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Sending your clothes to the dry-cleaners may do more harm than good. Your laundry may be subjected to harsh chemicals and soaps. Then they’re ironed on a big, heavy press, which can crush buttons and wear out fabrics if the operator isn’t careful.
With a few exceptions, most of your best articles can be washed at home, including cashmere sweaters, linen shirts, and even some wool pants, says Lindsey Boyd, cofounder of The Laundress, a fabric care line.
Here's how to handle denim, wool, and cotton pants:
Denim
Don’t listen to the guy who insists he never washes his jeans because it spoils their integrity. (And don’t stand too close to him either.)
If you want your denim to keep its colour, wash it by hand, says Eric Goldstein of The Jean Shop in New York City. Place them in a tub with enough room-temperature water to cover them; add a few drops of liquid detergent, mix it in with your hands, and soak them for five minutes. Remove, rinse, and hang to dry.
Too stiff? Toss ’em in the dryer with a couple of tennis balls on air dry (no heat) for 30 minutes. This will soften the fabric and break the denim back in. (First make sure they’re completely dry to avoid shrinkage.)
Cotton
Cotton fibers are tough, says Boyd. So you can wash your favorite chinos like you do your tees: Turn them inside out to target body grime and machine-wash in warm water. Hang dry to preserve the fit.
Wool
If your trousers are lined, they run a higher risk of shrinkage in the spin cycle; have them dry-cleaned. Unlined? Sure, wash them at home. But remember, wool is a type of hair. Use cold water on a delicate cycle and then hang them to dry.
(The right way to wash t-shirts and button down shirts, here.)
This was first published on Men's Health Singapore