Kids are tough on clothes, so you have to be tough on taking care of them. It can be so frustrating having to buy another pair of jeans, another shirt or jacket because it is just worn out, when they are probably going to grow out of it before long. Some of this wear and tear can be prevented by taking a few extra precautions with your children's clothing. If you will take note of these simple tips on laundry and storage and spend only a couple extra minutes per day, you can keep your kids clothes looking great.
As you are gathering up your kid's clothes from around the house or out of the clothes hamper, be sure to empty all of the pockets and close all zippers (to keep them from snagging). Make sure you read all of the labels of newer clothes and check the ones you are not sure of, and follow those instructions carefully. Turn each of the colored garments inside out. This prevents a little bit of fading. The normal color separation is then appropriate. Be sure to keep denims and whites separate from colors for the first three or four washes. Make sure all stains are pre-treated and holes or tears are mended before you put them in the washer.
Keep lint-producing garments separate from those that attract lint, especially dark colored clothing items, and wash whites in hot water. Of course you should wash bright colors and darks in cold water. Even though dryers are extremely convenient, drying your kid's clothes on a clothes line will extend their life considerably. If you do decide to use a dryer, you should take the precaution of not overloading it and being sure to remove the clothes as soon as they are dry. Over drying is especially damaging to clothes.
Probably one of the most important parts of kid's clothing protection is storing the clothes properly. Many people do not have the right kinds of hangers to store their kid's clothes, and as a result, most of those clothes are folded, even if they really need to be hung. Purchasing some childrens clothes hangers will vastly improve the way your kid's clothes are stored. Childrens coat hangers are also designed to keep those jackets and outer layers stored properly. Some parents think it is silly to use childrens clothes hangers, but they will really make a difference in the lifetime of your kid's clothes. When it comes to folding, storing kid's garments in plastic containers will actually preserve them better, and it is important to add cedar chips if your house is known to have moth problems.
Just a few simple things and an extra couple of minutes to every wash day can keep your children's clothes looking new. Kids really are hard on clothes, but you don't have to stand by and do nothing. Take a little action and save yourself the trouble of replacing your kid's clothes too soon.