Washing a jacket at home is a simple procedure if you prepare for it correctly, determine the type of fabric and the manufacturer’s recommendations for removing stains.
Most suiting fabric items can be machine washed directly, while others should be processed by hand.
Our article will tell you whether and how to properly wash in a washing machine and by hand, dry and iron a jacket at home.
Preparation
Before using the washing machine, it is important to ensure that the jacket can be treated in this way. First, they study the tag on the clothing, where the manufacturer places identification icons:
- The circle in which the square is placed is not machine processed.
- Crossed out basin with water - hand washing is prohibited. Clothes can only be processed using dry methods, including dry cleaning.
If the clothing label has not been preserved, you can determine recommendations based on the type of fabric from which the jacket is made. But it is important to consider that the lapels, lining and collar of the product may consist of other materials.
Choosing the right product
For machine washing, it is better to choose liquid products designed for dark or colored items, depending on the type of jacket.
The advantage of such detergent products is their quick rinsing and the absence of streaks after washing.
If you don't have gel on hand, you can use powder. It is diluted in water and added to the detergent compartment in the machine.
To prevent wrinkles, use conditioner-rinse , which additionally removes static from the synthetic lining.
Choice of product
- Liquid detergents or gels are recommended for cleaning jackets. They dissolve in water much faster than powders and then are easier to rinse, without remaining in the fibers and without harming the structure of the fabric.
- There are special products for black items that help maintain the brightness and richness of dark shades.
- For wool and wool blend products, you need to choose a product containing lanolin.
- Products containing chlorine cannot be used.
Useful
If the jacket is made of natural cotton or linen fabric, it is recommended to use fabric softener. It will soften the fabric and make it easier to smooth out wrinkles.
Is it possible and how to properly wash it in an automatic washing machine?
Jackets are washed in an automatic machine separately from other items, without using a case.
It is advisable to process them together with trousers if the products are included. Washing at the same time will help avoid uneven fading of items.
Instructions for processing jackets that can be washed in a machine look like this:
Remove foreign objects from pockets. If the pockets are zipped, then they are closed.- They load the jacket into the machine.
Close the door and pour in the minimum amount of detergent. If the dosage is indicated, for example, 80 ml per 5 kg of laundry, then you can take 30-40 ml per jacket. - Set the mode.
To process the jacket, choose a delicate wash at 40 degrees, unless otherwise indicated. If the clothes can be washed by hand, set the appropriate mode without spinning. Can be soaked for 30-50 minutes.
It is recommended to install an additional rinse cycle to eliminate powder residues.
What you should pay attention to
- If the jacket is part of a suit, try to stick to the same number of washes for all parts of the suit (trousers, skirt, vest) - this will help to avoid differences in the shade of items, which will become visually noticeable after just a few washes if low-quality dyes were used in the manufacture of the fabric. You can check the quality of the fabric using a piece of similar fabric, which manufacturers usually put along with spare accessories, and with its help you can evaluate the effect of detergents on the fabric of the jacket before washing it.
- To reduce the number of wrinkles after washing and make it easier to smooth out the resulting wrinkles, the dried jacket can be exposed to steam; a steamer, steam cabinet or hot water bath will help with this; close the bathroom door to increase the humidity level.
- You should not dry your jacket in direct sunlight, as this may have a negative effect on the fabric. Choose a ventilated room with shaded areas and hang your jacket in one of them. This will slightly increase the amount of time required to dry the jacket, but will keep the jacket in pristine condition longer.
- It is advisable to iron the jacket through gauze or fabric, this will avoid shiny spots that appear from the contact of the iron with the product.
It is not advisable to wash your jacket every week; the best option would be to wash it once every two to three weeks; for this, it will be enough to wipe it with a damp brush once every few days, which will not allow excessive dirt to form.
By following these small rules, you can keep your jacket in perfect shape for a long time.
Manually so that the product does not lose its shape
If clothes cannot be washed in an automatic machine, then you can use the classic method. Point contamination is easier to remove using separate means.
Before using the stain remover, test it on an inconspicuous area of clothing, apply it for the recommended time and evaluate the result.
The steps of washing by hand are no more difficult than washing jackets in a machine:
Add washing gel to the water. Place the jacket and leave for 50-60 minutes. Items made from delicate fabrics should not be soaked.- Gently wash by lifting and lowering the jacket into the water. The temperature should not be higher than 40 degrees.
- Rinse twice as thoroughly as other items.
The water needs to be changed at least 4 times. It is better to rinse your jacket in a full bath rather than in a basin.
After washing, lay the jacket on a wooden rack, if there is one in the bathroom. It is important that the edges do not hang down and that the product lies “crowded”.
The water will drain and you can hang it on a hanger . If there is no wire rack, you can lightly wring out the clothes without twisting them, and then place them on a thick towel on the floor.
General recommendations
Men's suits are expensive, especially those made to order. Therefore, they require careful handling. The task is complicated by the fact that the jacket has many glued elements, and the lining fabric differs from the main material. Do not panic. First of all, look for the label. The label must contain information regarding washing and ironing. If there is no tag, then you will have to focus on the type of fabric.
If you can’t do without a washing machine, then follow a few important rules:
- Before washing, unzip all zippers on the product;
- instead of regular powder, buy gel or capsules for delicate items;
- place the jacket in a bag (mesh or denser - the more sensitive the fabric, the tighter the protection needed);
- set the temperature no higher than 40 degrees, otherwise the fabric will shrink;
- reduce, or even better, turn off the spin cycle;
- do not use a dryer or the same function in a combination washing machine;
- squeeze on the wire rack, pressing through a towel - without twisting;
- dry, straightening out all the creases, arranging the lapels and lapels correctly, if any, and placing them on hangers.
Advice It is not necessary to wash things after every outing, because there are many ways to give them a neat look.
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Wet cleaning without soaking
Wet cleaning is recommended for removing stubborn stains from clothes that cannot be washed:
- prepare a soap solution from 1-2 tsp. liquid soap and a glass of warm water;
- moisten a clothes brush in the solution and treat the surface of the jacket hanging on a hanger;
- then do the same, but with a damp brush without soap to remove any remaining product.
If the contamination is strong, then instead of a soap solution, you can use ammonia diluted 1:1 with water.
Shower treatment
If clothes are heavily soiled, they can be treated with a shower in the bathroom . Pre-treat stains using wet cleaning.
The next wash looks like this:
- prepare a soap solution, treat the jacket with a brush dipped in it;
- rinse the jacket with a shower, hanging it over the bathtub;
- when the water has drained, blot it with a dry towel and transfer it to a ventilated room.
You can clean the jacket lining in the same way if a full wash is not required. It is enough to turn the product inside out and perform all stages of the “shower” wash.
Steam treatment
For steam treatment, use a steam generator or an iron with a similar function . The clothes are hung on hangers and steamed well, then immediately treated with a rubber brush without waiting for them to dry.
If there are stains, remove them first with salt or ammonia. Dry jackets after steam treatment in a horizontal position.
Steam cleaning is ideal for leather, suede, corduroy and nubuck. Also, steam cleaning from the inside is carried out if there are sparkles, varnish coating, sequins and other decorative elements on the front side of the jacket.
For steam cleaning, it is best to use a steam generator, steam brush or steamer.
A similar treatment is used to combat creases and folds on jackets when complete cleaning or washing is not required. Just hang your clothes on hangers and steam them - this will refresh them and get rid of wrinkled areas.
How to properly dry a washed jacket?
The final step in caring for outerwear is to dry it properly and, if necessary, iron it. In most cases, you need to hang the product on hangers. The fabric should not be allowed to dry completely. Being slightly damp, it lends itself well to smoothing, thanks to which it is possible to achieve a feeling of renewal and newness.
It is very important to dry your jacket properly.
It is important to adhere to the recommended temperature regime. It is better to treat folds and seams with an iron with a steam function. After ironing, items must be hung again so that when they dry, they fix the final shape.
An iron with a steam function will come in handy.
Note! During the ironing process, it is strictly not recommended to stretch the fabric - this can deform it and lead to distortion of the shape after final drying.
Thus, we can conclude that organizing your own wardrobe is not so difficult. The main thing is to correctly assess the condition of the clothing and act independently only where it is truly justified. Basic rules for washing jackets, how to properly wash them in a washing machine, hand washing and dry cleaning are just recommendations. With the right approach, they can help out in a difficult situation, while saving both money and time.
Dry cleaning
Dry cleaning is used if wet cleaning of the jacket is completely prohibited:
the jacket is laid out on a hard horizontal surface;- Use a fluffy clothing brush to intensively scrub the surface of the clothing. The brush should be soft enough, but the bristles should be located tightly to each other;
- After brushing, use a sticky roller to remove dust and dirt particles.
Clothes are left to hang on a hanger in a ventilated area for 2-3 hours .
Removing Sweat Stains
When removing sweat stains, it is important to consider the color of your clothing. For light-colored fabrics you can use the following recipes:
- Peroxide for sweat stains . The product is diluted 1:1 with water and applied to the stain areas. After the mixture is completely absorbed, wipe the area with a dry cloth. It is not necessary to wash the product.
- Salt and soda . You can use the recipe without ammonia by preparing a mixture of salt and soda diluted with water. Apply for 15-20 minutes and wash off. You can also rub dry baking soda into sweat stains and leave overnight.
Products of dark shades cannot be treated with hydrogen peroxide and soda. Steam technology, aspirin and ammonia are better suited for them.
Ammonia for stains on dark fabric
Several effective mixtures can be prepared from ammonia:
- 1:1 with water - treat the armpits, then wash off the product with a damp cloth;
- 4:4 with denatured alcohol and 1 part water - treat the jacket from the inside out;
- 1:1:1 with salt and water - clean with a sponge or cotton wool, then wash off the residue with water.
We must not forget about test application of any product on an inconspicuous area of the fabric.
Aspirin
Aspirin tablets are safe for colored fabrics and even fight old stains:
- Grind 4-5 tablets, mix with water until thick.
- Apply to the armpits for an hour.
- Rinse and dry the product.
After drying, you can treat the armpit area with steam.
Using steam
A powerful jet of steam can quickly remove sweat marks.
Use a steam generator or iron filled with distilled water and a drop of lemon juice. In this way, you can remove stains even from suede and leather products.
Washing features for different types of materials and types
Most materials can be washed in an automatic machine using gentle modes:
linen is a natural material that can withstand even high temperatures; after washing, a linen jacket must be hung on hangers, as the fabric wrinkles a lot;- knitwear, cotton - clothes are washed in a delicate cycle with minimal spin;
- polyester – suitable for machine and hand wash at temperatures up to 40 degrees.
Other types of materials are processed only by dry or steam methods, sometimes hand washing is allowed:
- wool - dry brushing;
- wool with the addition of other fibers - hand wash at 40 degrees or less;
- suede, velvet, corduroy - dry brushing;
- satin - hand wash without spinning;
- leather – to be cleaned with a brush or soft cloth.
Corduroy, denim
Denim and corduroy jackets are very popular; they also need to be washed according to special rules. So, how to clean a corduroy and denim jacket at home:
- Corduroy . You can clean with a damp brush in the direction of the scars, and remove dirty areas with a sponge soaked in a soap solution. You cannot rub, you need to perform blotting movements.
- Denim . Washing is allowed in a delicate cycle in an automatic machine, as well as in the “Jeans” mode at temperatures up to 30 degrees. The product is first turned inside out.
If the jacket has leather inserts, then it is prohibited to press the product in the machine.
From a men's suit
In most cases, men's products do not have decorative elements or details that limit the possibility of washing.
If there is no icon on the label about the prohibition of wet processing, then wash the jacket as follows:
in the machine - use a liquid product, delicate mode without spinning and a temperature of up to 40 degrees;- manually - wash, if machine processing is prohibited, also use a liquid detergent and a temperature of up to 40 degrees, do not twist the jacket when wrung out;
- steaming - will return freshness to the product, eliminate dust and unpleasant odors, if a full wash is not needed;
- dry cleaning with a brush and roller to collect foreign fibers - used if the product cannot be wetted.
If in doubt, it is better to have your jacket dry cleaned.
School
Carefully study the tags on clothes; if there is no prohibition on wet processing, wash as follows:
- machine wash - with liquid detergent in delicate or manual mode without spinning at a temperature of 30 to 40 degrees;
- hand wash - with washing gel, soaking for up to 30-60 minutes, rinsing well and without twisting;
- wet cleaning - stains and heavy dirt are removed with a soap solution using a brush, then the product is cleaned with a brush dipped in clean water;
- dry cleaning with a roller and brush - used with a complete ban on washing.
Dry the school jacket on hangers in a vertical position. If creases form or unpleasant odors appear, it is treated with steam.
Caring for a men's suit
Daily care of things is quite simple; by following just a few rules you will be able to keep your wardrobe in perfect condition.
- When putting your suit in the closet, spend a couple of extra minutes cleaning the dust from your jacket and trousers.
- Remove heavy stains in a timely manner; old stains are more difficult to remove without leaving a trace.
- Don’t skimp, a detergent designed for a specific type of fabric will clean the capricious fabric well.
- Don't store expensive suits on fancy open wardrobe stands. Select a suitable closed compartment or cabinet, away from dust and sunlight. To avoid sagging, use high-quality hangers that follow the shape of a person’s shoulder.
- Don't wear one jacket for several days; allow yourself to alternate clothes. During the break, the suit fabric will regain its shape. Careful care will significantly extend the life of your suit.
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Drying and ironing at home
After machine washing, the jacket is immediately hung on hangers, all the details straightened out well.
After hand washing, it should be allowed to “drain” or lie on a thick towel for at least an hour so that the water does not weigh down or stretch the product.
The jacket should be dried away from sunlight; it should be treated with steam before drying . It is recommended to iron the product only in extreme cases, if severe creases have formed.
For ironing, use a thin rag or gauze folded in 3-4 layers. Particular attention is paid to the seams and collar. The ironed jacket is returned to the hangers and left for 2-3 hours in a ventilated area.
Cleaning items that cannot be washed
Jackets made of wool and other delicate fabrics can be cleaned by steam or dry cleaning, if machine or hand washing is prohibited.
To remove stains from wool jackets, you can use Luxus Professional - a product designed for cleaning natural carpets. It is applied to a dry cloth and removed with a damp cloth.
If wet processing of a suit is prohibited, and dirt can no longer be removed using a dry method, then it must be sent to dry cleaning . There the jacket is processed using professional equipment and recommended products.
You will find more useful information about washing outerwear in this section.
Dry cleaning
A jacket or cardigan should be cleaned once every 2 weeks. If it is not possible to wash the material, then it would be best to use dry cleaning services. This method has a number of advantages:
- less fabric wear even with frequent processing;
- deep cleaning of all layers;
- No need to waste time doing laundry yourself.
The main disadvantage is the cost of the service, but a good jacket is also not cheap. It is advisable to have it dry cleaned periodically to preserve the appearance of the item longer.
