Opening Words

As a young professional just starting work, I deeply understand how expensive clothes can be. Every time I see my hard-earned new clothes turn yellow and wrinkled due to improper care, my heart bleeds. I remember my first UNIQLO white T-shirt - after just one month of improper washing, it turned yellow. Looking at myself in the mirror, I wanted to slap myself.

However, after years of exploration and summarizing, I finally found a reliable set of clothing care methods. Now my clothes not only last longer, but they're in such great condition that my friends think I'm always buying new ones! Today I'll share my experience with you, hoping to help you save money on clothes and spend it on more meaningful things.

Classification is Key

To be honest, I used to be a "laundry killer" who thought throwing everything in the washing machine would do. Until once, I washed my new red hoodie with my favorite white T-shirt - you can guess the result. My white T-shirt turned completely pink. Seeing that 200-yuan T-shirt ruined, I almost cried.

Since then, I've become very careful about sorting laundry. Now I have five laundry baskets in my apartment for:

Whites: White T-shirts, white shirts, white socks, etc. Light colors: Beige, light gray, pink, and other light-colored clothes Dark colors: Black, navy blue, dark gray, and other dark clothes Intimates: Underwear, undershirts, etc. Athletic wear: Sports clothes, jerseys, sports bras, etc.

You might say this is too much trouble. But trust me, once it becomes a habit, the process feels natural. Besides, would you want your clothes worth hundreds of yuan "hurting" each other?

I've labeled each basket to avoid confusion. Sometimes when there aren't enough clothes of one category, I'll wait until I have enough for a full load. This saves water and electricity while ensuring each piece gets appropriate care.

The Art of Pre-treatment

Now I do a quick "security check" before each wash. Honestly, this habit has saved me a lot of money. Once I almost threw pants with earphones in the pocket into the washing machine - thankfully I caught it in time. Just think, I would have had to spend hundreds on new earphones.

So now my pre-treatment process goes like this:

First, I carefully check all pockets. Whether pants or jackets, no pocket goes unchecked. You never know what "surprises" might be hiding in pockets. I once left tissues in a pocket, and after washing, all clothes were covered in white bits - extremely troublesome to clean up.

Then I check for stains. This step is especially important because different stains need different treatments. For coffee stains, I immediately rinse with clean water and then use a professional stain remover. For oil stains, I first absorb surface oil with kitchen paper, then use a degreasing cleaner.

I remember once when eating hotpot, I accidentally got sesame sauce on my new white hoodie. I immediately wiped off the surface sauce with tissues, and when I got home, I treated it with a professional stain remover. Now you can't tell there was ever a stain on that hoodie.

For athletic wear, I pay special attention to underarm areas and collars, as these areas are most prone to sweat stains. I usually gently scrub these areas with a brush and special stain remover to better remove stains and odors.

Water Temperature Matters

Regarding water temperature, I've really made quite a few mistakes. At first, I thought the dirtier the clothes, the hotter the water should be, which resulted in ruining several pieces. After researching extensively and experimenting, I finally found the most suitable temperatures.

Specifically, this is how I do it now:

Regular cotton clothes: I usually use 40-degree water. This temperature effectively removes dirt without damaging the fabric. My UNIQLO white T-shirt has been washed at this temperature, and after more than a year, it's still white.

Intimates: I use slightly higher temperature, about 45 degrees. Since these items directly contact skin, they need better cleaning. But not too hot, or it'll damage the elastic fibers.

Athletic wear: I usually use 30-35 degree water for these. Most athletic wear contains elastic fibers, and high temperatures will affect their elasticity and functionality. I have a Li-Ning sportswear that's maintained its elasticity well after two years thanks to this scientific care.

Wool and silk: For these delicate items, I use water below 30 degrees and usually hand wash. Though more troublesome, it keeps clothes in better condition. My UNIQLO merino wool sweater has lasted so long thanks to this care method.

The Science of Drying

Speaking of drying, there's quite a bit to learn. I made a big mistake before, thinking stronger sunlight was better, which resulted in my favorite UNIQLO jeans fading. Since then, I've studied the art of drying.

First is location selection. My current drying strategy is:

White clothes: These can be safely sun-dried, as sunlight helps sterilize and bleach. But avoid intense sun - I usually choose before 10 AM or after 4 PM.

Dark clothes: These need special attention, best dried in ventilated areas away from direct sunlight. I hung a sunshade on my balcony specifically for dark clothes.

Intimates: I dry these in well-ventilated but relatively private places. After all, these private items shouldn't be too visible. Plus, I've found underwear maintains better elasticity when dried in shade.

Athletic wear: I choose partially sunny spots for these. Athletic wear tends to have odors and needs some sunlight for sterilization, but not too strong to avoid damaging functional fabrics.

The drying method is also important. I now shake clothes gently before hanging, which reduces wrinkles. I hang shirts on hangers, and for T-shirts, I fold them and clip the shoulders, which prevents obvious clip marks after drying.

Special Fabrics Need Special Care

Honestly, I knew nothing about different fabric properties at first. Until once, I threw a 100% wool sweater in the washing machine, and like magic, it shrunk from L to XS - a real tragedy. Since then, I've seriously studied care methods for different fabrics.

Wool items: These are most delicate. I now hand wash using special wool detergent. Water temperature below 30 degrees, and washing must be very gentle - no wringing, just gentle pressing. Dry flat to prevent deformation. My current wool sweater has been cared for this way and still looks great after two years.

Silk items: These also need special attention. I use silk-specific detergent, keeping water temperature below 30 degrees. Wash as gently as handling a baby. Must avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading and becoming brittle.

Jeans: These don't need frequent washing - I usually wash after 3-4 wears. Wash inside out in cold water to prevent fading. Better to air dry than use a dryer.

Down jackets: I use these every winter. Must use special down jacket detergent - regular detergent will damage the loft. Rinse multiple times to ensure all detergent is removed. Pat regularly while drying to prevent clumping.

Daily Care is Important

Actually, clothing care isn't just about washing - daily maintenance is equally important. Now, the first thing I do after work is change clothes, letting them "rest".

I air out changed clothes in a ventilated place to disperse body odors. Especially for suits and formal wear, they must be hung up after wearing to naturally release wrinkles, reducing the need for ironing.

For sweaters, I fold them neatly in drawers with scented paper between them, maintaining their shape while adding a subtle fragrance.

I also regularly maintain bags and leather shoes. I wipe leather goods with special care products to maintain softness. I use shoe trees or bag shapers after use to maintain their shape.

Through these detailed care practices, my clothes maintain great condition. Friends often ask if I frequently buy new clothes, but it's actually these small techniques keeping old clothes in good shape.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, when I first started doing these things, I thought it was too troublesome. But seeing my clothes lasting longer and staying in better condition made me feel it was all worth it.

Moreover, through these care methods, I save at least 3,000 yuan annually on clothing expenses. This money can be invested or spent on treating myself to good food - isn't that better?

Now, though I don't have many clothes in my closet, each piece is well-maintained and looks presentable. This taught me a lesson: the value of clothes isn't in quantity but in how you treat them.

If you also want your clothes to last longer, try these methods. I believe you can become a clothing care expert too!