The Ultimate Guide: How To Keep Up Your Winter Wear
Winter Cleaning: The Accessory Issue
It’s midway through winter, have you washed your beanie yet?
With all the wear and tear of the harsh New York winters, you want to keep your scarves, hats, gloves and shoes in their best condition. That way, they can stay in your closet for years to come.
So, how many times should you clean things like winter mittens, shoes, hats?
Good question. We’ll take you through each winter staple and how to maintain it before sending them in for a thorough cleaning. That way, the only dirty job you have to worry about is cleaning slush off the dog’s paws (we can’t clean little Fido for you, unfortunately, but we can clean his jacket!).
Boots (are made for walkin’)
It’s prime boot season. Especially with the amount of snow outside – you wouldn't be caught dead in crocs (believe us, we’ve seen it, don’t be that person). With winter weather comes all the gross by-products – salt, brine, sand, and the worst of them all...slush 🥶. With imminent doom for your shoes, how does one combat all these obstacles?
Now, all shoes are different, but here’s a catch-all for how to clean those salty shoes, and how to keep them from getting ruined.
Protect
The best bet is to use a water protector spray, since it’s pretty outlandish to think that you’ll never wear your winter boots in wet conditions. Especially living in New York City – avoiding water is nearly impossible. We recommend Boot Rescue’s Protector Spray (oh, and our welcome box comes with a sample, as well!). This protects leather and suede exteriors from staining from salt and water. It’s also all-natural. (Only the cleanest for our Clean Fam!)
You should wax your shiny leather boots – Boot Rescue also has an all-natural leather wax. This conditions and polishes leather, protects it from damage and keeps it water repellent.
Keep them dry from the inside. After wear, even if it’s not wet out, you should keep the inside of your boots moisture-free (that means sweat, too). You can use a shoe tree to make sure they stay aired out, or you can stuff them with absorbent towels or paper after each use. These practices also help them keep their shape over the years.
Don’t put them near a heat source. It might be tempting to sit snowy boots by the fireplace or radiator, but this can warp their shape.
Clean
Foremost, send them to a professional if you're worried about protecting the integrity of your footwear. Getting rid of stains and fixing the damage is what we're here for, and we’re well equipped for it. We’ve got specialized machines and all the products.
To get rid of salt, wipe down thoroughly with a damp cloth, give them a good buff, wipe down again, and then polish. You can use a shoe cleaner like Fiebing’s Saddle Soap, and if you’re interested in properly shining your shoes, here’s a tell-all from the New York Times.
Alternatively, you can also wipe off with specialized boot wipes. Boot Rescue has those, too.
Gloves + Mittens
If you’ve got nice gloves, like leather or wool, you should keep them in good shape. Here’s how to keep them warm for years to come.
Leather
You can use a damp paper towel to work in (gently) a bit of the aforementioned Saddle Soap.
With a new damp paper towel, gently wipe away the soap.
Let the gloves air dry, away from heat.
Easy! And if you’ve got some harder-to-handle leather glove issues, like water damage or loose stitching, send them our way.
Wool
Didn’t you see our article about Bernie’s mittens?! We’re all about quirky wool gloves and mittens, and all about the sustainability aspect. If you missed the article, here’s the info:
Since it's important that mittens keep their shape, it's best to hand wash them.
Fill a sink with warm water and mild detergent. About a tablespoon will work.
Submerge mittens. Don't agitate or scrub, just let them soak for 5 or so minutes.
Rinse with cool water and do not wring out. Wool loses shape easily.
Lay flat on a towel to dry.
Scarves
As always, check the labels. Make sure you know what your scarf is made of, and if there are any special instructions, follow those. Second, pay attention to how the scarf is made. Is it a chunky knit? Is it simply a single-cut piece of fabric? Does it have a fringe? These will all factor in when cleaning it. Cut off the tag already? That’s ok, send it over our way. We’re sleuths as deciphering materials and cleaning accordingly.
Wool, Pashmina + Cashmere
Hand wash these. Wool and cashmere (pashmina is spun cashmere) lose their shape very easily, so it’s best not to put them in a machine at all.
Pre-treat any stains with a gentle, cashmere-safe stain solution. Like The Laundress’ Wash & Stain Bar. It works the yarn to loosen stains.
Add about a tablespoon or so of cashmere detergent to a basin or sink and fill with cool water.
Add the scarf to the water and agitate lightly with your hands, then soak for 30 minutes.
Rinse by running cool water over the scarf until it’s not soapy anymore.
Lay flat to dry. Number one rule of washing cashmere and wool? Do not wring it out. The fibers are warped easily and can lose their shape. Lay the scarf flat on a towel to dry. Don’t hang it up. Don’t put it near a heat source.
Synthetics
Many scarves are made with synthetic fibers that mock wool and cashmere. While they’re not as picky as woolens, they still require meticulous care to keep them looking good. If the scarf is loosely woven or knit, it’s best to hand wash like a woolen or cashmere (see above) or let us handle it. That way, the machine doesn’t loosen the knitting. If it’s more tightly knit, here are the steps:
Place into a mesh garment back and put in the washer on a delicate/hand-wash cycle (or just a cold, slow-spin cycle).
Use a delicate detergent.
Lay flat or hang to dry – they don’t stretch and lose shape like real wool does, so no need to fear hanging it up.
NOTE: If your scarf has fringe or tassels at the end, you might want to re-think using a machine. These can easily get tangled or damaged.
Knit Hats
Beanies and knit hats are more popular during the winter, and bets are you don’t think about washing them often. Never fear, because we’ve always got your back (or in this case, your head). Always read the labels, though, because it’ll detail what the yarn is made of. Remember that chunky knits are more delicate. Here are our washing tips.
Wool + Cashmere
These should be hand-washed, the same as a scarf. Here are those directions again:
Wool and cashmere lose their shape very easily, so it’s best not to put them in a machine at all.
Pre-treat any stains with a gentle, cashmere-safe stain solution. Like The Laundress’ Wash & Stain Bar. It works the yarn to loosen stains.
Add about a tablespoon or so of cashmere detergent to a basin or sink and fill with cool water.
Add the hat or beanie to the water and agitate lightly with your hands, then soak for 30 minutes.
Rinse by running cool water over the scarf until it’s not soapy anymore.
Lay flat to dry. Do not wring it out. The fibers are warped easily, and can lose their shape. Lay the hat flat on a towel to dry. Don’t hang it up. Don’t put it near a heat source.
Cotton, Linen, Ramie + Synthetic Yarns
These materials can be washed on a gentle cycle in cold water. The tips?
Fix any snags or pills before you wash them to make sure they don’t get worse.
If you don’t know the fiber, or if it’s a mixture of fibers, always hand wash.
Always use a mild detergent.
Wash them inside out.
Lay flat to dry, never dry in the machine.
If they’re chunky or loosely knit, put in a mesh garment bag.
Make sure there are no appliques, like rhinestones, flowers or iron-on details. If these are present, it’s best to hand-wash.
Why is it so important to take care of your winter accessories and winter wear? If you don’t wash them seasonally, stains can set and become permanent for the next year. Or, damage can go unnoticed and become an even bigger problem. What makes sending them to a professional a good idea? We’ve got a ton of expertise when it comes to delicate and hard-to-wash items, and we know how to spot damage and fix it as soon as possible. Make it easy on yourself and send your winter accessories our way.