Press on the stain, over and over, to lift it out. Resist the urge to rub, or you might damage the fabric. You can let the stain sit overnight, even in water, before putting it in the laundry. Or you can wash immediately after treating the stain. Here, Madame Paulette’s experts share how to safely remove other kinds of stains at home — on garments that can be safely cleaned with water. Follow each instruction by washing the garment as you normally would. Blood or Ink. With a cloth underneath the soiled area, re-wet the stain with ice cold water. Using a Q-Tip or small towel soaked in a cleaning solution (5 ounces water, 1 ounce ammonia, 1 ounce peroxide, 1 ounce color safe detergent) lightly tap the stain, pushing it onto the cloth underneath.
Dirt. Remove any chunks of mud carefully. Place the garment in lukewarm water and move it around to loosen and remove as much dirt as possible. Apply detergent to the stain and re-soak for half an hour; rinse and repeat. Tomato. With a butter knife or spoon, carefully pick up any excess tomato sauce. Dab detergent onto the stain and, from the underside of the garment, rinse with cold water (to push the stain out of, instead of back into, the garment). Coffee. Flush the stain with cold water. Then apply a mild cleaning solution (6 ounces water, 2 ounces color-safe detergent) until the stain comes out. If that doesn’t work, try a tougher solution (2 ounces water, 2 ounces color-safe bleach).
Jewelry "The most important thing when you buy a piece of jewelry, is to ask the salesperson how to take care of it." —Rebecca Selva, creative director at Fred Leighton, a curator of vintage jewelry. Simply put, when it comes to jewelry, “Common sense is critical,” says Fred Leighton’s creative director, Rebecca Selva. She elaborates: Swimming or Exercising? Take It Off! “Diamonds, you know, are the hardest gemstone. They certainly can be worn and enjoyed every day. However, they are a gemstone that can chip." So take them off when you might knock the band into other metals, such as while lifting weights — or even packing up to move. And especially in the water. “A ring can loosen on your hand — and try finding it in the ocean." Ask for Advice When You Buy. “The most important thing when you buy a piece of jewelry, is to ask the salesperson how to take care of it." Don’t Fix It Yourself. Ditch the do-it-yourself mentality when it comes to jewelry. “You can actually damage it more by trying to repair something,” Selva says. But before taking it in to the professionals, put broken jewelry in a Ziploc bag — so that you don’t lose any gemstones, pearls or metal pieces en route to have the item repaired. “Or if a strand of pearl breaks, tape the ends or tie a knot if you can — make sure those ends are somehow sealed.”
Keep Things Organized … and Cool. “Diamonds can scratch other diamonds and diamonds can scratch other gemstones, so keep them separate.” Some stones are vulnerable to heat — like opals, turquoise and coral — so don’t keep them somewhere warm or in direct sunlight. It will affect their coloring. Don’t Scrub Too Hard. Selva recommends soaking most jewelry in lukewarm, sudsy water (or water with lemon), to loosen up the grime, and then very gently cleaning with a soft brush. Remember, a ring gets the least dirty on top of a stone. It’s the underside that gets the dirtiest because that’s the part that touches the natural oils and lotions on your skin. Avoid hot or cold water (radical temperature changes can affect gemstones) and soaking porous gemstones (turquoise, pearls, opals). And don’t forget to close the drain! Handbags Have you ever bought a new leather handbag or briefcase that came in a cotton drawstring pouch? That pouch is called a dust bag — it’s not just fancy packaging. “They help isolate your bag from dust and touching items that may discolor or damage your bag,” says Jed Winokur, Coach’s archive director. He says that regularly storing handbags inside them at home is one of two ways to prevent damage. Here are his other tips:
Keep handbags stuffed “to help retain their shape.” Acid-free tissue paper (preferably unbuffered) is best; newspaper can cause discoloration and damage over time. Winokur suggests wrapping metal hardware with tissue as well, to safeguard against marks on the leather.
Ribbed Knit Pants"In order to keep them in premium condition, dress shoes should not be worn for consecutive days." —Paula Gerbase, artistic director of John Lobb, which specializes in luxurious men’s shoes. Because there are so many kinds of shoes, we polled four different experts on the proper care of your shoes: Paula Gerbase, artistic director, John Lobb (bespoke and luxurious men’s shoes) Tull Price, founder, Feit (handmade leather footwear) Percy Steinhart, president and creative director, Stubbs & Wootton (fashionable slippers) David Mesquita, vice president, Leather Spa (a repair service with high-end clientele) And they had shockingly similar advice: Use Shoe Horns. “They are indispensable for keeping the shape of the shoe,” Steinhart says. Gerbase adds that the simple little tool “ensures that the backs of the shoes are kept intact.”
Don’t Toss Shoes Into a Pile. To prevent shoes from being wrinkled or smushed, every single expert suggests storing them with shoe trees — the foot-shaped devices, available in wood or plastic, that help a pair keep its shape. “If not, clear space on the floor and keep them as neatly as possible,” Steinhart says.
Do Regular Maintenance. “Always check your shoes after wear before placing them in your closet,” Mesquita suggests. Wipe leather clean with a cloth or brush before putting away, and brush off suede of any dust collected during the day. Condition Regularly. “The biggest misconception I suppose is that leather shoes only need waxing,” Gerbase says, “whereas the conditioning cream is a vital step in maintaining the quality and softness of upper leather.” Here’s how Gerbase recommends you condition your shoes: Wrap a soft cotton cloth tightly around your index finger and dab in the cream. Apply to the shoe using small circular motions (no sweeping movements). Leave the cream to seep into the leather for around 15 minutes and then brush off excess with a soft brush.
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