Note April 2024:
Jordan has filmed videos that tell the story of his best ways to care for his clothes:
- How to properly maintain your mesh
- How to (properly) maintain your raw jeans
You have internalized the idea that investing in quality clothing that lasts is more interesting than constantly buying cheap ones that won't last.
But what happens if you invest in an expensive piece and it gets damaged? You are necessarily disappointed... This is what we want to avoid through this guide, by giving you the basic advice necessary for caring for your clothes.
It's a question that comes up very often for Nicolò, our expert Community Manager: " Hand wash? How? And when is the dry cleaning? Can I use my washing machine?".
Even if it's not the funniest part of men's fashion, it's something that is absolutely essential because the care of your clothes will directly impact their lifespan.
You will also find Benoît's advice on caring for your clothes here in video .
THE BASICS: DECRYPTING THE LABELS
First of all, it is necessary to be able to decipher the labels on your clothes. This is not the only valid indicator for knowing how to maintain your parts but it is useful! You still need to understand the symbols...
Here are the main ones and their meaning:
If you must wash an item of clothing by hand, remember to rinse it well in cold water and then dry it flat.
The letters "P", "A" or even "F", sometimes present in the circle, correspond to products authorized for dry cleaning. It is the dry cleaners who will have to take them into account.
If you are afraid of damaging certain fabrics (silk or synthetic, for example) when ironing, consider putting a damp cloth between the iron and the garment.
These are the main indications to know, those that are generally found. But be careful, understanding them is not enough to keep our clothes looking new. Let's see together what other points to be vigilant about.
LITTLE ANTI-STAIN TIPS
Well yes, prevention is better than cure! In the same way that we advise you to put a small towel around your neck and on your knees at meal time. 😉
All joking aside, if you stain a piece of clothing, there is ONE rule to know: immediately take a cloth and very hot water, then rub gently on the stain . No soap, no product, NOTHING! If you're doing it right away, hot water is enough.
If you use soap or the like, you risk discoloring your garment and ending up with a white stain once it dries. I speak with full knowledge of the facts because I myself have stained
Fat, grass, sauce, chocolate, soil... This technique - not very complicated - is effective on any type of stain, except blood! On contact with hot water, it “cooks”. So just for the blood, use cold water.
Ok, that's if you noticed the stain and acted in time. But how to remove an encrusted stain?
Take an effective stain remover and, if possible, suitable for the type of stain (milk, egg, grease, pencil, etc.). Be careful, you should never rub a stain with these products! They will kill the fiber and your garment will be ruined...
© My mother always used the ones of this brand and, therefore, me too. I find them quite effective. K2R is often recommended as well.
My mother always used the ones of this brand and, therefore, me too. I find them quite effective. K2R is often recommended as well.
Gently dab the stain to soak it with the product. Leave the recommended time on the bottle to act and never exceed this time. Then wash your garment as you normally do. Really, don't leave it in a laundry bin for a week with stain remover on it.
CARE OF YOUR CLOTHES, PIECE BY PIECE
YES, GOOD SHIRTS ARE MACHINED
I'm going to be very clear about this: a good shirt goes in the washing machine without any problem . I have shirts of different ranges and materials, and I have never had the slightest problem.
The point of the washing machine? It washes much better than hand washing! Especially around the collar and armpits.
In this regard, there are also stain removers that are effective against stains located in these areas. BonneGueule Shirt
Normally, a poplin, Oxford or twill shirt can withstand a two-hour wash (the length of a cotton cycle on most washing machines) without problems. However, I invite you to set the temperature to 30° (always) and the spin to minimum .
Also avoid, as I have already done, wearing colored linen that you have just bought with your white shirts. Personally, it was a red bath towel... and shirts no longer white but pink. But that was a long time ago.
If your shirt is a little fragile, or if it has a particular material, do not hesitate to wash on delicates.
For drying, NEVER use a tumble dryer (this machine is absolute evil, it will only burn your precious clothes). A good old drying rack will do the job 100 times better. Iron it correctly, fold it and presto, that's it.
As a general rule, if you are in doubt, always choose the softest technique .
NO HEAD FOR T-SHIRTS
As with shirts, any t-shirt worthy of the name can be machine washed at 30° without any problem, drying on a washing line. Even high-end organic cotton T-shirts are easy to wash. It's probably the easiest part to wash...
For ultra high-end t-shirts, with blends of silk and modal for example, washing on delicate does the trick. Those who are most concerned can turn to classic hand washing.
And as usual, NEVER tumble dry your t-shirts. In fact, never use a dryer at all . Except for your sheets and towels.
TAKING CARE OF YOUR JEANS
Much has already been said about the maintenance of this room, notably in this article by Nicolò. But in summary, here are the three ways to remember:
- Wash it inside out, in a delicate cycle : the least painful but the most aggressive, the canvas will be very slightly worn after the first washes. Don't forget to add a cap of vinegar, as well as detergent for dark textiles, to fix the colors.
-
Washing in your bathtub , always with your cap of vinegar and detergent for dark textiles. Turn your jeans inside out and let them soak for about twenty minutes, completely stretched out, at the bottom of your bathtub so that they are completely submerged. Rinse thoroughly and
dry in the shade . - Finally, hand washing (or dry cleaning) for very high-end jeans, with a wash or a highly worked material (waxed jeans, for example).
The best option in my opinion: washing in the bathtub.
MANDATORY FLAT DRYING FOR KNIT!
Ah, the delicate subject... It's almost case by case here, depending on the thickness of the mesh and its material.
However, you will have no problem with cotton sweaters, they can be machine washed at 30° without any problem.
For wool knits, on a delicate cycle and in a special bag for fragile textiles , it normally works without a problem.
Never have fun raising the temperature , unless you want to find your sweater in size 6 and in boiled wool.
You can take a look at this article by Michel on the shrinkage of sweaters after washing.
No, it's not a designer tank top, but simply a washing net!
That said, hand washing remains the least dangerous.
Immerse your knit in lukewarm water with half a capful of detergent for delicate fabrics. To dry, you can put your cardigan in a bag for fragile textiles with minimum spin (generally, at 500 revolutions per minute, it will last 5 minutes).
In all cases, drying flat is obligatory! You never put a stitch on a hanger, otherwise it risks becoming completely deformed.
You have probably read that it is possible to dry your mesh between two terry towels. This is indeed the best option, but also the least practical, by far . I challenge you to do it without flooding your bathroom!
There's a special point for cashmere: it's a material that loves water, so don't be afraid to get it wet. The best wash is by hand, in lukewarm water, with a little shampoo.
“Massage” your cashmere in the sink to wash it well. Leave to soak for less than ten minutes, rinse thoroughly and dry as for classic knitwear (with minimum spin or flat on a cloth). Quality cashmere will handle this type of washing without any problems.
Please note: wool and cashmere are relatively easy to wash ; they are materials that do not retain perspiration odors at all. Something to think about for those who feel a compulsive need to wash their clothes too often...
JACKETS, JACKETS, COATS AND SUITS: ALL IN THE CLEAN CLEAN
Dry cleaning is non-negotiable here.
A suit represents an investment but above all, it really cannot be worn if it is even a little damaged. It is therefore important not to do anything with it.
For a coat or jacket, once a year is enough. Before winter for example, or just after.
For a costume, the ideal is around 2/3 times a year . More often would be of no use. Worse, it would attack the fiber. Good suits are made from wool, a breathable material with anti-bacterial properties, so they stay cleaner than you think!
The best thing is to take off your suit when you get home and put it on a hanger, without wearing it the next day, so that it can air out well and the creases come out.
If you thought that dry cleaning was like this delicate little place where we take care of your clothes: think again, it varies greatly! The chemicals used attack the garment, dry cleaning also involves a lot of mechanical friction . So don't go there too often if you don't want to send your clothes to textile heaven a little too quickly.
You can read our article on how dry cleaning works to learn more on the subject.
HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR LEATHER SHOES?
For shoes, there is a specific protocol and different techniques depending on the leather: smooth, suede, suede, etc.
All our shoe care tips can be found here .
I hope this guide will be useful to you and will ease this thorny issue of clothing care. Besides, all the tips are good to take, so don't hesitate to share yours with us in the comments !
