Shoes

We wear our shoes all day long, some estimate up to 12 hours or more. During the day our feet sweat as they try to stay cool. By the end of the day when you remove your shoes, they are extremely moist inside with a possible odour, and the leather is damp. For many men, they will put the same pair of shoes on the next day and head out the door. One way to maintain your shoes is by using shoe trees, pine shoe trees preferably. Shoe trees help to absorb moisture, reduce odours and maintain the shape of the shoe. Without the use of shoe trees, shoes may keep their odour, crease heavily and crack.

Ties

Ties undergo a lot of stress, simply by the nature of their function. They have to be twisted, pulled and tugged to achieve the desired knot. Also, throughout the day they may occasionally be tugged and pulled a few more times to keep their shape. After a long day of being tugged, pulled and stretched, the fibres of the tie need to recover. For your tie to fully recover, don’t wear it again for 2 or more days and roll it up. Rolling a tie helps the fibres relax and for the tie to regain its shape.

Trousers

A man’s trousers go through so much during the day and we expect a lot from them. They have to move and stretch in all the right places, and show no signs of stress or fatigue. For them to perform the way we expect, they need to be cared for properly. At the end of the day, hang them up from the opening at the foot, using clip hangers. This allows gravity to perform, because the heaviest part of the trouser is around the waist, which will stretch the fibres and remove most of the creases from the day. Avoid wearing the same pair of trousers on consecutive days.

Suits and sports jackets

Before you return your suit/ sports jacket to your closet after a long day, here are a few things you should do to prolong its life. Purchase a soft clothes brush, and gently brush the jacket to remove any dust or dirt that may have accumulated during the day. Air your jacket over night in a well ventilated area, preferably on a shaped coat hanger. This will allow the suit to dry, regain its shape and reduce the chance of odour building up.

Sweaters

Always fold your sweater, never hang them. Hanging a sweater will result in it being misshapen, stretched out and larger. Never put your sweaters away damp, air them out to prevent mildew or mold from forming. This will also prevent it from smelling. Avoid wearing the same sweater on consecutive days, give it a day or two to breathe.

Adopting these steps will enable you to enjoy your clothing longer. Your clothing will also perform to the standards you expect, giving you greater value for your money.

Earl Rich is an Executive Style Consultant advising men on developing their professional style, to align with their professional brand.