According to the Wall Street Journal, many men, especially those in more conservative industries, want to appear fashionable without appearing fashionable. No one wants to look like a slob, but no one wants to be singled out for being overly fashion-conscious either. So what’s the Goldilocks look for the fashion-conscious man who doesn’t want to appear fashion-conscious? WSJ has provided its top 10 suggestions for style upgrades that no one will notice. Topping the list of style moves for risk-averse guys are suede jackets, five-pocket chinos, and leather sneakers. The question is, once you’ve gone out and bought all this new gear, how are you going to keep it clean? The easiest way to keep all your clothes looking their best is to trust your laundry and dry cleaning to the professionals at Simply Laundry, but in case of emergency, here are the best ways to clean suede, chinos, and leather.
Suede
Not only is suede a fashion must right now, it also makes the perfect spring jacket, providing just the right amount of protection from the elements without looking bulky. The downside to suede is that it stains easily and is difficult to clean. A stain on a suede garment, especially a light-coloured one, stands out and can ruin the entire piece. While suede is a tricky fabric best left to the experts for cleaning, HowToCleanAnything.com has some tips and tricks for hand-cleaning suede, should you wish to do that.
First, rub the stain gently with a soft towel to keep the fabric’s soft, fuzzy texture. Next, rub the stain gently with a pencil eraser, you will notice some of the dry stains coming out. For wet stains, soak up as much of the wetness as you can with a paper towel and then rub with a special suede brush (available at most drug stores).
For the more visual, check out this YouTube video showing the proper way to clean suede:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw7BsZNaaUs
Chinos and Dress Pants
When it comes to dress pants, always read the label before attempting to wash on your own. If it says dry clean only, then dry clean only! When it comes to chinos, wash and care for them much as you would a pair of jeans. Wash them every one to two months, only more if there’s a specific stain you need to get out. The less you wash chinos, the longer they will last, and the longer they will hold their shape. Also, after washing, hang chinos to dry, don’t put them in the dryer. Line-drying will increase their life and retain their shape.
Leather
Leather is one of those materials you want to protect before it becomes stained. There are plenty of leather protectors on the market – make sure you pick one up and use it before wearing your new leather item outside. However, if you do happen to stain your leather, here are a couple homemade solutions from the DIY Network:
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Removing normal spots from the leather:
Make a concoction that is one part lemon juice and one part cream of tartar. Work this paste into the leather and allow it to sink into the fabric. After drying for an hour or two, apply a little more of the paste and wipe the leather clean.
2. Removing road salt
Make a liquid that is one part water and one part white vinegar. Dip a cloth into the liquid solution and blot over the stain. You may need to repeat this several times in order to remove the salt stain.
For those looking to update their wardrobe while still blending in with the crowd, suedes, chinos, and leathers are the items to have this year. However, there’s no sense investing in a new wardrobe if your clothes aren’t going to always look their best. Ensure you always keep a professional appearance by trusting your garments to the experts at Simply Laundry. Whether you have suedes, chinos, leathers, or any other materials you need cleaned, we can handle the task.
Visit Simply Laundry today to leave the hassle of laundry and dry cleaning to the professionals and have clean, fresh clothes delivered right to your door.