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The holidays may be the busiest social season of the year (read: your wardrobe’s busiest season, too!) — not only are there parties to go to, but plenty of cozy dinners at home and family gatherings to enjoy. While you may have already thought about what you’ll be wearing, don’t sleep on the most important way to make yourself look (and feel) amazing all season long: washing your delicate garments so they stay looking new. This can seem tricky when you have sensitive skin, but with a detergent that’s gentle on skin and yet tough on dirt and odors, it’s actually quite simple. Just follow these easy tips for keeping your festive clothes fresh while keeping your fragile skin calm.
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Use the right detergent
Whether you’re handwashing your garment (more on that later) or can get away with a machine wash, use a detergent that won’t rub your skin the wrong way. Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent is formulated without potentially irritating fragrance, dyes, and preservatives, but is highly effective at getting your clothes clean). This detergent has a 100% rating from SkinSafe, a program developed with the Mayo Clinic to help those with sensitive skin identify products that are less likely to aggravate their skin. Being certified 100% by SkinSAFE means Arm & Hammer Free & Clear excludes 100% of SkinSAFE’s top most considered skin allergens.
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Read labels
It sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s an oft-overlooked step, and the reason your clothes don’t come out of the wash looking as good as they did when you wore them. If the tag says “dry clean only,” then your only option is to drop off the garment at your local cleaners. But otherwise, you might have some wiggle room. You can dry clean, handwash or possibly wash in a gentle cycle on your machine. Look for other instructions such as “handwash only” or “air dry,” and do just that.
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Get a mesh bag
Or a bunch! If you’re machine washing delicate fabrics, especially those with embellishments, a mesh bag is a must—even if you’re using the gentle cycle on your washer. The bag helps protect your clothes, preventing decorative adornments from getting snagged on other fabrics. It also maintains the shape of your clothing (no more stretched out straps or tangled ties). Before you place your clothing in the bag, turn your delicate clothing inside out and close zippers, hooks, and other closures.
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Handwash properly
Fabrics such as silk, wool, or highly embellished (such as sequined) items should be handwashed. You can use the same gentle detergent, like Arm & Hammer Free & Clear, that you use in your machine. To do it right: Fill a clean sink or basin with water at the recommended temperature specified on the clothing label. Add a small amount of your detergent; then, place the clothing in the water (you can handwash multiple items together, as long as they’re the same color) and use your hands to very gently agitate the fabric. Be careful not to oversoak (no more than 30 minutes). Too much soaking time can fade fabrics, cause colors to bleed, and ruin beading or sequins. Empty the soapy water and fill with cool water. Rinse until there are no signs of suds.
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Air dry
If your label says to air dry, you’ll want to skip the dryer. (Yes, even on the air-dry setting.) Heat and tumbling can ruin some delicate fabrics and melt embellishments. Instead, hang clothing on a rack or rod. Lay sweaters flat to help them retain their shape (they’ll stretch out on a hanger or draped over a rack).
The editors at SheFinds wrote this post on behalf of Arm + Hammer and received compensation as part of our agreement.
