The Essence of Laundry

Stains and tears in your favorite garments are surely annoying. Yet there are many ways in which the damaged clothes can be restored. But if there is something that we have learnt from The Little Prince is that What’s essential is invisible to the eye. We imagine that Antoine de Saint-Exupery was not referring specifically to laundry, but the point prevails. Here, we are talking about those unpleasant odors that impregnate into your most precious items. Fashion is supposed to make you feel good, and there is nothing more uncomfortable than an unwanted scent in your coolest outfit. Others may not perceive it, but if your attire smells, you probably cannot think of anything else but where it comes from and how you can fix it. Read on to find the answers.

Sweat

This natural human secretion is supposed to cool you down, not to stress you out. But when it comes into contact with certain bacteria, it releases that unique most-hated aroma. There are ways in which you can prevent your clothes from holding on to this scent. Ideally, you will anticipate situations in which you will sweat and dress accordingly. That implies, for example, wearing breathable, moisture absorbing fabrics on very hot days or when you are about to do some exercise. You might think that absorbing moisture sounds counterintuitive, but actually those clothes that repel sweat tend to heat you up, making you produce more of that awkward secretion. Plus, they trap odors a lot more than natural fibers. This is ironic, considering that acrylic and nylon are very popular among athletic wear. We recommend that you use cotton, linen or other fabrics that are purely made from natural fibers and are not mixed with any plastic or other manufactured materials.

Smoke

You may have enjoyed a bonfire, but when you can still smell it a week later, it can damage the memory of the lovely experience. When the fumes of a fire pit become embedded in the fibers of your clothes, the smell can linger for months if left unattended. The smoke from cigarettes is a concoction of tar, oil, ash and other chemicals with sticky particles that tightly adhere to fabrics and hair. Fortunately, letting your clothes sit under some sun and fresh air as soon as possible can do miracles.

Perfume

One thing is a freshly applied fragrance over a clean body dressed in clean clothes. But another, totally different situation is when the perfume you used the day before leaves a stale trail on your garment. Perfumes have preservatives, alcohol, oils and other additives that stick to fabrics. These not only cause the permanence of concentrated smells but they can also stain or discolor your clothes, and even produce migraine headaches and allergic reactions in your skin. One way to prevent this is to apply perfume on your skin and let it sit for a while instead of spraying it on your clothing. This not only protects your clothes but also helps the perfume last longer and react with your body producing a unique, personal scent. There is also the possibility that the perfume in your clothes comes from your laundry detergent. In that case, you should start using a different product without fragrance.

Mold and mildew

A musty smell on your clothes is the result of spores and other microbial organic compounds growing on your fabrics. Some people with respiratory conditions are especially sensitive and can show symptoms like wheezing, coughing or itching when there is mold in their clothes. A poorly ventilated closet is the perfect brewing environment, so keeping your closet organized is the best preventive method, as well as washing your clothes regularly, especially when they are damp (like used towels and gym clothes).

Final words

In this article, we have pointed out the most common explanations behind those frustrating smells holding on to your clothes. We have also mentioned some preventive measures, hoping that you can avoid dealing with this uncomfortable situation. However, there are high chances that you will encounter one of these odors that love to stick to fabrics at some point. When that happens, we recommend that you follow the following steps:

1- Soak the smelling clothes overnight in one cup of vinegar to four cups of hot water, or one cup baking soda to four cups of water.

2- If the label allows, wash the garment in hot water. Keep in mind that lace, wool or silk and other delicate fabrics should always be washed in cold water.

3 – Use a natural fabric conditioner or make your own softener.

4 – Air dry items under the sun or in a well ventilated area.

5 – Make your own clothes freshener. If you have pets, ask your vet before using essential oils as some are not recommended around animals.

Please note that the use of vinegar or baking soda is effective if you are trying to remove an especially strong smell. You should restrain from using these regularly, particularly with natural fabrics, as their high pH levels can damage organic fibers, in particular those in wool, cashmere and silk.

What’s Eating Your Clothes

There is nothing like digging a good old jumper out of your grandparents’ wardrobe as winter approaches. Not only will reusing a thick woolen sweater with a vintage design put you ahead of the fashion revival trend. It will also keep you warm and cozy, just like grandma’s hot chocolate and cookies combo. But how disappointing it is to find a pattern of little holes scattered around a garment. How scary it is to open the closet and be saluted by a tiny insect proudly emerging from within the depths of your cupboard. Unfortunately, there are several different bugs who enjoy nibbling your favorite apparel. In this article, we will point out the usual suspect, the clothes moth, and give you some ideas on how to fight your clothes’ worst enemy.

Clothes moths

There are millions of moths in the world, but only two feed from animal fibres found in the textiles that constitute carpets, upholstery and clothing. In fact, one of them -the webbing clothes moth- is the most common type within the species and has been earning an increasingly bad reputation over the last decades. Those moths on your porch dancing around the light might be a little bit annoying, but they are no reason for serious concern. At least not for your clothes.

Together with the case-bearing or case-making clothes moth, webbing clothes moths thrive in low light. They happily lay hundreds of eggs in dark places, making your wardrobe the perfect habitat. It is actually not the adult but the moth larvae that damage clothing. They eat keratin, a protein found in animal-based materials. That is why they love wool, fur, hair and feathers, and can even snack from leather, lint, mohair and silk, especially when soiled or stained with sweat, body oils or urine. You are more likely to discover the damage in hidden areas such as crevices and creases, behind lapels, inside pockets or below folds. They do not feed from cotton but might eat their way through it if they want to reach feathers.

The adult common or webbing clothes moth is small, with a pale golden sheen. When its larvae hatch, they spin silk webbing on the fabric and feed underneath it. They leave behind holes on clothes as well as webbing tubes. The adult case-making clothes moth is a pale silvery grey-brown with dark spots. The larva spins a tubular case around itself made out of silk and fibers. It carries its case as it feeds, leaving a trail of grazed textile or fur and empty silk bags.

Clothing and blankets in regular use, and rugs with a normal amount of traffic are at a low risk of developing a moth infestation. You often find larvae hiding on the edges of rugs, inside and out of upholstery furniture, in pet bedding, curtains or drapes, and any dirty fabric in your house. They do not present a risk to the health of humans, although larvae might cause allergic reactions or irritation when in contact with your skin or when inhaled by those with genetic dispositions.

There are many ways in which clothes moths can infiltrate your home, and it is important to be on top of this for prevention is always better than cure. They can simply fly in through an open door or window, or a damaged screen. But they usually sneak in through infected second hand goods such as clothes, furniture, blankets and rugs. Eggs are also laid on items kept in storage places, like garages or sheds, and move to your wardrobe when you transfer them into your bedroom. Thorough inspections and regular vacuuming are advised, as well as washing off-season clothes before storing and keeping them in airtight containers until their season comes. Empty your wardrobe completely at least twice a year, ideally around Spring and Autumn, and perform a preventive deep clean. Take your clothing to a suds coin laundry before returning them to the clean closet. You should consider brushing clothes made of natural fibers after you wear them outside, and washing any clothes purchased in thrift shops before placing them in the cupboard.

These moths can be naturally repelled with sachets filled with dried lavender or cotton balls dipped in lavender essential oil. Peppermint, cloves, thyme and rosemary are great alternatives, as well as chips or blocks of cedarwood hanging in cotton bags. Make sure the cedar does not touch the clothes as its oil may stain the fabric, and change it every three years or less. All these options have the added benefit of giving your cupboard a nice scent, for the smell is appealing to humans but highly repellent to insects. Already infested clothes should be frozen for 72 hours to kill the eggs and larvae. Make sure you wash them with a strong, natural soap in our efficient washing machines. Woolen materials can also be exposed to sunlight every month for prevention, as high temperature is an effective method for moth control.

Look after your clothes and protect them from these enemies with the help of Sudz, your expert cleaner. Hygienic cleaning is our specialty!