Care Tips

Clothing Care Tips from Professional Cleaners

How to Make Your Clothes Last Longer

The way you dress makes an impression — at work, at events, and in everyday life. Keeping your clothes clean, neat, and well cared for helps them look better and last longer.

Professional cleaners work hard to keep your garments looking their best, but there are simple things you can do between cleanings that make a big difference.

Why Professional Cleaning Helps

Home washing and ironing can keep clothes wearable, but professional care provides a level of cleaning, pressing, and finishing that can’t be duplicated at home.

Professional cleaning:

Restores crispness and appearance
Helps maintain fabric shape and color
Removes soils you may not see
Extends the life of your garments

What You Can Do to Protect Your Clothes

Many clothing problems are caused by things that happen before a garment ever reaches the cleaner.

Here are simple habits that help your clothes last longer.

Bring Stained Garments in Quickly

Stains that sit for even a short time become much harder to remove.

Studies show:

After one week, 20% of stains may not come out completely
After three weeks, nearly half may be permanent

If something spills, bring it in as soon as possible.

Don’t Iron Stains or Soiled Areas

Heat sets stains. Ironing over a stain can make it permanent.

Point Out Invisible Stains

Spills from white wine, soft drinks, fruit juices, and other liquids may not be visible when dry. Let your cleaner know if a spill happened so they can treat it properly.

Protect Clothing from Perspiration

Perspiration and body oils can weaken fabric and cause color changes over time.

If possible:

Avoid excessive perspiration contact
Have garments cleaned regularly

Let Lotions and Antiperspirants Dry Before Dressing

Many personal care products contain ingredients that can affect dyes and fabrics.

Allow them to dry before putting on your clothes.

Avoid Prolonged Sunlight and Strong Light

Sunlight and strong artificial light can fade colors over time.

Clean Garments Before Storing Them

Stains left in fabric during storage can:

Attract insects
Cause permanent discoloration
Lead to fabric damage

Always clean garments before putting them away.

Clean Matching Pieces Together

Suits, sets, and coordinated pieces should be cleaned at the same time to prevent uneven color changes.

Why This Matters

Many issues people notice with their clothing are not caused by cleaning — they are caused by stains, wear, and storage habits over time.

A little attention before and after wearing your garments can dramatically extend their life and appearance.

Questions? Talk With Your Cleaner

Your professional cleaner can offer advice on how to best care for specific garments and fabrics.

About This Information

This information is provided by the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) to help consumers better understand how to care for their clothing.