With winter in full swing, there’s bound to be snowy days in Illinois. Stay warm all season long with microfleece vests and snug jackets. Here’s a guide for keeping your snow gear comfy and clean!
Snow Pants and Waterproof Jackets
Properly cleaning your waterproof outerwear is important, as dirt can clog the microscopic pores that are specially engineered in this type of clothing to cause water to bead up and roll off. Opt for gentle detergent formulated for waterproof gear, like Woolite—when shopping, remember to read the label. In your washer, cycle your jacket, snow pants and similarly textured items in cold water under the Delicate or Gentle setting. For best results, we recommend running your jacket and snow pants through an additional wash cycle with an in-wash waterproofing solution for clothing.
Do not run these garments through the dryer. Air dry instead! We recommend hanging them away from direct sunlight or a direct heat source to ensure durability.
Microfleece Jackets and Vests
The warm layers you wear underneath your big jacket should be properly cared for, too! Before starting your washer, pretreat any stains with an enzyme-based stain remover or bleach (oxygen or chlorine), as needed. Be sure to avoid washing with any lint-producing fabrics, like flannel (as microfleece tends to attract lint deposits), and using a regular detergent, wash in cold or warm water on the Permanent-Press setting. To allay this worry, the LG graphite-steel front-load washer comes with a pedestal washer for small loads that can’t wait.
Lastly, we recommend air drying your microfleece vests and jackets, but when that’s not feasible, throwing them in the dryer to tumble on low heat—but never on high heat if you’re not ready to say goodbye to your Columbia quarter-zip.
Sweaters
While handwashing yields the best results when it comes to caring for your knits, machine washing them in cold water saves not only time—it also saves your favorite sweater. Since washing yarn in warm or hot water is likely to cause fraying, remember to also set your load’s cycle to Gentle or Permanent Press. For an even deeper clean, Whirlpool Cabrio washers have your back: teeming with steam-sanitizing technology, this laundry machine will deliver a hard-hitting wish without sacrificing the color of your knits—thanks to its additional ColorLast setting.
Along with that, we say to skip the spin cycle to prevent snags and reduce pilling!
Boots
To spruce up your shoes after a frolic in the rain or snow, we’ve got a few tips up our sleeve! For regular upkeep, we suggest using DIY solution made with one tablespoon of distilled white vinegar and a cup of cool water. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and wipe it over the salt stains left behind. If your shoes are made of sheepskin, avoid heavy-handedness, as this material is prone to shrinkage and staining. Do not leave them to dry in direct heat.
If your boots are made of leather, buff your shoe with a dry cloth, and for optimal results (or stubborn stains), try using a cleaner for suede and a soft-bristled brush!
For more winter laundry tips, come visit Grand TV & Appliance! We’ll be more than happy to walk you through our washer and dryer features to ensure your outerwear, fleece and knits stay comfy all season long. Stop by today!
