Tips for maintaining an (almost) all black wardrobe

My closet is probably about 70% black. It makes getting dressed easy and I always feel a little bit more sleek and put together in dark clothing. Mixing and matching comes easy and no one knows when you're repeating an outfit. But, as with anything in life, there is a downside and for the black clothing lover that comes in the form of faded and greying fabrics. To get the most out of my dark clothes I follow the tips below.

Follow care instructions
I follow what the tag says and don't overuse the dryer. If it says 'dry-clean only' they are not joking. I always look at the care tag when making an investment purchase so I know what I'm in for!

Treatment washing liquid
Invest in laundry products dedicated to darker clothes. I don't use this every wash but the Lovables brand has been a winner is rejuvenating faded clothing for me.

Lint remover
I have the $10 Kmart lint remover for all those little balls of fluff that cling to knits and I also use one of the sticky roller ones you can get from $2 shops to deal with the dog hair. (Our dog is 99.3% white and loves to cuddle!)

Regular maintenance
I have a basket in my wardrobe where I throw anything that needs a tidy up. Whether it's an iron or a button replacement or hole stitched up it goes in there. When I have time and can be bothered I'll tackle it all at once.

Dry in shade
I never hang my clothes in direct sunlight and anything that will be hung up goes on a clothes hanger when wet. It will dry quicker that way and avoids double handling because really, who likes laundry.

Gentle cycle or hand wash
My washing machine has a delicates cycle that I run with clothes stored in a wash bag to prevent damage.

Hope these tips help you get more out of your black clothing and let me know if you have any other handy ideas!

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