Luke McDonough knows a thing or two about laundry care. As costume master of the Public Theater — which stages the iconic Shakespeare in the Park productions every summer in Central Park — McDonough has to make sure the wardrobe worn by the actors every night is spotless, even through extreme heat and the occasional thunderstorm. Here, he shares his expert tips and tricks for the most common laundry problems.
Makeup
Those pesky lipstick or foundation stains on your clothes won't stand a chance now.
- Remove any excess makeup from the fabric by rubbing a moistened towel over it.
- Dampen the piece of clothing, apply Tide detergent, and rub the fabric between the fingers and thumbs. Rinse well.
- If stain remains, repeat the procedure.
- If that doesn't work and the stain is still there, make a mixture of Tide detergent and warm water and pre-soak for 15-30 minutes.
- Launder the garment if possible.
Perspiration
Now that we're in the midst of summer, you might be seeing more sweat stains on your clothes. Here's how to deal:
- Use a sponge and white vinegar to wipe the stained area.
- Pre-soak in detergent.
- Occasionally rub the stained areas between thumb and fingers.
- Rinse well and repeat the above procedure if necessary.
- Launder with non-chlorine bleach and detergent.
Grease
Contrary to popular belief, these are actually possible to get out.
- Remove any excess grease.
- Sprinkle with baby powder to absorb the oil and let stand for a few minutes.
- Brush off excess powder.
- Rub a mixture of detergent and water directly on the stain and let stand for a few minutes.
- Rinse, and if possible, launder the garment.
Wrinkles
Keep appearances sharp and get the wrinkles out of your clothes — without having to iron them a million times — with these tips.
- Always remove clothing from dryers at the end of the cycle. Do not let the garments sit in the dryer.
- Always hang or fold garments immediately after putting them through the washer and dryer.
- Use a garment steamer to remove any wrinkles from clothing. Or, an alternative method is to hang the garment in the bathroom with a hot shower running.
- For cottons and other fabrics that are not heat-sensitive, iron with a steam iron. For more stubborn wrinkles, spray the garment with water and press with a dry iron. For more sensitive fabrics, it may be necessary to lay a press cloth (handkerchief weight) between the garment and the warm iron.
Fading
You don't have to get rid of your favorite black shirt because it's gray now. Here's how to prevent fading.
- Wash your clothes in cold water using a special detergent like Tide Coldwater Clean.
- Wash clothes on shorter cycles if possible.
Unpleasant Smells
Obviously, the best way to get rid of a bad smell on your clothes is to wash them, but if you don't have time use this genius trick.
- A mixture of approximately 1-part vodka to 2-parts water in a spray bottle can be used to deodorize a clothing. Spray the inside of the garment and let dry.
See more:
The 7 Cleaning Tips That Will Change Your Summer
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