Note April 2024:
Jordan shot two videos, which you can see above, which show in pictures the best ways to care for your jeans and knitwear.
- How to properly care for your knitwear
- How to (properly) maintain your raw denim
You've internalized the idea that investing in quality, long-lasting clothing is more valuable than continually buying cheap ones that won't last.
But what happens if you invest in an expensive piece and it gets damaged? You are bound to be disappointed... This is what we want to avoid through this guide, by giving you the basic advice necessary for the maintenance of your clothes.
This is a question that Nicolò, our amazing Community Manager, asks very often: " Hand wash? How? And when is the dry cleaning? Can I use my washing machine?"
Even though 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 BASIS: DECRYPT THE LABELS
First of all, you need to be able to decipher the labels on your clothes. This isn't the only valid indicator for knowing how to care for your clothes, but it's useful! You still need to understand the symbols...
Here are the main ones and their meaning:
If you have to wash a garment by hand, remember to rinse it well in cold water and then lay it flat to dry.
The letters "P", "A" or "F", sometimes present in the circle, correspond to the products authorized for dry cleaning. It is the dry cleaner who will have to take them into account.
If you are worried about damaging certain fabrics (silk or synthetics, for example) when ironing, consider placing a damp cloth between the iron and the garment.
These are the main indications to know, those that are generally found. But be careful, it is not enough to understand them to keep our clothes like new. Let's see together what are the other points on which to be vigilant.
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 times. 😉
Jokes aside, if you stain a garment, there is ONE rule to know: immediately take a cloth and very hot water, then gently rub on the stain . No soap, no product, NOTHING! If you do it immediately, hot water is enough.
If you use soap or something else, you risk discoloring your garment and ending up with a white stain once it dries. I speak from experience as I myself stained a pair of green pants this way .
Grease, grass, sauce, chocolate, dirt... This technique - not very complicated - is effective on all types of stains, except blood! When it comes into contact with hot water, it "cooks". So just for blood, use cold water.
Okay, that's if you noticed the stain and acted in time. But how do you remove a stubborn stain?
Use an effective stain remover, and if possible, one that is suitable for the type of stain (milk, egg, grease, pencil, etc.). Be careful, never rub a stain with these products! They will kill the fiber and your garment will be ruined...
© My mother has always used this brand and so have I. I find them quite effective. K2R is often recommended as well.
My mother has always used this brand and so have I. I find them quite effective. K2R is often recommended as well.
Gently dab the stain to soak it in the product. Leave it to act for the time recommended on the bottle and never exceed this time. Then wash your garment as you normally do. Seriously, don't leave it in a laundry basket for a week with stain remover on it.
CARE OF YOUR CLOTHES, PIECE BY PIECE
YES, GOOD SHIRTS ARE MACHINE WASHABLE
Let me be very clear about this: a good shirt can be machine washed without any problem . I have shirts of different ranges and materials, and I have never had the slightest problem.
The advantage of the washing machine? It washes much better than hand washing! Especially around the collar and armpits.
By the way, 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 duration of a cotton cycle on most washing machines) without any problems. However, I recommend that you set the temperature to 30° (always) and the spin cycle to a minimum .
Also, avoid, as I have already done, putting a colored cloth 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 is made of a particular material, do not hesitate to wash on delicate cycle.
For drying, NEVER use a tumble dryer (this machine is absolute evil, it will only burn your precious clothes). A good old clothes horse will do the job 100 times better. Iron it properly, fold it and voila, that's it.
As a general rule, if in doubt, always go for the softer technique .
NO HASSLE ABOUT T-SHIRTS
As with shirts, any decent T-shirt can be machine washed at 30°C and dried on a clothesline. Even high-end organic cotton T-shirts are easy to wash. This is probably the easiest item to wash…
For ultra-high-end T-shirts, with silk and modal blends for example, a delicate wash will do the trick. The more worried can turn to a classic hand wash.
And as usual, NEVER tumble dry your t-shirts. In fact, never tumble dry them at all . Except for your sheets and towels.
TAKING CARE OF YOUR JEANS
Much has already been said about the maintenance of this piece, notably in this article by Nicolò. But in summary, here are the three ways to do it to remember:
- Wash it inside out, on 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 capful of vinegar, as well as detergent for dark fabrics, to fix the colors.
- Washing in your bathtub , always with your cap of vinegar and detergent for dark fabrics. Turn your jeans inside out and let them soak for about twenty minutes, completely spread 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.
FLAT DRYING REQUIRED FOR KNITWEAR!
Ah, the delicate subject… It’s almost case by case here, depending on the thickness of the mesh and its material.
However, you won't have any problems with cotton sweaters, they can be machine washed at 30°.
For wool knitwear, on a delicate cycle and in a special bag for fragile textiles , it normally works without any problem.
Never bother turning up the temperature , unless you want to find your size 6 boiled wool sweater.
You can take a look at this article by Michel on sweater shrinkage after washing.
No, it's not a designer tank top, just a laundry net!
That said, hand washing remains the least dangerous.
Dip your knit in lukewarm water, with half a cap of detergent for delicate fabrics. To dry, you can put your cardigan in a bag for delicate fabrics on a minimum spin cycle (usually, at 500 revolutions per minute, it will last 5 minutes).
In any case, flat drying is mandatory! Never put a knit on a hanger, otherwise it risks becoming completely deformed.
You've probably read that it's possible to dry your knitwear between two terry towels. This is indeed the best option, but also the least practical, and by far . I challenge you to do it without flooding your bathroom!
There is a special point for cashmere: it is a material that loves water, so do not be afraid to wet it. The best washing is by hand, in lukewarm water, with a little shampoo.
"Massage" your cashmere in the sink to wash it well. Let it soak for less than ten minutes, rinse thoroughly and dry as you would for classic knitwear (with a minimum spin cycle or flat on a cloth). A quality cashmere will withstand this type of washing without any problems.
Please note: wool and cashmere are relatively infrequently washed , as 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, COATS, AND SUITS: ALL AT THE DRY CLEANERS
Dry cleaning is non-negotiable here.
A suit is an investment, but above all, it really can't be worn if it's even a little damaged. It's therefore important not to do just anything with it. Bonnegueule Suit
For a coat or jacket, once a year is enough. Before winter for example, or just after.
For a suit, the ideal is about 2/3 times a year . More often would be useless. Worse, it would attack the fiber. Good suits are made of wool, a breathable material with anti-bacterial properties, so they stay cleaner than you think!
The best thing to do is to take off your suit when you get home and hang it on a hanger, without wearing it the next day, so that it can air out properly and the creases can come out.
If you thought that dry cleaning was this delicate little place where your clothes are taken care of: think again, it varies greatly! The chemicals used are harsh on the clothing, dry cleaning also involves a fair amount of mechanical friction . So don't go 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 about the subject.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR LEATHER SHOES?
For shoes, there is a specific protocol and different techniques depending on the leather: smooth, suede, etc.
All our shoe care tips can be found here .
I hope this guide will be useful to you and will demystify this thorny issue of clothing care. Besides, all tips are good to take, so don't hesitate to share yours with us in the comments !
