Orlnclothes that last: a guide to caring for clothes and shoes

An independent guide to caring for clothes and shoes. It is not a news outlet, a dry cleaner or a shop, and it has no connection to the former website on this domain.

Guides

Practical guides

The first article in this section is about the spring clear-out of warm clothes. When the weather turns warm, it is tempting to shove the puffer jacket and jumpers out of sight as quickly as possible. But how they spend the summer decides what state they will be in when you take them out in autumn. Below is a calm sequence of steps that leaves your jacket free of musty smells, your wool intact and your boots in shape.

Storage is care too, just spread over several months. An hour spent in spring saves you from an unpleasant choice in autumn between expensive cleaning and buying something new.

— Editor's view

What to prepare in advance

  • A free day without rain, so that things have time to dry properly and air out.
  • A storage spot: a shelf, a box or part of a wardrobe that is dry, dark and free of temperature swings.
  • Breathable fabric garment bags or cotton pillowcases for bulky items instead of thick plastic bags.
  • Hangers of the right size for jackets and coats, so the shoulders do not stretch.
  • Paper or cardboard inserts for shoes to help them keep their shape.
  • A list of what you are putting away, so you do not have to dig through every box for a scarf in autumn.

  1. Sort through your things

    Take out all your winter clothes and shoes and divide them into three groups: to store, to clean or repair, and to part with. Anything you did not wear once all season deserves an honest assessment right now.

    Illustrative example: from a stack of jumpers, one goes to the cleaner, another with stretched cuffs is set aside to give to a friend, and the rest are prepared for storage.

  2. Wash or clean

    Only clean items should be put away. Sweat marks, crumbs and barely visible stains attract moths over the summer and become more noticeable. Wash strictly according to the care label, and take anything with a circle on the tag to professionals.

    Illustrative example: a wool cardigan is hand washed in cool water, while a coat with the professional care symbol goes to the dry cleaner.

  3. Dry thoroughly

    Even slight dampness deep inside a down jacket or wool turns into odour and mould over a few months. Dry things for longer than seems necessary and check seams and cuffs by touch.

    Illustrative example: after washing, a down jacket is dried for several days, with the filling fluffed up by hand from time to time until the clumps have completely gone.

  4. Check the details

    Do up zips and buttons, empty pockets and inspect the lining. It is better to spot a missing button or a split seam now than on the first cold day.

    Illustrative example: a forgotten sweet turns up in a jacket pocket that could have left a greasy stain over the summer, and a hole is found in a mitten.

  5. Pack wisely

    Fold heavy jumpers rather than hanging them, or they will stretch. Leave jackets and coats on hangers in breathable covers. Do not compress down jackets too tightly: the filling needs air.

    Illustrative example: jumpers are stacked in a box with thin paper between them, and a coat is hung in a cotton cover at the uncrowded end of the wardrobe.

  6. Look after your shoes

    Clean off dirt and road salt marks, dry shoes away from radiators, treat them with a suitable cream and put paper or shoe trees inside. They are best stored in boxes with air holes.

    Illustrative example: boots with white salt marks are first wiped with a damp cloth, dried at room temperature, and their shafts are stuffed with paper.

  7. Protect against moths

    Cleanliness and airing are the main protection. Natural repellents, such as lavender sachets or cedar blocks, can help but are no substitute for clean clothes. Replace them as their scent fades.

    Illustrative example: a few sachets of dried lavender are placed on the wool shelf, with a calendar note to replace them by midsummer.

  8. Check in over the summer

    Every couple of months, open the boxes and wardrobe, air your things and inspect the wool. That way you will spot damp or the first pests early, while the damage is still small.

    Illustrative example: in midsummer, the clothes are taken out onto the balcony on a dry, overcast day, shaken out and put back.

Common mistakes

  • Putting away things worn all season without washing them, hoping they are "clean enough".
  • Storing a down jacket or jumper that is still slightly damp inside.
  • Keeping wool and down in tightly sealed plastic bags with no air circulation.
  • Hanging heavy knitted items on hangers, so they stretch and lose their shape.
  • Drying shoes on a radiator or next to a heater: the leather dries out and cracks.
  • Relying only on repellent scents and not checking your things all summer.
  • Storing items with missing buttons and split seams and putting off repairs until autumn.

Other options

  • If space at home is tight, some bulky items can be stored in vacuum bags, but not down or wool: long compression is bad for them.
  • Complex items such as sheepskin coats, fur and coats in blended fabrics are safer sent for professional cleaning and collected ready for storage.
  • Clothes you do not wear and do not plan to wear can be given to friends, swapped or taken to a textile collection point instead of being stored for another year.
  • Take shoes that need repair to a cobbler in spring: repairers are usually less busy in summer than just before the cold weather.

Check yourself

  • Everything has been sorted: some things stored, some sent for cleaning or repair, some passed on to others.
  • Every item has been washed or cleaned according to its care label.
  • Clothes are completely dry, including seams, cuffs and filling.
  • Pockets are empty, zips and buttons done up, small repairs made or scheduled.
  • Jumpers are folded; jackets and coats hang in breathable covers.
  • Shoes are cleaned, dried away from radiators and stuffed with paper.
  • The storage spot is dry, dark and well ventilated.
  • There is a calendar reminder to check your things in midsummer.

Article catalogue for English-language readers

This is where standalone articles on looking after your clothes will appear: reading care labels, washing and drying different fabrics, dealing with stains, and storing clothes and shoes. We write them specifically for the English-language edition of the guide and aim to make each one something you can put into practice over the coming weekend.

What we are working on

  • Keeping whites white: shirts, T-shirts and bedding without overdoing the bleach.
  • Jeans: how often they really need washing and how to keep dark denim from fading.
  • Wool jumpers by hand: washing, drying flat and reshaping without shrinking.
  • Pilling on knitwear: why it happens and how to remove bobbles gently.
  • A wardrobe edit: clearing out what you do not wear and finding it a new home through giving, swapping or textile recycling.

Editorial rules

  • Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
  • Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
  • We do not publish advertising for brands, cleaning products, dry cleaners or shops, rankings, prices or reviews.
  • Questions

    Short answers about care symbols, wash cycles, stains, household cleaning products, storage and shoes.

  • Collections

    Reading paths: your first laundry on your own, wool and delicate fabrics, shoes through the seasons.

  • Reference

    Glossary: care symbols, wash cycle, delicate cycle, spin, sorting, fibres, pilling, moths.

  • Sections

    The guide's four themes: care label symbols, washing and drying, stains, storing clothes and caring for shoes.

Sources

  • ISO 3758 "Textiles. Care labelling code using symbols" (general provisions)
  • Guidance on the safe handling of household cleaning products (general provisions)

This advice is general and reflects what we knew when the page was prepared. The best guide for any particular item is its own care label: if the label disagrees with our recommendations, follow the label. For expensive, vintage or complex items, it is wiser to turn to professional cleaning or repair specialists.