This post is one of my favourite ideas that I’ve had because these tricks make a noticeable difference in your wardrobe and your everyday winter outfits.
I am all about longevity in the pieces I choose to purchase and I always take care of my things to make sure I get the most out of them. If you live in an area that gets super cold you can certainly appreciate the maintenance that comes with owning winter pieces.
Winter clothing is usually made of materials (ie. wool) that is not always washer-friendly and can really require extra care. This coupled with the price tag of these pieces make it that much more important that you take extra care of your winter pieces.
Here are my top tips and hacks when it comes to your winter wardrobe and caring for your winter clothing:
1. Use a lint brush rather than an adhesive lint roller
A lint brush is more budget friendly (you only really need one and you can clean and use it over and over). On the other hand, the adhesive rollers are generally one-time use. You need to remove the adhesive layer prior to each use in order for it to remain effective.
A lint brush does a great job of removing lint and debris without ruining wool or worse, removing fibres and damaging your wool clothing. I learned this tip from one of my good friends and I have never gone back.
For those of you that have no idea what I’m taking about, this is the approved fabric lint remover I’m referring to:
And here is the one you need to STOP using:
2. Clean your nasty salt-stained boots
Its inevitable that your boots (especially your winter boots that you subject to slush and salt) will get salt stained. This is especially the case if your boots are black. Take the time to use a microfibre cloth and some water and wipe down your boots after each use.
This makes a huge difference in terms of the longevity of your boots and also it just LOOKS so much better when you’re not walking around with salt stained boots all the time.
3. Care for your sweaters
Sweaters always involve some TLC especially if you’ve had it for a while. Sometimes you get those unsightly balls (commonly known as “pilling’) that collect across the fabric. Invest in a sweater shaver (this can also be used on your wool coats) this will help removed these balls and make your sweaters look brand new!
Another thing is to always look at the label before you just toss your sweater in the wash. Many sweaters are handwash only (for a good reason) and you don’t want to just be tossing it in the machine as it can get seriously damaged. Lastly, pay attention to how you store your sweaters. I keep all of my chunky sweaters folded in drawers. If you choose to hang heavier sweaters the sweater tends to become distorted at the shoulder area from the hanger just due to the weight of the fabric.
4. Beware of itchy sweaters
Ok I am throwing this tip in here for good reason. Given the present circumstances, many of us are shopping online and doing so for sweaters and other winter clothing items.
Further to my previous post about online shopping, I would encourage you to make sure you look at the product details and see what the item is made of. If you know you have a propensity to itch with wool you need to make sure you don’t just purchased another wool item because you think its cute.
Personally, I prefer to see and feel any wool or wool blend item before I purchase it just to make sure it wont irritate my skin. I also look at the label for the care instructions before I make the purchase. Depending on the item and what I intend to use it for, high maintenance items are generally not my preference.
5. Layer, layer, layer
It is so important to get your layering game together. As a Canadian (or cold climate resident) you need to be able to assess the weather conditions and put your outfit choices together accordingly.
Invest in some great thin base layers that you can put under dresses, or itchy sweaters or even jeans. This is the best way to ensure that you are as warm as you can be while also making the most use of your existing wardrobe.
A trick I recently discovered is getting a basic lightweight vest and wearing it under a wool coat. This is the best way to make a wool coat more warm on days were it is just bitterly cold out.
6. Choose the correct outerwear
Lastly make sure you choose the correct coat/outerwear for your outfit. If you’re wearing a T-shirt or a thinner top, go with a parka or a thicker coat. If you are wearing a more chunky or heavy sweater opt for your wool coat. This is the best way to balance your layers so you’re not sweating when you step indoors or uncomfortably cold when you are outdoors.
I hope these 6 hacks are helpful and something that can help you save some money this winter by making sure your are taking care of your existing clothing and making the most of what you have.
