It's the time of year for digging in our wardrobes and pulling out our favourite winter layers. A winter coat is an investment item, but that doesn't mean we need to buy a new one every season. Forget expensive dry cleaning: save money and time by learning to clean your coat at home.
How to clean your coat: Wool blend coat
A wool coat can be cleaned at home for a fraction of the price of taking it to the dry cleaners, and its just so easy to clean your coat at home! Start by looking it over carefully to see what needs doing:
Step 1:
Are there dry dirt marks like mud, dust, food, powder? If so then take our Clothes Brush and give the coat a good brush down, particularly focusing on the spot marks. Don't brush too hard! You should find that most dried on marks will brush off quite easily. Really, most of the time your coat only needs a quick brush down rather than a full wet wash - that's the easiest way to clean your coat!
Step 2:
Are there stains or discolouration? If so, try spot cleaning the coat, so you can get rid of any marks without the need for a full wet wash! Grab your favourite Clothes Doctor detergent and dab away.
Step 3:
Grubby looking bobbles, lint and hair ruining the look? Then our Cashmere Comb is perfect, and also so satisfying! Run it gently across the fabric and it will catch the loose fibres so you can remove and throw them away - transformational!
How to clean your coat: Leather Jacket
Step 1:
Cleaning the Lining: Most likely the only bit of the lining that really needs cleaning is around the armpits, to remove any odours. The best way to do this is with a steamer, with a dash of our Steamer Water in Blue Lily and Bergamot. However you need to make sure that you don't overheat the leather itself, so try to pull the lining away from the leather, letting it hang down, or if there's a separation in the lining, pop a towel inside to protect the leather. Then you can lightly steam the lining to freshen it up. If you can't separate the lining from the leather in the armpit area, for example, if it's stitched in place along the arm seam, then it might be better to spot clean.
Step 2:
Cleaning the Exterior This is easy, and very mindful to do! Take our Sandalwood Leather Balm, and our Natural Sponge (available to buy as a kit here: Leather Care Kit) and dab the balm onto the leather in a circular motion. One pot of balm should be good for a whole leather jacket with some to spare. The balm will soften, clean and protect the jacket from damage. When you're finished you can simply give it a light buff with the Bamboo Cloth available in the set. Marvel at the transformation!
So to sum up, with a bit of knowledge and the right essentials, you can safely clean your coat at home and avoid the toxic chemicals, plastic and expense of the dry cleaners. For the perfect clean every time, shop the whole Clothes Doctor range.
