Revealed! The secrets to
making your clothes look
better and last longer.

The Federal Trade Commission has developed a series of symbols to explain how you should care for your garment. We’ve made a handy-dandy cheat sheet for you.

The easiest way to clean any garment is to take it to your local ZIPS, but if you choose at-home care, please follow the tips below: General care instructions for cotton Difficulty: Easy Machine wash – whites can be washed in hot, colored fabrics in cold Tumble dry Warm to hot iron General care instructions for linen Difficulty: Moderate Machine wash with chlorine-free bleach in warm water Hang to dry or tumble dry on medium heat Warm to hot iron General care instructions for wool Difficulty: Moderate – check the labels Machine wash in cold on delicate cycle or hand wash Lay flat to dry General care instructions for polyester Difficulty: Easy Machine wash in warm water Tumble dry on low General care instructions for rayon Difficulty: Super Easy Dry clean only – better call ZIPS

If a piece of clothing is damaged when you wash or dry clean it according to the manufacturer instructions, it might be defective. Return it to the store where you bought it. If you don’t remember where you bought it, send it back to the manufacturer. If you need help returning the garment to the store or retailer, the FTC provides a sample complaint letter.

You can also submit a complaint to the FTC online regarding a defective garment.

As the temperature changes, most of us will start the semi-annual, dreaded ritual of switching out our closets. Before you switch out your clothes, there are a few guidelines that you should follow.

• Clean all clothes before storing; never store dirty clothes. Stains can set with age, and dirty clothes attract bugs.
• Fold your clothes for long-term storage. Hangers stress the fabric, leading to thinning and damage.
• Always store clothing in temperature-controlled environments, such as an extra closet or under your bed.
• Use tight-sealing, waterproof containers with locking lids to keep bugs and moisture out and prevent mildew.
• You can use cedar closets, moth balls, or sachets of natural insect repellants, but remember to replace regularly and choose a product with a scent you won’t hate next season.
• If you need alterations or repair work done, have it done before storing the garment.
• Before storing your garments, go through them and give away what you don’t use.

Repeated rubbing and abrasion in local areas of garments creates thinning. After wearing several times, the fabric can become threadbare. When your item is cleaned by you at home, or by us at ZIPS, the thin fabric ‘splits’ and holes or tears are formed.

The short answer is sunlight and sweat. A little gross, huh? If you spend a lot of time outside, the sun will fade your clothes, including hats, pants, shorts and jackets. If you notice this type of discoloration on relatively new items, return them to the place of purchase. It is expected for your garments to be exposed to moderate light, and the dyes should be durable to this normal condition of use.

Oh, no! What a waste! Fortunately, you should be able to save your clothing, if not the wine. As long as the items are washable and won’t bleed color when washed – if your item is likely to bleed the label will say wash separately or wash with similar colors – you can follow the guidelines below.

Red wine is very tricky, and the longer the stains are in the fabric, the more difficult the stains will be to remove. You can get a product called Wine-A-Way at Bed Bath & Beyond or similar stores. Follow the directions on the package for the best removal.

White wine is a little bit easier to remove. It will require hand or machine washing, and possibly adding 2-3 ounces of vinegar per gallon of water. If your clothing is fragile, you may need to hand wash in a sink. Otherwise, you can clean the items in the washing machine.