don't twist and wring—it will break the delicate silk fibers." Added tip: "Silks that are already treated, such as water-washed or sand-washed, are less likely to shrink after a wash."
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Courtesy of Otte NY2/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Store Silk Clothing
Kay Lee, owner of NoLIta boutique and boho-cool clothing label Otte New York, knows her way around luxurious, elegant silk. (This draped red dress is so on our spring shopping lists, BTW!) Kay's steadfast rules to live by: "Always hang silk pieces in closets; don't let them ball up in your drawer. Store in cool, dry places and wash immediately after use so that sweat, oils, and dirt don't stain permanently. (Silk is so delicate!) Also, use a steamer instead of an iron for best results and care. If you're going to store something away in a garment bag, use a breathable or fiber material bag, not a plastic garment bag because it might lock in moisture."
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Courtesy of Boden3/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Clean Cashmere Clothing
You can always send your cashmere to a trusted dry cleaner, but there are some cashmere knits (like Boden's) that can be washed at home. Make sure to check the label, or, if possible, ask the shop clerk where you purchased the piece. If you get the green light for machine-washing, Sue suggests to first remove any pills on the knit by hand and then turn the garment inside out. Wash the knit on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent recommended for wool or silk.
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Courtesy of Otte NY4/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Remove Stains From Silk Clothing
While Kay does stand by her wash-after-every-wear advice, she does have some spot-cleaning tips. "Avoid using chemical spot cleaners on silk; it may leave a stain or even remove the dye. Instead, use cold water and gentle oil-free hand soap and dab dry with a towel. Then steam the spot a bit with a steamer to spread the moisture evenly across the garment to minimize water marks."
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Courtesy of Boden5/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Store Cashmere Clothing
As you know, we really love our cashmere, hence we want to keep our knits soft and fresh. We consulted Sue Fairley, director of product technology at Boden, a label that offers soft, plush, and on-trend basics with a British twist. The brand actually has a specially developed knit technology for wash-at-home cashmere. But whether your cashmere is the dry-clean-only or wash-and-go type, you do have to store it properly. Sue's tip: Fold and store your precious pieces in a flat drawer, and do not hang your cashmere (the pieces will warp and lose their shape).
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Courtesy of Veda6/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Clean Leather Clothing
Lyndsey Butler, owner and designer of downtown-cool leather purveyor Veda, makes edgy moto jackets and model-chic leggings that editors and It Girls drool over. But she made a shocking admission to us: "Honestly, I don't clean my leather pants." Wait, what? Lyndsey considers her leather jeans to be like a jacket or pair of boots that she tries to keep in pristine shape at all times. Easier said than done, right? So, for those who need it, here's her advice for spot-cleaning: "Apply some pressure with a cloth or paper towel as soon as possible to absorb the liquid. Whatever you do, don't rub! You don't want to abrade the skin, because there is no going back. For really aggressive stains, bring them to a leather specialist and let them know what you spilled. If you have no stain and just want to have them cleaned, find a dry cleaner who specializes in leather and they will be able to take care of it."
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Courtesy of Boden7/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Hand-Wash Delicate Cashmere
If you're feeling industrious and don't trust machines, you could roll up your sleeves and opt for old-fashioned hand-washing, also with a detergent made for wool or silk. Sue suggests immersing the item in a bowl of tepid water mixed with detergent and gently swirling the piece around with your hands. Rinse it thoroughly, but press out the excess water—DO NOT WRING. To dry, reshape the garment on a flat surface while it's damp and leave it to dry away from direct heat and sunlight. Final words to heed: "Do not tumble-dry cashmere. Ever."
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Courtesy of Veda8/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Spot-Clean Stains on Leather
Determined to take care of a mishap on your own? Butler advises to moisten dirty the area with a damp cloth and gently blow-dry with low heat at a distance, then dilute white vinegar and use a cloth to blot away any winter salt stains, for example. For darker leathers, use leather conditioner or saddle soap. For makeup stains on white leather (SO been there), gently press a piece of masking tape over the smudge and pull off quickly. Definitely spot-test any of these methods on a discreet area first to make sure it doesn't do any damage.
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Courtesy of Boden9/14Winter Wardrobe Tip: A Trick for Freshening Up Leather Pants
Have you heard that old urban legend about putting your leather pants in the freezer? "The freezer trick works!" says Butler. "Put your pants in a tightly sealed plastic bag and leave in the freezer overnight to kill bacteria and eliminate odor. This won't remove stains or anything like that, but it does refresh them. Another thing you can do is just spot-clean the lining of your pants, avoiding the leather. If they have a silk lining, turn them inside out and use a damp cloth to spot-clean that side."
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Courtesy of Boden10/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Protect Leather Boots and Heels
Located in Midtown Manhattan right off Fifth Avenue, Leather Spa is where all the NYC designer shops send their customers to care for leather heels, not to mention near-miraculous shoe and bag repairs. Want to know the insider trick? Right after you buy your heels and before you even THINK about wearing them, go to a professional to put a thin protective rubber sole on your shoe. But make sure you know what you're getting. "Don't be afraid to ask them for a sample of the actual material," advises Leather Spa vice president David Mesquita. "The rule of thumb is to ask to see what sole you'll be getting." The cobbler should try to match the edge finish of the shoe or the entire sole--like how Leather Spa has the exact shade of Christian Louboutin red. Trust us, you don't want a black rubber sole on a camel leather shoe bottom.
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Courtesy of Boden11/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Protect Leather Pants and Jackets
"Nordstrom actually has a great spray available on its website called Cadillac Leather Shield Spray by Macpherson Leather. I usually test a small area first before spraying, but it does the trick! These sprays usually work better on darker-color leather because they can slightly change the color on lighter colors like light tan and white."
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Courtesy of Veda12/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Protect Leather Shoes and Bags
Mesquita also suggests that you treat your leather shoes and bags with a spray-on protectant that repels both water and stains. But look for one made with nanotechnology (like the Leather Spa's formula) because "it's the same as makeup, so it lets the skin breathe." Mesquita suggests spraying the leather item at least once a week, but make sure you brush off any dust or dirt before application. After that, the formula should repel minor stains, so be sure to wipe off any sort of spill the second it happens (yes, even if you dump red wine on your white pumps, as long as you wipe off the offending drops right away, you'll be fine).
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13/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Rescue Worn Winter Boots
Now let's talk about your worn-in (and possibly abused) leather boots that you just can't part with. Mesquita suggests refreshing boots with a leather conditioner such as Lexol. Winter boots are especially in need of moisturizing conditioning because they're constantly exposed to the elements, whether that's beer spillage at the bar or simple salt and snow on the street.
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Courtesy of Veda14/14Winter Wardrobe Care Tip: How to Store Your Leather Goods
Guess what: You're supposed to keep the cardboard boxes your shoes come in! Mesquita reiterates that leather needs to breathe, which storage in cardboard allows (plus, the box protects your heels from dust). If you've already invested in plastic bins, drill holes for ventilation. Shoes—like leather handbags—can also be stored in a dust bag. As for those bags, lay soft leather bags on their side, keep structured bags upright, and don't put anything on top of them. Avoid hanging your bags, which can wear out delicate straps. Mesquita's own wife stuffs her handbags, places them in dust bags, and stands them upright in a row in her closet.
