Wear & Care: The Electrolux Guide to Keeping Clothes Looking Newer for Longer

Wear it well without wearing it out! That is the fashion philosophy shared by Electrolux, a leading global appliance company from Sweden, when it comes to clothes. You don’t need a lot of clothes to look stylish – just give them some TLC, especially when doing your laundry.

To help keep your clothes in the best shape, check out these tips from Electrolux FashionCare Ambassador Rajo Laurel, along with the FashionCare Council members Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Bianca King. From washing to storing, these practical hacks will help keep your clothes looking new for longer.

1. Check the Label

Acclaimed fashion designer Rajo Laurel shared that his number one rule when it comes to caring for clothes is to check the care label, which teaches you everything from the temperature, the kind of cycle and even instructions on drying, bleaching and ironing. And if those laundry symbols look like hieroglyphics to you? Executive director and teacher of SoFA Design Institute, and Creative Director of fashion accessories and bag label ARANÁZ Amina Aranaz-Alunan’s practical tip: print out a guide that explains the symbols for laundry instructions.

2. Caring for White Shirts and Tops

A staple in anyone’s wardrobe, the classic white tee is a great piece to build your wardrobe around. It’s easy to dress up and down, going from casual to business-chic. To keep your white shirt looking new, before washing, unbutton your shirt including its cuffs and collar. Check the label recommendations for care guidelines. Use a laundry detergent that contains bleach to really make your whites, white.

And if your white shirt or polo gets wrinkled easily, check if your washing machine has a Steam or Vapour Care setting – this relaxes the fibres and removes odours to bring back that soft, fresh feel to your white top.

3. Caring for Colours

Having coloured pieces is a great way to make a look pop but they are also prone to fading faster than dark or white clothing. To help make sure your coloured garments don’t lose their vibrance, sort your garments by colour before doing the laundry. Bright clothes such as purples, reds and oranges can be washed together, so can bright blues and greens. If a colour stands out on its own, consider washing it alone. Then check the garment for stains and apply a small amount of liquid detergent to the stain and shake gently in water. Turn your garments inside out to minimize rubbing of fibres. Choose a low temperature and avoid hot settings that can cause fading. You can also use a gentle wash cycle.

4. Caring for Jeans

Denim is durable but to make them last longer, especially the coloured and printed denims or anything with a deep indigo wash, you need to give them extra special care. The key to a long life is to wash at a low temperature and avoid over washing. First off, be sure to wear your jeans for as long as possible before they are first washed to give them a comfortable shape and a natural fade. Separate your jeans from white or other brightly coloured clothes because they might bleed colour. Turn them inside out before washing as well.

5. Dealing with Stains

The FashionCare Council members all share that it’s best to deal with stains immediately. Soak or try to wash them off right away. For food and wine stains, Laurel shares that he uses salt and soda water on the stains before washing as these help to lift the stains.

Here are some other helpful tips to remove common stains. For ink stains, blot the stained area with alcohol using a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly. For coffee stains, first try using cold water through the back of the stain for 10-15 minutes. If the stain is not fully removed, use liquid laundry detergent and a little cold water, or try using dish washing liquid. Gently rub the liquid detergent or dish washing liquid with your thumb to loosen the stain for about five minutes.

6. Proper Storage

The FashionCare Council members also shared that storage can play a role in keeping clothes looking their best. Model and actress, Bianca King advised people to keep their closets neat so you have a full account of everything you own and to know which items should be hung or folded (if it’s a knit or weave). And speaking of hanging, Laurel and Aranz-Alunan both mentioned the importance of using proper hangers – Laurel mentioned avoiding those without foam defense as they could ruin the shape of clothes.

Another advantage of keeping a closet organized is it could help you plan your wardrobe – you can rotate your pieces, as shared by Laurel, to help prolong their life.

7. Find the Right Washing Machine

When asked about effective and reliable ways of caring for clothes, the FashionCare Council agreed that the right washing machine can also help extend the life of your clothes – like the Electrolux UltimateCare™ 900 Front Load Washing Machine, which comes with innovative features that help keep your favourites looking new for longer, even up to 1 year later. It comes with SensorWash™ which detects dirt and adjusts cycle times to ensure that clothes receive the perfect wash, and UltraMix™ technology that activates detergents so that you can wash at lower temperatures to reduce colour fading*. It also comes with Vapour Care, which finishes the wash cycle with a soft spray of vapour to remove up to 99.9% of allergens and germs**

The UltimateCare™ 900 is also WiFi-connected and through the Electrolux Life App, you can remotely control your appliance, allowing you to choose wash or dry programs and receive notifications on the go. The Care Advisor also provides intuitive guidance to assist you in expertly cleaning up to 48 fabrics and 40 of the most common stains.

King, who wanted a washing machine smart enough to help her decide how to wash her laundry, talked about how her Electrolux UltimateCare™ Front Load Washing Machine “makes my life simpler and actually makes me look forward to doing my laundry!”

Meanwhile Aranaz-Alunan enthused, “I love the features, especially that I can oversee the washing process even when I’m not at home.”

Laurel, who has been using the UltimateCare™ Washing Machine for over a year, said that, “Ever since I invested in my Electrolux UltimateCare™ Washing Machine, my clothes really last longer, and I feel better about it. My clothes are also a big part of my investment, my character and my personality and this has helped me improve a lot and made me so much happier!”

For more information on Electrolux and its products, visit www.electrolux.com.ph and follow @ElectroluxPhilippines on Facebook and Instagram.

*In comparison between previous model as endorsed by Intertek.
** EFF902BQWA with vapour compared to same model without vapour