Clothing Care Kit
Hi Friends,
We hope you are having a Happy Secondhand September!
Launched in 2019 by Oxfam, Secondhand September is a campaign that promotes reusing, rewearing, and restyling your clothing this month and beyond. To celebrate these efforts, we put together a guide of various products and tools that we use to care for and prolong the life of our clothing.
Do you have tips of your own? We’re always looking for ways to improve. Let us know what methods have worked well for you in the comments below!
xx
Subject Matter
Clothing Care kit
Soak Laundry Soap
Soak is our go-to soap for hand washing vintage garments. The gentle, biodegradable, no-rinse formula was developed to be as easy on the environment as it is on your clothes by limiting water use and minimizing the stress on fabrics.
GUPPYFRIEND Washing Bag
Each time garments made of synthetic fibers (i.e. acrylic, polyester) are washed, the fibers shed and pollute the water. We use a GUPPYFRIEND Washing Bag to help prevent these microplastics from entering waterways. The broken fibers collect in the corners of the bag and can easily be removed and disposed of after use.
Brabantia Drying Rack
This extra-large laundry rack is perfect for eco-friendly air drying of clothing and linens. The sturdy yet lightweight design folds open to accommodate a full machine load of laundry, then folds away for easy storage.
VFAN Mini Classic Air Circulator
Once the garments and linens are hung up to line dry, we run an air circulator or fan to increase airflow. A small fan is recommended in case you’d like to move it around rooms within your home.
Rowenta Handheld Steamer
The Rowenta Handheld Steamer quickly and efficiently removes wrinkles from a wide variety of fabrics, with enhanced features ideal for daily use. Forget the bulky ironing board, all you need is a hanger and a hook!
Fabric Shaver
A fabric shaver is the ideal tool to remove pilling from your knits. We use a budget option that has worked well for our current needs. If your knit requires extra TLC, however, we recommend reviewing Good Housekeeping’s tried and tested list of the 7 Best Fabric Shavers.
Sewing Kit
Whether you need to add a button or patch your jeans, sewing kits are a necessity for basic repairs. Most include scissors, buttons, needles, and thread. We recommend referencing The 8 Best Sewing Kits by The Spruce to understand which sewing kit would work best for you.
Fiskars Stitcher Scissors
Fiskars Stitcher Scissors are a great addition to any sewing kit due to their precision and control. The blades are sharper and narrower than many sewing kit scissors, allowing the user to easily remove stray threads, buttons, shoulder pads, and more without disrupting the surrounding fabric.
cedar balls
Cedar balls are an easy-to-use solution for protecting your garments and textiles against pests, mildew, and odors. Made from pure aromatic red cedar, simply place a few in a drawer or storage box to protect clothing, linens, or blankets. Renew the potency of your cedar balls annually by gently sanding the surface with fine sandpaper or more frequently if the fragrance fades.