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Winter Fashion: How To Care For Your Cold Weather Coats And Boots

It's Time To Prepare Your Cold-Weather Wear For Winter
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One of the best things about fall is getting to wear our cold weather fashions, like leather riding boots or a new pea coat. But if you want to love your cozy clothes as much at the end of the season as you do at the start, you'll need to take proper care of them. Here are a few tips to get the most from your cold weather clothing:

Cleaning A Wool Coat

Winter Fashion: How To Care For Your Cold Weather Coats And Boots

Cleaning A Wool Coat:

• Always follow cleaning instructions on the label. For coats that need to be dry cleaned, you can use spot removers to deal with smaller stains and a home dry-cleaning kit to cut down on cleaning costs

• Many stains can be removed by blotting them repeatedly with a cloth dipped in lukewarm water. Don’t rub the stain, since that forces the liquid deeper into the fibres and damages the fabric. If you don’t have a spot remover, try mixing a bit of wool detergent with a few drops of white vinegar then covering the stain for an hour. Remove any excess cleanser and rinse thoroughly

• Use cedar hangers when hanging your winter jacket since it will keep moths away without the horrid smell of mothballs. You can also use cedar sachets or chips

Cleaning A Down Coat:

• If you’re washing a down coat, follow the instructions and only use a detergent that’s made for cleaning down. Other products will remove down's natural oils and flatten the filling

• Make sure to close the coat’s zippers and wash it by hand or in a front-loading washing machine on the gentle cycle. The agitator in top-loading machines can cause damage to down filling. Rinse two or three times to make sure all the soap is out

• Don’t hang your coat to dry as this can lead to mildew. Set on low heat in a front-loading dryer

Cleaning Leather Boots:

• When you buy your new pair of boots, always ask the sales associates how to care for and protect them before you wear them

• Rather than saturating the boots with leather protector, use two thin layers and let the first coat dry before applying the second

• Don’t allow slush to dry on boots unless you want salt stains. You’ll need to clean your boots about every two weeks but remember to re-apply your leather protector after using a shoe cleanser

• Real leather dries out in the cold just like your skin. Apply a leather conditioner on a regular basis to keep the material soft and supple. Good-quality conditioners are sold at cobblers and shoe stores everywhere

Caring For Suede Boots:

• Preventative measures are called for when it comes to keeping suede looking new. When you buy your boots, use the protector spray recommended by a sales associate, since they know the products best. If you already have protector at home, test a small area on the boot first to make sure it won’t affect the colour

• If suede does get dirty, clean with a suede eraser or a white pencil eraser. Afterwards, rejuvenate the suede with a toothbrush or suede brush. If the suede is particularly flat, you can refluff by holding the boot over a steaming (not boiling!) kettle

Drying Your Boots:

• If your leather or suede shoes get soaked, stuff them full of newspaper (to draw out the water) and leave them for at least a day or two, replacing the paper as needed. Avoid putting the shoes over or near direct heat as this will dry them out and lead to cracks. Once they’ve dried out, clean and protect the material, if needed

• Cedar shoe trees are a must for your favourite shoes all season long, as the cedar will help remove moisture and odour and help the shoes hold their shape. Shoe trees are also helpful when you put your shoes and boots into storage

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