Clothing, as everybody knows is one of the three basic necessities of life. It protects us from heat cold and rain, and last but not the least makes us look good. It’s a well-known fact that lose life or start look dull very soon. Woollen garments also need some extra care and attention so that they last longer and look beautiful for many years.

STORING WOOLLEN GARMENTS

• Garments made of fur must always be stored in a dark, cool place. Always try keeping fur covered with clean, white muslin.
• Wool should always be properly cleaned and also padded; finally it should be wrapped in white tissue. Put some mothballs in the storage area to prevent any kind of damage from moths.
• Knitwear should always be stored flat. If these knitted clothes need to be hung then they should be properly padded with white tissue. Before hanging knitwear it should be covered with absolutely clean white muslin. A word of caution – a garment’s own weight can really put it out of shape.
• Wool is a natural fibre; it should therefore be kept or stored in a properly ventilated area.
• In order to remove wrinkles from clothes which have been removed from storage, the clothes should be put in the dryer with fluff or they can be air dry cycled without heat.
• Woollen garments should never be stored in hot attics or cold basements. The reason for this is that extreme temperatures can damage woollen clothes.
• Either get woollen items washed or dry-cleaned before storing them as food and sweat stains attract insects.
• Woollen garments should always be stored in thick plastic bags with moth repellents (natural if possible) or cedar blocks.

CARING FOR YOUR WOOLENS
Grime and dirt always set in the woollen garments much faster than in comparison with other fabrics. It is important to deal with stains immediately. Any other treatments you want to apply should be tried before ironing, the reason being that heat makes these marks permanent.

• A woollen garment should be given a good shake or may be brushed regularly to remove any kind of fluff or dust.
• It should be aired after it has been worn in order to remove any kind of body odours or moisture that could be trapped in the fibre. This can be achieved by laying the garment on a dry cotton towel, but not under direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can cause the garment to fade. Once the garment has been air-dried, it should be folded flat and then stored.
• Any fuzz balls which seem to grow simply by using or wearing them should be carefully removed from the knitted garments. You can carefully cut them off with small scissors. Fuzz balls should never be pulled as this can spoil the garment further.
• Avoid wringing or pulling out a woollen garment when wet. It is a well-known fact that a woollen garment when wet tends to lose approximately a quarter of its strength. Try lifting it up gently and squeezing out the excess water. Always remember that if the garment is subjected to any kind of force especially when wet, it will result in the shrinking of the garment.
• Woollens should always be steam pressed. The iron should be set on the wool option and remember not to move front and back instead follow the process of lifting and lowering and that too in the reverse direction.

Finally, always remember you take care of your woollens as they will undoubtedly take care of you.