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Taking
Care of Your Summer Wear
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*A
monthly column devoted to helping women and men
be their best and most confident in any situation.
Topics include dress, body language, attitude and
etiquette.
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Victoria Seitz, PhD
Image Expert |
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Some
of our favorites are being pulled out of our closets in celebration
of summertime fun.
Here are some tips to keep your clothing items looking good for
years to come.
- Cotton is a natural cellulosic fiber. One problem
is that it wrinkles easily and can mildew if its not kept dry.
Fabric companies have developed techniques to enhance the good
qualities of cotton and minimize its liabilities. Sanforized
cotton has been preshrunk. Sanfor-Set cotton is wrinkle resist.
Mercerized cotton has been strengthened and lusterized.
Most cottons are machine or hand-washable in cold, hot, or warm
water. If garments are colored, wash them in cold water to retain
the color. Most items can be machine-dried on the regular cycle
with a warm setting. When ironing, use the steam setting. Feel
free to use starch if you wish.
Cotton knits have a tendency to pill when met with friction.
To alleviate this, try brushing your sweaters with a lint brush
when you begin to notice tiny balls, or pills, on the surface.
- Linen is a natural fiber made from the flax plant.
Its does not give off lint, is extremely durable, and resists
heat, moths, and perspiration damage. However, it wrinkles easily
and holds creases poorly. Read care instructions diligently.
Most linen items must be dry-cleaned professionally. When ironing,
use the highest setting with steam.
- Knits are comfortable and perfect for summer wear
and traveling. They have excellent elongation and elastic recovery
properties, making them crush-resistant and practically wrinkle-free.
They are porous and allow free circulation, making them ideal
for warm climates. However, knits should be treated with caution.
Most can be machine-washed and dried; however, wool knits must
be dry-cleaned or hand-laundered. Be sure to read attached care
labels. Don't wash your knits any more than you have to. Excessive
cleaning, whether wet or dry, weakens the fibers.
Stick to one cleaning process or another-don't switch. If you
have been hand-washing continue to do so. If you dry-clean,
always dry clean. When hand washing, use mild detergents and
tepid water. When using hand-washing detergents such as Woolite,
be sure to follow the directions explicitly. These detergents,
although mild, can damage knits if the directions are ignored.
When drying your knits, roll it in a clean towel, then lay it
flat on a dry towel - on top of the dryer, perhaps. Be sure
you wash your knits on a dry day. Should you choose to machine
dry to shape a stretched knit, turn the garment inside out before
doing so. The dryer can damage the surface fibers as it is tossed
around. Moreover, do not hang your knits up; fold them or roll
them up and keep them in a drawer or on a shelf.
Knits tend to develop pills or tiny balls on the surface over
time due to friction in the washer and dryer. When knits are
blended with polyester or other synthetics you will have to
take the item to the dry cleaners to have the pills shaved off.
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Victoria
Seitz, PhD is a professor of Marketing at California
State University, San Bernardino and is author of Your
Executive Image, AdamsMedia, Inc, 2000 and Power
Dressing, DonJon Publishing, 1991. In addition to teaching,
Dr. Seitz was a fashion coordinator for Burdines, Florida
and in retail management for Saks Fifth Avenue, Phoenix,
AZ. Clients of Dr. Seitz have included Abbott Laboratories,
Northern Telecom, Texas Instruments, Yellow Freight Systems,
Sally Beauty Company, the United States Armed Forces, Travellife
magazine, YWCA and Accountants Overload, in addition to
law firms, hotels, newspapers, universities, banks, credit
unions, national and local community and professional organizations
nationwide.
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To learn more about Dr. Seitz please visit her website at www.cbpa.csusb.edu/vseitz.
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