Clothing care
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Place a damp washcloth or towel in the dryer with wrinkled clothes on high heat for 5-10 minutes.
The moisture creates steam that removes wrinkles.
- Results may not look as crisp or professional as ironed clothes.
- Less effective on heavier clothing; better for lighter fabrics.
10 people, independently
- Use the dryer's 'refresh' or steam setting to treat clothes for 15 minutes.1
Air dry your clothes instead of using a machine dryer.
Dryers can wear down material, fade colors and logos, cause shrinkage, and damage zippers; air drying helps preserve fabric softness and longevity.
- If hanging outside in the sun, do not leave them out to fade; use inside racks instead.
8 people, independently
- Hang washed clothes to air dry instead of using a dryer.2
Dry clothes on low heat and remove them while still damp to hang up, preventing shrinkage.
This prevents shrinkage.
- In humid climates like Florida, this may cause clothes to sour or mold.
- Avoid this method for cotton garments; it is suitable for mostly polyester items.
2 people, independently
Zip up all zippers before washing or drying clothes.
It keeps zipper teeth strong, prevents the zipper from wearing or tearing, and stops exposed teeth from snagging, ripping, or cutting other garments.
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- Close all zippers before washing to prevent the teeth from catching on other items.1
Reduce washing frequency by airing out shirts after 2-3 wears and wearing jeans for weeks.
It extends their lifespan.
- It can be difficult to determine if clothing needs cleaning because it is hard to smell one's own body odor.
one person who lived it
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Hang clothes on a hanger in the bathroom while taking a hot shower to steam out wrinkles.
Use a blow dryer on a wrinkled shirt while wearing it, holding the fabric away from your body and pulsing the heat.
This instantly removes wrinkles.
- Hold fabric out a few inches to avoid burning yourself.
- Pulse the dryer to prevent overheating the fabric or device.
2 people, independently
Buy a handheld clothes steamer for efficient wrinkle removal.
It is more efficient than upright steamers and removes wrinkles quickly.
4 people, independently
Soak shrunken cotton shirts and hang them to dry without wringing to stretch them back out.
The weight of the water stretches the fabric.
- This may leave the garment looking stretched with wavy bumps.
- Some users claim this method does not work.
one person who lived it
Spray wrinkled sections with water from a bottle before using heat or hanging them to dry.
Applying moisture directly to the creases helps smooth them out faster.
- Use only a super light dusting.
3 people, independently
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Take shirts to a cleaner for washing, pressing, and hanging.
It can be surprisingly cheap.
one person who lived it
Hang clothes on a hanger in the bathroom while taking a hot shower to steam out wrinkles.
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- Use thick hangers and mist dried clothes with water.1
- Shake or fluff clothes vigorously after removing them from the washer or dryer to knock out wrinkles before hanging.3
Line dry clothes whenever your climate and space allow.
It is always the best bet for preserving fabric.
one person who lived it
Mist wrinkled clothing with water the night before wearing it and hang it to dry overnight.
Water relaxes the fibers so they dry in place, looking pressed.
- Some users report no noticeable effect.
one person who lived it
- Mist wrinkled garments lightly with water using a spray bottle, then smooth and stretch them by hand.3
Ask for laundered shirts to be boxed rather than hung to keep them wrinkle-free longer in your car.
Boxing keeps shirts wrinkle-free in the car longer than hanging.
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Hold clothes at shoulder height and pull down quickly to create a snap sound that straightens the threads.
straightens the threads
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Wipe light sandpaper over graphics on t-shirts to give them a vintage look.
It ages the graphic.
one person who lived it
Spray a creased collar with Downy Wrinkle Release, stand it up while wet, and let it dry before folding it down.
It helps the collar stay in the right shape.
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Tumble stiff, air-dried clothes in the dryer for a few minutes to soften them.
The tumbling action softens the clothes.
one person who lived it
- Air dry clothes in the wind to naturally soften them.1
Lay stretchy fabrics flat on a drying rack or towel to dry, rather than hanging them, to prevent stretching from water weight and gravity.
Hanging wet stretchy items like sweaters causes gravity and water weight to pull and distort their shape.
one person who lived it
Air dry clothes on a rack instead of using a dryer
to preserve fabric and save electricity
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Expect cotton Oxford cloth to wrinkle unless you buy poly-blend or 'wrinkle-free' treated fabrics.
Cotton Oxford cloth inherently wrinkles.
one person who lived it
Remove clothes from the dryer while they are still slightly damp to help remove wrinkles during sorting and folding.
It helps remove wrinkles while sorting and folding.
one person who lived it
Hang clothes upside down by the bottom hem or ankles using clothespins to avoid shoulder distortion.
Hanging by shoulders can cause distortion (shoulder nipples); hanging from the bottom keeps items in shape.
- Do not clip from the top or use hangers.
one person who lived it
Reduce detergent usage and stop using fabric softener.
This prevents clothes from feeling crusty and allows them to rinse cleaner.
one person who lived it
Take garments with permanent creases to a dry cleaner for professional steam pressing.
Professional steam presses can remove creases that resist other methods.
one person who lived it
Use a commercial wrinkle release spray on garments, spraying them on and tugging out wrinkles.
The spray evaporates quickly, removing wrinkles and potentially improving scent.
4 people, independently
Reduce laundry load sizes and ensure enough rinse cycles if clothes remain wrinkled after tumble-drying.
Overloading or insufficient washing/rinsing can cause excessive wrinkling.
one person who lived it
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Be aware that identical socks may fade or lose volume unevenly over time, causing them to no longer match.
Wash socks right side out to remove dirt from the exterior.
The outside is usually the dirtiest part.
- One person believes the inside of their socks is the dirtiest.
one person who lived it
Soak shrunken wool, cashmere, or alpaca sweaters in a mixture of equal parts vinegar and warm water for 30 minutes.
They'll fit you again
- they'll still be all felty
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Wash jeans inside out in cold water and hang them to dry to preserve quality and fit.
To avoid ruining the jeans.
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Store wool sweaters folded rather than hung to prevent the fabric and neck from stretching.
Hanging stretches the fabric and neck.
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Wash the fragile side inward, regardless of whether that is the inside or outside.
Protects nice fuzzy linings or delicate surfaces.
- Alternatively, turn clothes dirty side out.
one person who lived it
If you run out of clean undershirts, wear a dirty one as long as it is comfortable and the visible top is clean.
No one sees or cares about the undershirt.
one person who lived it
Add vinegar to the laundry load.
It keeps colors bright, prevents fading, and sets the color.
one person who lived it
Lower the washer's spin cycle speed if it is too aggressive, as this may stretch clothes.
Aggressive spinning can stretch garments.
one person who lived it
Wash wool infrequently and spot clean food droppings instead of full washing.
Wool is naturally antibacterial.
- Dead bacteria can still smell and cause problems.
one person who lived it
Purchase shirts labeled as 'pre-shrunk'.
to avoid future shrinkage issues
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- Buy 'Tall' sized shirts instead of 'Regular', or choose brands like Duluth Trading Company that specialize in longer cuts.1
Use a sweater comb or fabric de-piller to remove pilling and fuzz from sweaters without damaging the fabric.
These tools are effective for de-pilling various fabrics even when brushing hard; wearing the sweater while combing helps.
one person who lived it
Iron dark clothes inside out.
It prevents the outer surface from becoming shiny and preserves the original color.
- Reducing temperature doesn't work well with cotton fabrics.
- Cotton does not get shiny when ironed; only synthetics and blends have that effect.
one person who lived it
Use less detergent and follow laundry instructions to prevent holes caused by chemical buildup or improper care.
Using too much detergent and not laundering per instructions can cause holes in clothes.
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Empty all pockets and pull them inside out before washing.
This removes lint and ensures no forgotten items remain.
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Change clothes after every wear but do not wash them unless necessary to preserve fabric quality.
Washing unnecessarily tears up clothes.
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Be aware that identical socks may fade or lose volume unevenly over time, causing them to no longer match.
- Socks of different ages may fade at different rates.
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Separate laundry by type rather than just color, keeping work tops separate from heavy, abrasive items like jeans with metal zippers or buttons.
Abrasive materials can damage other clothing.
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Wear older, designated 'work' or 'destruction' clothes for messy tasks like painting to preserve regular clothing.
You can get these clothes dirty or ruined without caring, preserving your regular wardrobe.
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Wash sheets and pillowcases separately from other clothes.
Washing them together causes pilling on the sheets.
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Keep elasticated waistbands out of hot water during soaking to prevent damage to the elastic.
Hot temperatures damage elastic.
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Turn the garment inside out to look for a fabric lining or 'sack' before cutting any threads to confirm the pocket is genuine.
Keep a few spare dress shirts at your office to put on after commuting, avoiding sweat and wrinkles.
This prevents the shirt from getting sweaty or wrinkled during travel.
one person who lived it
Snip the loose thread holding back jacket or coat flaps to allow them to open.
The stitch keeps the garment's shape during transit.
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Sew a simple knotted belt as a replacement for a lost buckle-style sleeve belt.
A knotted belt is simple and works perfectly.
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Turn the garment inside out to look for a fabric lining or 'sack' before cutting any threads to confirm the pocket is genuine.
This prevents creating a large hole in the clothing if no actual pocket exists.
5 people, independently
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Hang suits instead of leaving them in garment bags, as one person noted that bags may trap moisture.
Hanging is generally preferred for preservation; bags may trap moisture.
- One person heard that leaving suits in bags traps moisture.
one person who lived it
Clip the small X-shaped threads on suit vents before wearing to ensure proper drape.
Stitching the vent shut prevents wrinkling during shipping.
one person who lived it
Hang suit jackets on a hanger in the car rather than wearing them during the drive to avoid rumpling.
Wearing the jacket while driving causes it to get rumpled.
one person who lived it
Store small items in interior jacket pockets or pants pockets to protect them and preserve the suit's shape.
Interior pockets protect items and prevent outer pockets from stretching.
- Do not overfill interior pockets as they will stretch.
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Unbutton your suit jacket completely when sitting down.
Sitting with a fully buttoned suit does not look good.
2 people, independently
Remove the brand tag sewn onto the cuff or sleeve of a new jacket or coat.
3 people, independently