In order not to spoil the jacket when washing at home, you need to choose a safe cleaning method. To begin with, make sure that the degree of contamination is suitable for self-removal, after which, choose how to wash the jacket correctly.
For light outerwear, including a jacket, there are several cleaning methods:
- Dry cleaning with a brush;
- Cleaning with a brush and liquid (alcohol, vinegar, soap solution);
- Washing in the shower;
- Handwash;
- Delicate mode of the washing machine.
Not each of these methods is suitable for all clothes, the type of fabric must also be taken into account. To choose how to wash a jacket at home, look at the product label, there should be recommendations. The only symbol in which it is worth giving the thing to dry cleaning looks like a crossed-out container with water, its meaning is that washing is prohibited. However, some things that we are used to bringing to professionals can be cleaned at home. For example, preparing a men’s jacket before an important event or refreshing a white jacket with a careful cleaning.
Safe cleaning methods for different types of fabrics
Let’s analyze which cleaning option is suitable in your case:
- Dry cleaning is essential for suede products, for others it is a good way to maintain their shape. For suede, it is contraindicated to interact with ordinary water. The only exception is a special agent for removing stains from suede.
- Wet cleaning preliminarily removes stains to give freshness. With light movements of the brush, they are removed without damage. This option is suitable for material that partially contains wool fibers, as well as one hundred percent wool, corduroy and velvet.
Tip: choose easily soluble and non-foaming products. A liquid automatic powder or sulfate-free shampoo will do well. Shiny traces of sweat and fat are well removed by a solution of water and alcohol.
- Products made of natural fabric are suitable for manual processing: satin, polyester, semi-wool.
- Suits made of linen, cotton, and polyester can be put in the washing machine.
- For cleaning in the shower, all products are suitable, except for those with a do not wash symbol, primarily suede.
Before washing, make sure that there are no decorative elements that can be removed. It is also not recommended to load jackets with stiff lapels and shoulders into the washing machine.
Dry cleaning
You can quickly refresh a jacket without dry cleaning with a clothes brush or a special roller. Hang the necessary thing in a horizontal position for convenient cleaning and walk gently over the entire surface. This method allows you to get rid of dust and give clothes a fresh look. When choosing a brush, look for one with medium length and stiff bristles. As a rule, such devices can be purchased in clothing stores.
Regular cleaning of the jacket in this way does not require ironing, and it will not be covered with dust and small debris. In addition, if for suede products this is the only way to clean the thing, in other cases it is a good way to protect against unpleasant odors and premature contamination.
Wet cleaning
To deal not only with dust pollution and lint, it is necessary to slightly wet the brush in a special solution. A solution of water and ammonia is best suited to remove the oily sheen that appears from direct contact with the skin. Recipe: two tablespoons per liter of plain water. In addition to alcohol, you can use vinegar.
If you choose a soapy solution, try to avoid a lot of suds. Dilute soap or liquid powder with water so that you don’t have to wash off the dilutions afterwards.
To clean a leather jacket, both soap and alcohol solution are suitable. Instead of a brush, you can use a sponge. Complex stains, such as ink stains, are removed with lemon juice.
After wet cleaning, it is preferable to dry the thing on the shoulders, straightening it well. It is not necessary to shake, as well as use hot air or direct sunlight, try to protect the segment of clothing from excessive heat exposure.
Tip: If you have a sample of fabric that needs washing, test it to see if the soapy solution washes off easily.
Cleaning the jacket in the shower
If the material of the product allows wet processing, but has many glued parts, such as a school jacket, then it is best to clean it in the shower. For convenience and preservation of appearance, hang the form on a hanger or hold it in a vertical position. Before turning on the warm water, clean the product from dust and stains with an alcohol solution.
If some stains could not be removed, remember their location and gently rub with a brush on a damp cloth. Remember that once you get the jacket wet, you won’t be able to see where the stains were, so try to remove them beforehand. It is best to inspect the surface for stains before wetting. Permissible water temperature is room temperature, up to 30 degrees.
Hand wash with soaking
To find out if an item can be hand washed, check the tag for symbols that allow soaking in water. Before you can soak, remove jewelry that could damage the fabric or deform (brooch, cufflink, badge, etc.).
If there are stains, it is better to remove them in advance with a brush, and then wash completely. It is necessary to soak in warm water of 30-35 degrees, while using a liquid, easily soluble detergent. You don’t need to wash hard, so it’s better to give it time to soak in well. Go over the fabric with light movements, then rinse in cold water several times. When the water becomes clean, without wringing, leave the item in a place where the water will drain from it.
Once most of the water has drained, flatten the jacket on the shoulders and hang. It is best to hang to dry at room temperature, in the shade from the sun or in an apartment.
How to properly wash in a washing machine
In the washing machine for washing the jacket, it is necessary to set the most gentle mode. It can be a delicate mode or for wool. The manual program is selected at 30 degrees and the minimum number of spinning revolutions. Although, if you have the opportunity, it is better to refuse wringing, letting things drain and dry on their own.
The best detergent is a liquid powder, and adding fabric conditioner will soften the fibers and make it easier for you to iron the jacket. How well you can wash a suit depends on the capabilities of the machine. Of course, it is better to get rid of serious stains in advance with an alcohol solution, and after washing – to rinse additionally.
Tip : it happens that there is a symbol on the tag that allows the machine to be inserted into the machine, but this applies only to the main fabric of the jacket, and not to its hard glued parts. In this case, it is better to wash by hand or under the shower.
Final stage: ironing
Clothes that require careful care should always have the recommended ironing temperature. You can use hot steam only on a linen and cotton jacket. Corduroy is ironed without steaming on the inside and on the front side through gauze.
Before starting ironing, make sure that:
- There are no stains left on the jacket, otherwise they will become even more noticeable;
- You use infused or purified water in the iron, which does not leave scale and traces;
- You have acquired a spray gun and a protective cloth that you will lay between the iron and the jacket. You can use gauze or cotton cloth for this.
Ideally, the outer garment should be ironed correctly, starting with smoothing the folds of the pockets on the inside. Sleeves and shoulders are ironed using special parts of the ironing board. In the absence of such, a twisted terry towel is placed inside. To protect against burning, apply a cloth on top, you can wet it with water on folds or hard parts of the jacket.
In conclusion, remember that some types of fabric should be left slightly under-dried before ironing. For example, a woolen jacket is ironed while still wet through gauze.