Caring for silk & satin: How to keep clothes in good condition

When you spend your hard-earned money on clothes you expect them to last a long time. However, certain items of clothing seem to age much faster than others, despite the fact that you seem to have taken good care of them. But, did you know that you may actually have been caring for them wrong all this time? Read NADINE MERABI’s helpful guide below to discover how to keep clothing in good condition and how to steam a dress.

How to keep clothes in good condition

It’s estimated that the average lifespan of clothes is just over two years. So, if you want to get the most out of your purchases, pay close attention! At NADINE MERABI, we carefully and beautifully handcraft all of our clothes, so we take great pride in caring for all our materials.

Here’s how to keep clothes in good condition:

• Wash less - Try to wash your clothes a lot less than usual. Quite often, a piece of clothing probably doesn’t need to be washed. So just check the next time you go to throw that item in the laundry basket.

• Wash at lower temperatures - not only is this a good thing for your energy bills but if you wash your clothes at a lower temperature, like 30°, it will prolong the life of your clothes.

• Pay attention to care labels - All items of clothing have a care label with instructions on how to wash and dry them. Pay attention to properly care for them.

• Use eco-friendly detergent - Using eco-friendly detergents is not only good for the environment but they’re also friendly on materials during a wash.

• Wash inside out - Washing inside out can avoid any slight damage to the fibres of your clothes.

• Store properly - Don’t leave your clothes sitting around for a while. Fold them properly and put them away so they don’t get damaged. Also, if you can, hang them up in a wardrobe.

How to hang long dresses

Long dresses can often be very difficult to hang up in your wardrobe because they sag and collect on the bottom. There is a way to beat that, though. With two hangers, simply drape the skirt portion over the head of the second hanger. This prevents it from collecting at the bottom of your cupboard. This is not only neater but will also help the dress last longer!

How to steam a dress

Instead of ironing a wrinkled dress, steam it. This helps to preserve the lifespan of the garment and is actually much easier than you may think.

First of all, you need to hang the dress up. Using a handheld steamer that’s filled with water, pull the dress taut and steam section by section slowly and carefully. Tackle heavy wrinkles by applying steam directly to them. 

If you’re steaming an expensive dress, make sure to use the steamer through a piece of material so you’re not directly steaming the dress.

How to iron a silk dress

Silk must be slightly wet when you iron it so you don’t damage the material. Keep a spray bottle handy and lightly cover the garment in water to ensure dampness. Use a low heat setting on the iron but don’t iron directly onto the silk.

Instead, use a pillowcase, cloth, or handkerchief in between the iron and the item of clothing. Gently iron out creases.

How to iron a satin dress

When ironing a satin dress, be just as careful as you would with silk. Turn the item inside out, lower the heat of the iron and move it quickly across the material without applying too much pressure. Once you’ve finished ironing, hang up the silk dress and close any zips or buttons.

High-quality clothes at NADINE MERABI

Now you know how to properly look after your clothes and how to treat the different materials, you can keep your wardrobe looking fantastic for longer.

There’s so much to browse at NADINE MERABI, like our wide selection of shorts, tops, suits, dresses, and much more.

You can also find specific occasional clothing, such as for brides, bridesmaids, honeymoons, and more. Every NADINE MERABI piece is made by hand using the finest quality materials and exceptional craftsmanship to ensure these pieces last for a lifetime.

If you have any questions about our range of clothing or would like to check up on your order, do not hesitate to contact us at 0161 850 4295, or email us at hello@nadinemerabi.com.