How to take care of your clothes during summer (and which ones should be dry cleaned)

Finally, summer is here! Time for long walks on the beach, making barbecues, and enjoying the sun. But this is also the season for higher temperatures and intense heat, so you need to take extra care of your clothes if you want them to last ‘til the next summer.

Dirt from being outside all the time, pollen, and sweat are only a few things that can ruin your clothes during this weather, but to keep them looking like new is not that hard, you just need to know some tips and techniques on how to take care of them in the summer, and we’re going to explain exactly how to do that:

Wash your bright laundry with cold water 

Summer clothes tend to be more colorful, so it’s recommended that you wash vibrant garments with cold water to prevent them from losing their bright colors. 

Washing in cold water can help slow fading of colors and shrink in fabrics” says Stephen Hettinger, director of engineering in washer systems at GE Appliances to BHG.com

Use your hands 

Yes, you should wash your bikinis and swimsuits every time you use them, and always wash them by hand. Bathing suits accumulate sunblock, chlorine from the pool, or salt from the beach water. 

To clean them properly, you must do the following: 

• Rinse the bathing suit in tap cool water for 30 min.
• Add a mild detergent, and submerge them again in the solution, turned inside out. 
• Swish them for some minutes and rinse them off. 
• Gently squeeze the water off the fabric to avoid them from losing elasticity.

The best way to dry them is to hang them and let them dry naturally.

ALSO READ > THE MAJOR CHANGES THE DRY CLEANING INDUSTRIES HAS SEEN IN RECENT YEARS

Always check your clothes before putting them in the washing machine

One thing to check before doing laundry is the pockets, and we know this applies for the whole year, but you should do this, especially in the summer when you can carry sand from the beach. So shake every garment and rinse in the tub before washing.

The sunblock always goes first 

Don’t spray sun tan or sun protection after wearing the clothes. Always apply it before getting dressed, and allow it to fully dry. In that way, you’ll avoid stains on your favorite items.

Silk and linen need extra care

Silk and linen are fabrics usually worn during summer due since they are light and fresh to wear under the sun, but they’re also very delicate, so always read the label to check the right way to clean them and keep them safe from looking worn out.

For linen, It is important to use cold water or a very low temperature, due to the tendency of the fabric to shrink or deform. In addition, if you opt for machine washing, we recommend that you do not use the spinning function.

For silk, if the care label recommends the washing machine, always go for the gentle, cold cycle, but the best way to clean them is to handwash them with a delicate soft laundry detergent in lukewarm water.

Keep your clothes clean 

Sweating is more common during the summer, and according to Frescanatural.com sweat itself isn’t the culprit of the yellow patches! standard commercial antiperspirants have chemicals that are the ones to blame because when they are in contact with sweat, it ignites a reaction that causes yellow sweat stains. ​​Choose aluminum-free deodorants and live a summer free of sweat stains.

Some items might need a visit to the dry cleaners 

During the summer, we washed our clothes way more often than usual, but washing them over and over in the washing machine can take a toll on the materials

Leave the professionals to clean your favorite items, especially rompers, dresses, and jumpsuits, which are usually made with very delicate fabrics, or have elastics that can be weakened in high heat. 

Have a happy, safe and clean summer!