Everything You Need to Know About Storing Clothes to Make Them Last
I Love Gifting This Little Luxury Item Because It Totally Delights and Surprises Every Recipient
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When I shop for a gift, my number-one concern is always whether or not the item will actually get use. But when I wrap up cashmere socks, I never have to wonder — and that’s why it’s my go-to little luxury gift. Sure, people buy themselves athletic socks all the time, and sometimes a cute pair or two may make their way into your Christmas stocking. But cashmere socks are in that sweet spot of total delight and surprise upon reception, because it’s a very specific, slightly ~fancy~ item that most people would never think to buy for themselves. It’s also usually eclipsed by everyday footwear, like fuzzy chenille socks or slippers, being the more popular gift idea. But if you want to make someone’s eyes light up with a true self-care present, a pair of luxe cashmere socks is the perfect gift for anyone — especially those who have to frequently be reminded to treat themselves.
Cashmere socks usually retail for around $40 to $50 dollars, and maybe a little less if it’s a cashmere blend. It’s a little splurge, but a thoughtful one that will make your recipient truly feel special. My favorite kind to gift are Rosie Sugden Cashmere Bed Socks. Slipping on a pair of these babies truly feels like you’re walking on clouds. If your recipient has never owned cashmere clothing before, these socks are the perfect entryway. They can sleep in them and feel next-level cozy, pad around in the house on a cold day for added comfort, put them on during extra-long flights, and feel good about kicking their feet up on a coffee table or ottoman (since slippers can get a little dirtier in the ridges). They’re hand-wash-only delicates, but are pretty low-lift to maintain.
I also love pairing this gift with a little something extra to turn it into a more personalized bundle. Cashmere socks go wonderfully with a candle and a face mask for an evening of self-care, luggage tags and a sleep mask for frequent travelers, or candy and wine glasses for a snug, blissful at-home movie night. But these socks really are the perfect gift all on their own, so don’t be surprised when that special someone asks you to guess what they bought another pair of…
7 Laundry Products You Need to Prolong the Life of Your Clothes
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Laundry isn’t just a household chore — it’s really a skill. If you’re truly serious about taking care of your clothes and making them last as long as possible, it involves a lot more than just tossing them in the wash and hoping for the best. Since you’re here, I’m guessing you’re not that kind of person anyway: You probably have your own habits and preferences about laundry, from how you sort your clothes to what detergent you use, or a favorite cycle setting, perhaps. There are way more decisions to be made in the laundry room than you’d think, but who has the time to research all of that?
Well, I do take laundry pretty seriously; my clothes are quite meaningful and sentimental to me, and I want to get my money’s worth. I also want to be as environmentally friendly as possible. So for all of these reasons, I don’t let anyone else touch my laundry (not that anyone in my life is clamoring to do so anyway, but I digress). And depending on your lifestyle — like if you wear a uniform, if you have a large family, or if you like to work out — you’ll require different habits and products to keep your clothes looking new, smelling great, and lasting a long time. Here, we’ve rounded up some accessories that will assist you on your journey to becoming a wash and dry dilettante. We can’t all be laundry experts, but these are a few tricks of the trade you should definitely be familiar with.
One Good Thing: How To Remove Odors from Clothes with Vodka (of all things!)
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Why You Should Keep Vodka With Your Clothes | One Good Thing
Welcome back to One Good Thing, where we keep rolling! You know why? Because we’re having fun and you all seem to keep clicking on us, so that’s as good a reason as I’ve had since Covid began to keep doing anything. AND we love to be helpful.
This week I’ve got a really simple, surprising tip that came from a friend in the theater business, since they have so many opportunities to put on the same clothes and costumes but need to remove those annoying odors that get caught over time. Vodka, it turns out, is a perfect odor remover as it is odorless and colorless itself AND it has a sanitizing effect. You simply spritz your fragrant shirt, coat or pant with vodka and – as it evaporates – it removes all the ugly odors from the fabric. Poof!
Who knew vodka could be so useful?!?! Enjoy and give me your comments, tips and feedback below.
Best, M
The Top 6 Most Popular OGTs
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This $9.99 Odor Remover Has Made Even My Dirty Laundry Smell Good
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Confession: I’m highly paranoid about odors, and I’ve invested in no shortage of candles and sprays to keep my pre-war (read: very old) apartment smelling fresh and clean. But now that it’s summer and I’m, ahem, sweating much more than usual, there’s one specific spot that could use every ounce of help in the scent department — my laundry hamper.
Yes, I know it’s taboo and unglamorous to talk about stinky clothes, but this is Apartment Therapy, folks! We’re here to help with the good, the bad, and the smelly, for every corner of your home. So if you’re finding yourself in my same boat (or need to nix any other particularly whiffy spots), allow me to introduce you to an easy, affordable, and natural solution: Fresh Wave’s Lavender Odor Eliminating Packs.
Here’s the lowdown: Fresh Wave — an at-home odor-controlling brand — specializes in non-toxic air-freshening products for small spaces. That means you won’t find any harmful chemicals or overly pungent fragrances in their handy stench-fighting packs, which still work just as (if not more) effectively. Sold in sets of six for just $9.99, each comes filled with small beads that use plant oils to fight off any less-than-pleasant smells.
I tried Fresh Wave’s lavender variation and put one pack in the bottom of my lidded laundry bin, which I keep in the back corner of my closet. Not only has it gotten rid of icky odors from workout clothes and sweaty summer outfits, but I also get a ~fresh wave~ of subtle lavender scent whenever I open my closet doors. I personally find it super soothing, but you can shop an “original” version, too — with ingredients like pine needle, lime, clove, anise, and cedarwood — if you’re sensitive to scents.
And don’t sleep on these small-but-mighty staples for the rest of your home: They can go a long way in the bottom of your trash can or even inside pairs of shoes. (I tested this one out on my years-old workout sneakers and can confirm it helps!).
The only downside? Each pack only lasts a month or two, so they’ll need to be swapped out if you want to keep up the odor-free allure. But if you had to put a price on freshness, $10 isn’t too shabby!