Vinegar, cornstarch, alcohol, sodium bicarbonate, this is a list of those homemade things that you can use to recover the garments that have earned the reputation of being the most difficult to take care of the closet.
Vinegar, cornstarch, alcohol, sodium bicarbonate, this is a list of those homemade things that you can use to recover the garments that have earned the reputation of being the most difficult to take care of the closet.
If for fear that they remain as cardboard if you clean them, you go through life with dirty suede shoes or leather jackets with stains of the era before the Internet, this is for you. If you take care of these garments more earnestly than a six-month-old baby or you avoid buying them at all because the mere idea of their cleaning and maintenance makes you rash, too.
The good news is that it is not necessary to spend fortunes on professional cleanings. There are measures you can take to prevent disasters, as well as to rescue your clothes when the damage is already done.Here, a list of the clothes that have earned the reputation of being the most difficult to care for, and the steps to follow in Each case to avoid headaches.
Suede garments
Before using them
-The key to all effective maintenance, as in so many other areas of life, is prevention. And as for How to clean suede garments and other impossible fashion, this is done by sealing the garment before using it to prevent liquids from penetrating and causing stains.
- There are special sealant for suede like the Nikwax Nubuck & Suede Spray-On Waterproofing or the Scotchgard ™ Leather Protector for Suede and Nubuck, for sale in most pharmacies.
- An essential step, however, is to brush your garment with a special suede brush before sealing it and after doing so. It is important to brush only the direction of the strands and not vice versa or in both directions. -Depending on the use you give to the garment, this process should be carried out every four months or so.
When there are already spots
-Stains can be removed in several ways. One, is to brush the garment in the stained area (in case of not having a brush, an eraser or even a nail file can be used). Remember that you only brush the sense of the strands and not vice versa or in both directions.
-After brushing the garment, moisten a dry cloth with a little white vinegar and clean the stain with it very gently.
-Another way to treat liquid spots at the moment they happen is to dry the area with a towel and apply a thin layer of talcum powder or cornstarch, and allow it to dry for about 12 hours, then brush the area (with the special suede brush).
How to save them
-The suede is, in the end, skin. And the skin needs to breathe. Store your suede garments in a breathing bag, that is, in a made of natural materials such as cotton or linen, and never in a plastic bag.
Before using them
- Although, like suede, leather garments require a pre-use treatment, unlike suede, the one applied to leather should not only repel liquids (and thus stains), but also soften it . To this end, there are products such as Nikwax, Bag Balm and Sno-Seal Original Beeswax Waterproofing that must be applied every three to four months.
When there are already spots
-All leather garments need cleaning from time to time, and much can be achieved with a little mild soap or even shampoo, water, rags and mink oil (in case you do not have mink oil, olive oil It is a good substitute, although it should be used in smaller quantities).
-Put some soap or shampoo on a slightly damp cloth, and clean the garment as you would any surface. Once you're done, use another dry cloth to absorb excess soap and water and allow the garment to dry in the shade. Once it is completely dry, use a cloth with a minimum amount of oil and apply a thin layer to the garment. Absorb the excess with a clean cloth and allow the garment to dry completely before reuse.
-For stubborn stains like those of ink, a soft carving with some alcohol for pharmaceutical use applied with a white cloth (a colored cloth can be discolored with alcohol and stain your garment) usually solves the problem.
How to take away the bad smell
-A common problem is the bad smell that accumulates over time inside leather garments, especially jackets. An effective and economical solution is to wrap the garment with a plastic bag and store it in the freezer overnight.
How to save them
-As with suede, store your leather garments in a bag made of natural materials such as cotton or linen, and never in a plastic bag.
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