Wardrobe maintenance doesn’t mean fixing the sagging hinges on your closet – it means making sure your clothing investment is protected by caring for your clothes, beginning as soon as you acquire them. The good news is, aside from routine visits to the washing machine, most wardrobe maintenance can be provided by others.

You will need:

• dry cleaners
• laundry service
• shoe repair person
• tailor/alterations professional

First, locate these friendly neighborhood service providers and make friends with them. Ask friends, neighbors, work colleagues for recommendations. These folks can really make the difference if you find yourself in a jam some day.

Dry cleaning
Often the laundry and dry cleaner are one and the same, and sometimes they offer simple alterations, such as hems or sewing on buttons. When you take items for cleaning, be sure to point out (or mark with colored tape or safety pins) repairs that need to be made, spots that want removing, and any other special-care issues. If you know what made the spot, be sure to relay that information – it can make a big difference in how successfully it can be removed. (And if you tried and failed to remove it yourself, confess. Cleaning chemicals can react to each other in surprising ways.)

Take clothes to the cleaners as soon as they need it, especially if there are spots that need attention. The longer they stay in the fabric, the harder it will be to remove them. And you’ll really hate it if you find the sport coat you want to wear at the bottom of the “going to the cleaners” pile.

Stain and spot removal
If you get a spot on a washable garment, pre-treat it before washing. Pay attention to washing instructions sewn into garments. Luckily for us, the internet offers everything you’ll ever need to know about washing, cleaning, and stain removal. Here are just a few sources to get you started.

Take clothes to the cleaners as soon as they need it, especially if there are spots that need attention. The longer they stay in the fabric, the harder it will be to remove them. And you’ll really hate it if you find the sport coat you want to wear at the bottom of the “going to the cleaners” pile.

For stain removal and more:
http://www.chemistry.co.nz/stain_frame.htm

For interactive stain removal charts:
http://www.dilmaghani.com/care/stains/removalchart.html

For a pdf booklet to print and keep handy:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM858.pdf

To interpret those mystical little symbols on the fabric care labels in your washable clothing:
http://www.textileaffairs.com/lguide.htm

Shoe care
It has been said that people reach their first opinions about you based on your shoes. Your shoemaker can help you make your nice leather and dress shoes last much longer and feel more comfortable too.

When shoes are new, consider treating the leather with a leather protector. It will help them withstand water and weather without damaging the leather. Also consider having a very thin rubber half-sole put on new shoes, especially if they are likely to get a lot of wear. That little bit of extra rubber provides cushioning and eliminates wear on the leather soles – which extends shoe life by a lot! And, it makes shoes less slippery on polished surfaces like airports and hotel lobbies.

If shoes do get wet, stuff them with paper or shoe trees and put them to dry away from a heat source. Polish regularly to protect leather as well as make you look your best. Tip: If you travel, airports are a great place to get a quick shoe-shine while you’re waiting for your plane to arrive.

Speaking of shoe trees, invest in a couple of pair of good ones made from cedar. At the end of the day, put the shoe trees in the shoes you’ve been wearing and leave overnight. That will help reduce odor, restore shape, and help them to dry thoroughly before you put them away.

It goes without saying you should keep a spare pair of laces for each pair of dress shoes on hand, as well as take care of worn soles, heels, etc. right away. And by the way, your shoe repair shop can often fix belts, briefcase and luggage handles, and do various other leather-related repair work.

Alterations/Tailoring
Alterations can be tricky. Typically you’ll have necessary alterations made when you purchase new clothing, but should something require taking in or letting out later you’ll need a tailor.

The original store will usually do the work, for a fee, or the alterations experts there may moonlight. If your trusty dry-cleaner doesn’t do alterations, they probably have a recommendation or two they feel comfortable in making. Local fabric stores often have lists of tailors and seamstresses, and of course there’s always the internet. Keep in mind that tailoring can be expensive, so weigh that against the cost/value of the garment in question before deciding to alter rather than replace. That said, though, sometimes simple alterations can truly make the difference between looking acceptable and looking truly great.

Tools
Other clothing-related grooming tools to have on hand:

• Clothes brush
• Suede brush
• Sticky lint-roller (especially if you have pets)
• Black, brown and neutral shoe polish
• Duct tape (you never know)