Laundry - Fashion Week - Designer Pieces Care

Calvin Klein. Diane Von Furstenberg. Christian Siriano. As these designers display their new collections at Fashion Week in New York next week, many dream of owning a piece from one of these famous designers. Sometimes though, simply the thought of caring for these types of fabrics can cause you to pass on the outfit of your dreams – do you really want to be making trips to the dry cleaner forever?

As washing machines evolve and new laundry cycles are introduced, consumers are able to treat their favorite high-end fashions on their own. Experts at the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science, the hub for everything laundry, share a few tips and tricks below to keep your outfits looking like they came straight off the runway.

• Relax those Wrinkles. No need to battle the iron when trying to look great for a night out. Whether it’s top-load or front-load pairs, many laundry machines are now equipped with steam cycles that relax wrinkles and remove odors and stains from clothing in just minutes without chemicals, reducing trips to the dry cleaner and saving time and money. If looking for a more affordable steam option, Whirlpool offers the Fabric Freshener, a portable, collapsible appliance. Using only water, it immerses clothing in a blanket of steam to remove odors and wrinkles. Available at www.whirlpool.com, MSRP $219.
• Silk Says Goodbye to the Dry Cleaner. Not all silk needs professional cleaning – take a look at the care label first. If the label says pre-washed silk, you can machine wash in cool water using the hand wash or silk cycle. Once done, place pre-washed silk in the dryer.
• Wash that Wool – Yourself. As designers begin to incorporate this “winter” fabric into designs year-round, washing machine manufacturers have also incorporated a fabric care cycle into their machines. If wool is labeled "hand wash," use the washer's hand wash or wool cycle with cool water. Easy care wool knits can be cleaned on the gentle or wool cycle of your washer with warm water. When the cycle is finished, dry on a flat surface away from direct heat or sunlight.