5 Expert tips to Make Your Winter Coat Last Longer…

So that you can enjoy your winter coat for years to come, you must maintain it properly. We give you advice for the maintenance of different materials.

Maintaining your winter coat well is an important condition for being able to wear it for as long as possible, because this way you can reduce wear and tear. For example, through excessive wear or lack of maintenance, coats can become discolored, their seams can become deformed and the materials lose their thermal and water-repellent functions.

Here you will find five care tips that will allow your winter coat to withstand many winters

1. maintain your winter coat: Avoid dirt

Maintaining your winter coat is easier in the long term if you take care of it regularly and prevent it from getting dirty or worn out too much. To do this, you can, depending on the material, pat, brush or wash your winter coat. This will prevent stains from becoming embedded and requiring in-depth cleaning, which would put unnecessary strain on the material.
Maintaining your winter coat – here’s how to keep it clean:

  • Brush: you can brush wool coats with a special clothing brush. To do this, let the coat air out so that the dirt hardens. Most stains are then removed very easily with a brush.
  • Patting: For wool and down coats, it helps to pat them regularly. The hardened dirt comes off and the down on your jackets relaxes.
  • Wash clothes: Smooth surfaces like leather or synthetic materials are easily cleaned with a damp cloth. Use cleaning products sparingly. Depending on the material, they can damage the coat. Most of the time, a little hot water and a drop of dishwashing liquid is enough. For wool, be sure to only dab with tampons. Friction can wear away the material.

2. hang up the winter coat and air it out

To take care of your winter coat, it is advisable to air it regularly. This way you can prevent unpleasant odors that appear especially in humid weather.

To air the coat, simply hang it on the balcony or terrace overnight. The coat must of course be protected from precipitation and bad weather. Also observe the following points:

Hang the coat on a hanger and not on the thin collar loop. This may tear more quickly depending on the material and weight of the coat. Additionally, the shoulders of the coat stay in better shape on a hanger.
Empty your pockets. Heavy pockets can put extra pressure on the material and cause seams to distort or cracks to form in the material. Tip: You can often remedy these small defects yourself by learning to sew.
Hang the wool on a thin hanger to prevent the shoulders from becoming too distorted.

3. Take care of the winter coat when washing

Although cleanliness is part of proper winter coat care, washing it in the washing machine is generally not recommended. Often the inner lining and the outer fabric are different. Each type of textile requires individual maintenance.

As a general rule, you should always take into account the label indicating the care instructions when washing your winter coat. If in doubt, it is best to entrust it to a professional dyer. When washing, always turn your winter coat inside out and close all buttons and zippers.

Maintaining your winter coat: here’s how to wash it:

  • Wool: Wool clothing can become tangled and shrink in the washing machine. It is best to air them out and brush them. If you still want to wash a wool coat, use a special detergent for wool and select the wash cycle for wool in your machine.
  • Down: down is a very sensitive material. If handled improperly, it can clump and lose its heating properties. Only wash a down jacket on a delicate cycle and leave enough room in the drum. So the down can spread out. Hang the jacket to dry and shake it regularly so that the down is distributed evenly.
  • Leather: As a general rule, leather should not be put in the washing machine. This natural material tolerates maintenance best with a damp cloth and mild detergent. If washing is still necessary, be sure to use a gentle wash cycle here too. You can find more tips here: Cleaning suede: These home remedies can clean shoes, jackets and bags.

Synthetics: Winter coats made with synthetic materials like Gore-Tex or polyester may lose their waterproofing after regular washing. Be sure to scrupulously follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Most of the time, wiping away stains with a damp cloth is enough.

4. maintain the winter coat during impregnation

Maintain your winter coat so that it remains functional. For this, it is a good idea to waterproof the coat from time to time. Waterproofing allows the coat to breathe while maintaining its water-repellent function.

Down jackets are thus protected against bad weather and the fine feathers do not stick together so quickly in wet conditions. If dirty, simply wipe with a damp cloth.

There is a special wax for leather. It maintains your equipment, softens the leather and protects the jacket against severe weather. Synthetic materials benefit from waterproofing sprays. Find out which product is suitable for your coat.

5. maintain your winter coat: It is also important to store it correctly

To properly maintain your winter coat, you must also store it after the winter season. Here’s what you can do to protect your winter coat during the summer break:

  • Shake the coat well beforehand. Brush or wash it with a cloth to remove dirt.
  • Let it air out to avoid bad odors.
  • It is best to hang the coat in a protective cover and leave enough space with other clothes.
  • Only pack the coat tightly if you are absolutely certain that there is no more moisture in the fabric. Otherwise, unpleasant odors or even mold may form.
  • Protect the coat from moths by hanging a small sachet of lavender on it. Moths don’t like lavender or the smell of red cedar wood. In another article, we explain to you how to fight against clothes moths.