It takes a lot of work to find a business wardrobe that fits well, looks good, is versatile and can be worn to a number of events and occasions. So once you have assembled a collection of dress clothes, it is well worth it to invest the time in caring for them properly. After all, if you don't properly care for your dress clothes, you will be out buying new ones before your time. Maintaining your dress clothes helps them to age gracefully and look good each time you wear them.
Button Up Shirts:
Chances are you have a good number of button up dress shirts in your wardrobe because they are so versatile. Most button up shirts are machine washable, and should be washed in cold or lukewarm water on a gentle cycle. Don't wash your white shirts in bleach every time, as this can actually cause yellowing. Only wash your white shirts in bleach if they start to look dingy and need to be freshened up, maybe every 6 months or so. Before ironing any shirt, you will need to check it for rips, tears, stains, or loose buttons. If you do spot a stain at any time, make sure to treat it before ironing it or putting it in the dryer, as heat will cause the stain to set. Do not use starch when ironing a shirt, as this will weaken the fibers and cause them to quickly wear down. For a crisp look, purchase shirts with a high quality thread count and iron them using steam. When hanging button up shirts in your closet, try to leave an inch or two between each hanger in order to allow the shirts to drape naturally. If you aren't one to spend the time in your laundry room, dress shirts should only be dry cleaned every so often. Not after every time you wear them or they will need to be replaced more frequently. A suggestion to prolong the life of the shirt is to wear an undershirt and wash that each time.
Ties and Necktie Accessories:
Any time you remove a tie, take the time to basically follow the tying steps in reverse. If you simply pull the thin end of the tie through the knot to remove it, you risk ruining the tie's shape. The way you store your ties is also very important to maintaining their shape and appearance. As soon as you take a tie off, hang it on a tie hanger or dowel in your closet. Whether a tie is silk or wool, the fabric is impressionable, and your ties should therefore be hung with care. When traveling, you can safely transport your ties by folding them into fours, or rolling them, then tucking them inside a sock. To avoid wrinkles, never wear the same tie two days in a row. Allow it to hang in order to regain its shape. When storing tie accessories, it is best to store sterling silver away from other pieces made of the same material. Storing sterling silver items together causes them to rub up against each other and possibly tarnish. An easy solution is to store your necktie accessoriesand cuff links in simple felt pouches, in a compartmentalized jewelry box, or wrapped in a piece of tissue paper.
Suits,Trousers, and Sport Jackets:
It may seem like a good idea to keep items such as this in airtight plastic garment bags. However, it is much more beneficial to store your suits in a place where air flow can get to them and they can breathe a bit. Plastic covering actually makes your clothing susceptible to mold, mildew and musty smells. Suits, trousers and sport jackets should be hung upright on wooden hangers. Cedar hangers are also a good option because they help absorb moisture and prevent moths. It is commonly thought that any time you get a item of dress clothing wrinkled, you must get it dry cleaned. In truth, you only need to get these items dry cleaned if they get irrecoverably dirty or smelly. Most items will be fine if you simply hang them up on your wooden hangers and let them breathe for a while. Plus, dry cleaning uses chemicals that wear down the fiber of your clothing, so it is best to do it as infrequently as possible. To freshen up your suits, trousers, sport jackets and even ties between wears, consider investing in a hand held steamer. Small stains can be steamed out, as can wrinkles.
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