About that lavender pillow or sachet: I am from Provence, in the South of France. There, lavender grows everywhere and I can get some literally in front of my door. So it is a special-Provence tip ;-) Looking forward to YOUR tips from other regions of the world!
You are from Provence, where are you living now Justine? I'd love to know more about you! Are you married? kids? I am from CA, married a long time, and grown kids.
What is a lavender "pillow"? It can be little fabric bag, sachet, or a little cushion filled with dried lavender flowers and closed by a ribbon or a little stripe of fabric (no metal, no thing synthetic).
Another great tip for washing fine wool jumpers is to lay them on a towel when they are washed, roll the towel gently into a sausage, squeeze lightly, and let it sit for about an hour. Then unfold and lay the jumper flat to dry. This takes away any excess moisture without ruining the fibres or shape and the jumper will dry faster.
I live in Japan where Paulownia wood is used to store clothes. It's similar to cedar when it comes to it's bug repellent properties, but I've heard it is also moisture repellent and anti-microbial. It's so suited to storing clothes made from natural fibres that there exists an ancient tradition of planting a paulownia tree when a girl is born so it will be ready to cut down and turn into a wardrobe for kimono when she marries.
Wow! So interesting! We have Paulownia in the US where I live growing like crazy! I didn't know about these properties of it or this tradition, thank you
A tip I picked helping with costumes for our local theatre group, we always keep a small spray bottle of cheap vodka handy. The alcohol lightly spayed into the underarms of suit jackets etc kills the bacteria and the odour.
Not only very useful, as usual, but it's nine minutes of relaxation. How you do it, is beyond me. But your voice and manners are simply soothing. Looking forward to Sunday.
Hanna Saroka I think it is also because French people like to speak and communicate in general and they do it well. There is always something charming about a French person speaking.
These are awesome tips. I'm happy to see this lost art of taking care of clothing coming back. One of my favorite tips to share is, if you find moth hole in your sweaters immediately put them inside a bag and then into your freezer for at least 48hrs. This will get rid of any moth eggs that might be present. This tip has saved some of my favorite cashmere sweaters. 🌿😊
My grandmother would tie delicate things into soft white pillowcases before washing with cold water. It gave a buffer for the fabric. Also is cheaper than the special delicate bags
I use delicate bags for everything delicate plus socks and underwear. I found really well made ones at the Japanese dollar store, Daiso. I checked their online store and nothing shows (right now) under "laundry nets". But generally these bags are expensive or rather cheaply constructed which makes using them pointless.
My grandmother's tip- "Crotch to the sun!" She meant, when hanging underwear outside to dry, turn them wrong side out and crotch side up- to the sun! As you mentioned in your video, the sun does a wonderful, natural, safe job of whitening, of course, this method is to be used for white and light colored garments. I hope this wasn't tmi! Thanks Justine for another fantastic video
Love your nan! We do it this way too. We are a country of islands in the South Pacific and we get sun all year. There is nothing like clean undergarments air dried outside. Haha! I live in South America now and still dry my clothes outside. LOL
Tricks from my mom for drying garments in the sun - always inside out so the sun doesn't bleach the outside, elastic or thick parts exposed, peg clothes over the line at least 1/4 down garment (so you don't get stretched-out hems and necklines), and finally changing the clothes around often on the line to expose every part of it so you can take it off quicker (South African sun is pretty harsh!)
Ahh the "shoe freezing" method is one of my oldest hacks, but many people don't know about it and once i was taken for crazy for doing it! imagine a scene: i just moved in to dorm and my new roommate comes in, it is our first encounter... We say hello and soon she goes to make some iced tea, opens the fridge and voila! My shoes in the freezer - it was hilarious, but she still thinks i am super weird : )
#martying well, I suppose... As long as you don't have the fridge settings on too low (I mean the cooling strength). In case of fridge, just make sure to put it in a thinner/softer plastic bag, and completely seal it, as Justine mentioned : )
For people not wanting to use bleach, you can substitute white vinegar for it instead. I like to use a splash in my loads of white towels and sheets. It also works well for any laundry that has accidentally sat in the washer too long and has gotten "smelly". I adore vinegar for cleaning purposes, it works wonderfully and is very gentle and non-toxic.
Sorry one more comment! ;) Something I've been using a couple of years now, are actually something pretty ancient. Used on clothes before deodorants on the underarm are of garments - called garment shields/dress sheilds/sweat pads. They exist in both washable cotton that you pin onto the garments, or disposable ones. I made them myself and use tiny safety pins & pin them to the inside of the armpit area of garments I do not wish to wash too often but do not want sweaty. Of course I wear deodorant but if I use a blazer on top of a sleeve less top on a warm & sunny day it might still get a bit sweaty... But now I just throw the garment sheild in the laundry hamper & pin a clean one on for the next day. There are companys that sell these but you can sew yourself too. In the old days they used this & they have survived/kept in memory much thanks to theatre/dance costumes that get sweated in a lot or need to be preserved etc. They are great and should become used by everyone again!
Just plain cotton fabric in the colour of your choice. I have made them in black, white & beige cotton fabric normally used for beddings/sheets (actually the white ones I made from old torn sheets I already had, so a good way of reusing/remaking things instead of wasting, but I bought the other colors). I found out how to make them buy googeling :-) There are also companys that sell ready made ones (in washable cotton fabric) too. Some shops that sell fabrics & sewing equipment might have them too. You can find them on Amazon if nowere else. Just search for "dress sheilds", "garment sheilds" or "sweat pads". Good luck! :-)
Just plain cotton fabric in the colour of your choice. I have made them in black, white & beige cotton fabric normally used for beddings/sheets (actually the white ones I made from old torn sheets I already had, so a good way of reusing/remaking things instead of wasting, but I bought the other colors). I found out how to make them buy googeling :-) There are also companys that sell ready made ones (in washable cotton fabric) too. Some shops that sell fabrics & sewing equipment might have them too. You can find them on Amazon if nowere else. Just search for "dress sheilds", "garment sheilds" or "sweat pads". Good luck! :-)
Hi Justine, I'm a new subscriber! I'm training as a costumer and one trick I have learned is that vodka in a spray bottle works wonders for getting out smells from costumes that can't be washed. Hang the costume on a hanger. Put cheap cheap vodka in a spray bottle and gently mist the garment with the vodka. the vodka evaporates and takes the smells with it. The vodka must be the cheapest possible as they work best.
I can NOT even tell you the satisfaction it gives me to hear a FASHION designer declare herself a non ironer. :D :D :D :D :D **doing my little happy dance** LIFE is for living and it is seldom crease free. Also, love the stinky shoe hack! Makes perfect sense. We often hang bedding, especially duvets out here in Sweden when the temps dip super low (-20)
Works for carpets as well. Spread a carpet onto snowy ground when the weather is cold (preferably colder than -10C). Let it sit there for an hour or more. Turn and leave again. Shake the snow off and voilá, your carpet smells clean, the dust mites have died and the dust has been left on the ground. This method doesn't clean any stains, though.
wow so many good tips! I can share a tip too- Whenever there was an ink mark on my white school shirt, my mother would apply milk on it and wash it after 10-15 mins. The ink mark would disapper completely!
My brain grew two sizes today. I am learning to take care of my clothes as part of the process I am learning to take better care of myself, and your videos have been invaluable. They popped up in my recommended and I'm so glad I clicked.
Congratulations on getting "over" 100K followers. I am so impressed with your confidence, intelligence and beauty. I admire the way you care about humanity and work toward that end. Good on you, Justine.
You can actually reshape a wool sweater if you've washed it on too high heat! Disolve a good amount of conditioner in water, and soak your shrinked sweater for an hour or more, then while it's wet carefully begin to stretch the fabric out again, once it's big enough to wear again put the wet sweater on and move around and stretch it till it fits you perfectly again. Then carefully without pulling too much take the sweater off and lay it flat on a clean towel to dry. I've read that you can also use baby shampoo instead of conditioner, but I've never tried that. I've saved a lot of sweaters I would have otherwise thrown away with this method.
Warms my heart to see you now close to 1 million subscribers. You deserve all the recognition and success. I have learned so much from your channel and I hope to see it grow more and more.
I'm embarrassed by how much I learned in this video 😳🤣. Thanks, Justine! Next step: making a cheat sheet that I can post in my laundry room with all those icons and their meanings!
Great tips! I have a couple to suggest that worked well for me. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleach agent (does not hurt the environment) that works especially well on enzyme stains such as blood or vomit and animal stains. Simply soak the stain, it will bubble up, then wash as normal. If it's really stubborn, put some baking soda on the stain, pour on the hydrogen and leave it to bubble and soak. Rub the mixture into stain. My second tip is a product called colour catcher. A piece of treated fabric that goes in the wash and catches colour from the water before it goes into the clothes. I have been using for about 6 months as we have hard water 💦 which can have a greying effect on fabric. Very pleased with how much brighter my light coloured clothing becomes. Enjoy your videos Justine, I always learn something! All the best
I never knew how to read the instructions, now this is really helpful. Thanks so much! Wishing you continued success, ur effort n hard work shows. Good luck!
@@jennifer14256 I found the symbols and what they mean in a magazine- clipped it out and keep in laundry area because I can never remember what some of them mean
In some places they are used to ironing everything due to parasites. In South Africa Tumbu flies will lay their eggs on wet laundry so before dryers one would have to use a very heavy hot iron to ensure none survived to burrow into a persons skin. Even swimming towels could not be used more than once. I think some people elsewhere probably iron all their clothing due to tradition, because they enjoy a task they can just zone out doing, or it might help them to keep things more crisp when they put it away for storage.
Never heard of Tumbu flies and I was born in South Africa and lived there for 38 years before migrating to New Zealand and have to wear lots of wool here for the cold!
@@lindaroseinbloom according to Google, they're common in east and central Africa. It said nothing of South Africa so this is probably why you haven't heard of them. Lucky you! 😃
I just discovered your channel a few days ago and I'm already a fan :) A trick I learned for ironing difficult linen clothes (or table cloths): sprinkle some water (or spray) on the fabric, then put in a plastic bag for a couple of hours. The humidity will spread evenly in the fabric and make it more easy to iron. More gentle than using steam.
Another tip to keep whites white. Wash them with 1/2 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup oxygenic peroxide and your regular laundry soap. It is wonderful!! And safe.
I too use oxygen bleach for soaking. Does not fade colors, removes some stains, especially protein stains. Is reported to be environmentally friendly, but this is Justine's channel, so she has the final word. Best known brand in U.S. is OxyClean (powder, not the liquid laundry detergent.)
In the 70's I was told to wash all animal protein fibers ( wools and silk) with shampoo. I have found my wools come out clean and do not stretch. My silks come out clean even where oil has spilled on it. Yes wools and silks do not need washing often as they seem to repeal orders Thank you for the information. I will try the freezer trick.
These are great tips! Before I put my non-seasonal clothes into storage, I spray them with a homemade disinfectant fabric spray [1 part crystal vinegar, 1 part rubbing alcohol, 1/4 part water, generous drops of lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, and tea tree oils]. I spray the clothes, let them air dry for a moment, and then pack them away in the cupboard. (Note: I don't have animal fibre clothing, so I don't know if it would be ok for wool, silk, etc.) The citronella keeps bugs away, while the other ingredients kill bacteria and fungus. I also use this spray on my bedding, before I go to sleep, and before I make the bed, in the morning.
I really like this tip as well! We used Citronella oil + wood oil to keep Wasps away from the attic so I'm sure it works on keeping bugs away from stored clothes.
I wash all my clothes in cold water and hang to dry. Add 1 c. white vinegar to colored loads and this keeps the colors from fading. Loved your other tips Justine!
Gall soap is also a very effective, natural and cheap stain remover, especially oily ones...and very gentle on the fibers. And sometimes ironing can make a somewhat worn piece of clothing look much newer...it doesn't just remove wrinkles, it also overall smoothes the surface of the fabric. Kind of like a good face creme ☺
I no longer buy dry-clean-only clothing, but with the few of those items that I do have, I wash on the delicate cycle and place in a rack to dry. They usually come out just fine. I love doing laundry !
I know that this is an older video, but I just found your channel. Lucky me! You are wonderful. I have learned so much watching you. You are such a great teacher. I was lucky enough to be able to go to Paris in the fall of 2014 and we had unbelievably great weather and a fabulous experience. My husband was working so I walked all over the city by myself and had such a fabulous time. l do not speak French -- just basic high school French and everyone was very kind about that. Everyone that I interacted with was extremely friendly. We stayed in a boutique hotel within walking distance of the Louvre and the D'Orsay which was great. We had dinner one night in the hotel bar and they had a piano player who was very good so my husband sent him a drink. The piano player played Somewhere Over the Rainbow for us after he got the drink -- it was such a special moment. I have to say that Paris is my favorite place that I have ever visited. I got lost once (even with a map!) and had some lovely young women help me on my way. I just wanted to tell you of my lovely experience in your home country. I want to go back to France some day and see more of it.
When you wash wools. Use term 'soak'. Sweaters do not need agitation. Special pH close to neutral soap also minimize damage. I use special wool wash. I also wear very thin tshirts or chemise under sweaters or nice fabrics to soak up body oils and salts so outer fabric does not absorb and get smelly and dirty. Women use to use dress shields to protect their dresses. Also slips. I am starting that trend too. Easier to wash. Probably younger people do not wish to bother. Wish we had lavender so easy to get here.
Justine, I have just discovered you and am bingeing on your videos. Unlike you, I love to iron, (love the feel of the bedsheets) but I also hated it when I was young and wouldn't want to waste a minute on something so boring! I am so happy to hear you say that you hang your clothes out in the fresh air to clean them. I love the smell of anything that has blown in the wind and do the same thing. I also bleach whites outdoors all through the summer months. It's hard to find a dry, sunny spot outdoors in the winter here on the west coast of Canada. It's lovely to hear common sense advice from a young and vibrant young woman. Keep on inspiring all of those who were never taught before. And you laugh is infectious!
This is such good information! I'm wondering why I have never learned it before... You have such an excellent channel, and a knack for getting straight to the heart of the matter. Your straightforward style is very much appreciated!
I also learned to iron handkerchiefs and pillow cases as a child. I still iron (or press) pillow cases because they feel so good on my face when they're ironed smooth. Some things are worth a little trouble.
I’ve been watching your videos for a while now and I just wanted to say, you have such a calming voice and seem like a very humble and kind person. Your smile is infectious and I can only imagine what a joy it must be to be around you regularly. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us! You are appreciated!
I loved the tips! Especially don’t use the plastic bags...I do and although they lost their seal, it still stinky from plastic. I think I’ll use old pillow cases or large laundry bags. I use a pillow case to store all the sheets and other pillow cases for a set of sheets. Very handy when putting away and easy to grab everything I need to change the bedding.
Thin panty liners with wings can be used as underarm protectors from sweat :-) And Thank you for recommendations for stinky shoes! Normally I ventilate my dancing shoes outside on a balcony... But now I will dry freeze them too for better results. Actually we can freeze Angora sweaters too! I tried this one myself.
Kendall Phillips If you have a dryer at home you can also wet a clean washcloth, wring it out & put it with the garment in the dryer for 10 minutes. Works perfectly.
I'm from the North Atlantic coast of Spain. We also use lavander or put dried laurel leaves in the wardrobe or drawers. To remove yellowish stains from white clothes my granny used lemon juice instead of our cider vinegar, which we use to mix with water and rinse our hair....It leaves it really shiny and smooth!! Thanks Justine for your video!!
I live in area of Glasgow that has a terrible problem with cloths moths. To keep my jumpers and favourites items safe, I bag them individually in large freezer bags ( a certain Scandinavian furniture shop has good ones of different sizes), and put them in the freezer for a week ( like the trainer tip). This kills the moth eggs/larvea. I then store them in the bags until the next season....no problems with discolourations as it looks like the freezer treatment kills all the bacteria off as well.
Black/Dark colors and lint. I had a white cat and believe me, that fur loves the dark colors and so did she, the brat! Anyway, a little white vinegar in the rinse will add extra helpto keep those blacks looking really pristine.
Chère Justine, your videos are wonderful. They are also the only ones where I read all the comments because you draw such interesting & erudite viewers, like attracting like, of course! 😉 I don't know if you have Oxi-Clean in Europe, but it is my secret weapon for stains. It is not a bleach, rather a peroxide & baking soda formulation. They make pre-treating liquids that you spray on before washing; these will take out most stains easily. If I have a genuine stain nightmare (like when I was eating homemade spaghetti and meatballs & my dog leapt into my lap from a running start!) I use the original powdered Oxi-Clean in the washer with hot water & let it soak fir a while, then wash as usual. The spaghetti sauce came right out of my pale mint-green skirt; it looked brand new. It can't be used on silk, wool or leather, but it cleans gold & diamond jewelry like nothing else. It also kills odors completely. Now they even make laundry & dishwasher detergents which I find superior to any others. I also use vinegar for cleaning. My older cousin had a beautiful, delicate, snowy white wool blanket that was ruined when her mother was dying & had lost control of her bowel/bladder function. You can imagine how horrible those stains were. But my cousin refused to give up: she sprayed vinegar in the stains & left it to soak in & then rinsed it. She repeated that process for weeks & now you can't tell there were any stains at all.
Thank you. You are one of the very few people who posts something helpful. Most of the fashion people talk about themselves and their own wardrobe or life etc. I recommend you to my friends and contacts.
My tip, that I've converted many people to is using window cleaner for stains. I've cleaned turmeric, curry, and ink stains all with a blue coloured window cleaner. It cleans White's, and very old stains too😁Also if you want to clean clothes that have gone yellow because you haven't worn them for a long while then normal bathing bar soap works great for them, much better than cloth detergent bars or powders.
I was one of those who asked the questions about care, so I was delighted to see this video responding to your audience. Lots of your tips were familiar, but I didn't know you don't have to wash silk and wool very as often as I have been doing it. The comments on this video have lots of good info too, thanks everyone. Also, it is nice to find a community of people who loathe ironing :) I hang to dry, I steam with a compact little hand steamer. It works just fine. Justine, I enjoy your videos not only for the helpful and clear information, but for your presence in voice. That is a rare combination. I hope you keep sharing!
Thank you! This was incredibly helpful. And I guffawed when you made fun of people, like me, who iron our socks and underwear. I find ironing very meditative. And I like the way my clothes lay flat after just a quick, one time, roll over of the iron. Keep up the great work, your videos are unique and amazing!
Great video as always Justine. I have learned a lot today and thank you for translating the symbols, always a mystery to me! One or two tips I have learned. Like you mentioned, wash clothes as little as possible. As I take off my clothes at night I hang them to 'air' before putting away. I store my good cashmere jumpers in tissue paper in a large box along with moth sachets but I will now swap them for lavender bags. I have a chalk stick - retails as a Janie stick - that you can rub on a stain on jackets etc after several hours you can brush away the chalk and the grease has gone. Any dusty mark can usually be rubbed away with a well wrung out damp cloth. A soak in very salty water loosens a blood stain prior to washing. Lemon juice can bleach things though it is sticky if you don't rinse it really well. Also works to whiten your teeth! but it can soften the enamel temporarily so don't eat for at least 30 minutes after drinking it. Right, I am off now to put my skanky trainers in the freezer!
I might be a little late but being a person who irony underwear and socks, I would like to share my experiences! 1) I just love the smell of ironed clothes. It's as simple as that :) 2) Especially for socks, I like the "crispness" of washed socks when I put them on 3) Ironing actually kills bacteria. This is important to know when it comes to underwear if you want to feel a little extra clean, but is also good for when you for example have a wound and need to stop a bleeding. You don't want unnecessary bacteria, so I like to be prepared for the, I must admit, very unlikely case to have an accident at home and the only thing to cover a wound and a sock being the only thing to use. But hey, you never know right ;)
Thank you Justine! ☺️ love your videos because you are so smily! 😊💋😊 My grand Mama's tip: To get oil stains off clothes you need to try and soak up with a dry paper towel as much if the oil and do not wet the garment. sprinkle with talc powder (baby powder) and let it sit a couple of hours. The talc will absorb the oil. Then you brush (gently!) the talc away and wash normally. Stain should be all gone! 👍🏼
Justine, I rarely leave comments on videos even though I'm subscribed and follow a lot of people. But I find your work soo excellent I simply have to :) I am not even a fashion lover! I am an ordinary girl who is still figuring out her closet, and ran into your videos recently accidentally, but I find your content soo good. Your videos are short simple very understandable and veery educational and organised! And the way you speak is soo soothing and you seem so nice! very loveable :) Thank you for all the inspiration and motivation, and keep up the good work, I am learning soo much from your videos! Big kisses from Croatia!
Old tip: Fels Naptha (sp?) soap is a wonderful stain remover and you can find bars of it in most grocery stores ( I live in the NE of US). You can also make your own laundry soap with it. On really tough stains( on lighter fabrics) simply soak spot in water, gently rub bar of fels naptha and maybe add a squirt of hydrogen peroxide from your medicine cabinet (always to a test to make sure it's not going to damage the color of fabric). Let sit for about an hour and wash normal. I have used this on jeans, tees, ties, dress shirts, etc. It has removed blood, pen, grease and other stains. My family thinks I have laundry witchcraft. =) Also NEVER mix bleach with dish soap. NEVER mix bleach with vinegar. NEVER mix bleach with ammonia. Never mix any household chemical unless you have done your homework! I love your tips-- I do lavender sachets but never a bag. What a great idea! Does it have to seal (zipper) or can I just get a cotton pillow case and add the lavender buds....hmmmm. Thanks Justine!!
The only silk I have tried is a tie. Since it's under the arms maybe do a spot test on stain before you do the whole area. Wet the stain really well, use a damp q-tip and rub it on soap and then over stain. Use same q-tip to gently rub peroxide in next. I would let it sit for about an hour before hand washing-- and sometimes it won't look like it's out until it's dry. Good luck!
Fels Naptha is great! I like to grate a bar and keep it sealed in a mason jar. I just melt a few strands in a bowl of lukewarm water to hand wash my best bras and panties. I also keep a whole bar to dampen and rub directly on stains before they go in the hamper or washing machine.
Elaine BB You can use a window/glass cleaner & bathing bar soap (nothing that leaves slight residue like dove) for silk. I've gotten stains out of silk by using them, they neither damage the fabric nor change the colour etc.
Love your videos...learn to much....I wash all wool, silk, linen, cashmere, merino etc. with delicate soap and a touch of baking soda...rinse well with cool water and some vinegar to ensure no residue soap and squeeze, roll in a towel and lie flat...I wash very rarely..
Excellent video +Justine Leconte officiel I'm old school when it comes to clothes care and prefer to hand wash and naturally preserve my clothing as much as I can, but some of the insights/tips you gave into garment care were new to me, in particular, removing the plastic cover on dry cleaned items immediately. I must admit, I usually just pop them in the wardrobe with it on and tend to remove it only when I'm about to wear the item!
Oh my gosh. I've been doing it wrong my entire life. I have the worst luck with my cream/off white blouses turning gray/dingy, so I'm going to try line drying in the sun! Can't believe I've never heard that tip before. Thank you!!!!!
such a great video! My tip would be to add vinegar as softener and lavendel essential oil for the smell in the washing machine. When you have blouses and you don't have time to iron them you can bring them with you when you're showering. You can also DIY your washing powder to avoid chemicals
Thank you so much for explaining in detail the symbols on the clothing tag. I often buy European labels & they have no written instructions, just the symbols & I was confused. I usually wash cold water & any delicate feeling fabric is line dried in my garage or flat dried on a mesh rack. I like rayon & rayon blends but they are definitely not to be machine dried.
Love the tip for removing odors. Those polyester "moisture-wicking" active wear shirts tend to retain odors. I will try putting them in the freezer in a sealed plastic bag, as you suggested.
Yes, exactly then! Funny you should mention that as when you were talking about wool, I remembered my sad experience of having put my hand-knit (brand new, and quite expensive!) Irish wool sweater in the washing machine - on the cold and delicate cycle - and it came out the size to fit a small-boned 3 year old girl. I cried. Then told myself I was stupid because I knew better. Then shook my head and just learned my lesson :) But yes, for me, I always love knowing the "why" and what I hadn't known was that it's not really necessary to wash wool sweaters (but it makes sense!). xo
Maureen Bouey You may not believe this but I did exactly the same thing, also with a beautiful, handmade Irish sweater! It was a lovely sky blue color & a great, lightweight knit; it could have been worn in every season of the year. I didn't think twice about washing it on the delicate setting in cold water because I had other wool-blend clothing that I had washed that way with no problem (of course I knew better than to dry it!). I was devastated. I still don't understand how it could shrink in cold water! Does anyone know why?
Wow, that's an odd coincidence Amy! It's heart-breaking isn't it? In my case, I had literally just bought it and only worn it once or twice but a dog had jumped on me and got it dirty. Maybe Justine can explain how wool can shrink in cold water; I certainly thought I was safe. I just did a quick google search and found this explanation "The “shrinkage” that happens when you wash wool is something most people know about, but it isn’t really shrinking at all. It’s the fibers clinging together so tightly the wool appears to have shrunken down." Maybe that explains it in part? In my own case though I was house-sitting on a Greek island and the washing machine (and everything else of course) was brand new to me. I wonder now if maybe, even though I thought I chose the 'cold' setting on the machine, if I made a mistake and didn't after all. In any case, I"m sure those of us who have experienced this will not repeat this particular mistake!
Maureen Bouey So true, Maureen! In my case I had just spent a week in Ireland & purchased the lovely sweater there. I wore it several times while there, so naturally I wanted to wash it when I got home. Thanks for the explanation you found. It occurred to me after posting my comment that Justine had said that the agitation of the washer can compress the wool fibers & turn them to felt. Maybe that was the case with our sweaters. I had read about Scots & Irish women in the old days "waulking" the wool: sitting in 2 lines on the ground facing each other with the wool cloth between their feet & pushing against each other to compress the fibers & turn the wool into the smooth, felted cloth they used for cloaks. When the cloth was compressed like that it was almost entirely waterproof. The information in this video is so interesting to me. Justine is a wonder! Take care ~ 😊
Great video! When I was a kid, my father always wore dress shirts, mostly white ones, and my mother used to make a paste out of baking soda and white vinegar and she would use a stiff bristled brush and gently scrub the collars and underarms of my dad's dress shirts before putting them into the washing machine. His shirts always looked so white, crisp and beautiful. He looked like a million bucks! 😁
I didn't know that fact about natural fibres. I will put them to use immeditately. About ironing. I watch you videos while I am doing the ironing. It relaxes me and it remainds me of my mother. Plues you cant beat a flat ironed white shirt. I love it. A tip for decreasing silk is taking it it with you to a steammy shower room. It works. Keep up with you videos, Justine. They the most interesting thing to comeo out of UA-cam in years!.
great tips Justine wonderful, thank you. I also learned that soaking whites in lemon juice can remove stains without the need for chemical bleaches, I suppose this is similar to vinegar.
Excellent advice. Even if you can't buy super-high quality all the time, you can take a big bite out of fast fashion by divorcing your dryer (or at least relegating it to "Let's just be friends" status). Buy what you love; love what you buy.
Same for the ironing, it's the worst chore for me, but recently I've purchased several linen items in my second-hand store. They're great and super breathable in summer, but I loathe to iron them. I use vinegar for sports clothing as well. It really freshes them out and sometimes you can't wash them in super high temperature. Really appreciate the tip on the plastic bags from the dryer, I've immediately went for my closet and removed it. Thought I was keeping my clothes safe from dust etc.
Great topic, I actually have great pleasure in knowing how to care for my clothes. I always appreciate fresh smelling laundry too. What are your tips? One of my grandmas tips is to hang the woollens up to dry over the door as often there's no space to dry flat. Also I always hand wash my lingerie and tights. Love your content as always 😘
I love your videos! I'm now working on minimizing my wardrobe and doing key pieces like you suggest. I'm donating to a local women's shelter who need clothing. Feels invigorating shedding clothes I know I will never wear.
Hi, Justine! I really, really want to thank you for wonderful videos, for all the kind, insightful and funny little gems of wisdom you so generously share. You not only teach me tons, but you also open my eyes to the realities of the fashion industry and make me rethink my relationship with style and fashion, all "sprinkled" with winks and humour!
I spent a year as an au pair in the Netherlands and was a bit miffed that my host family asked me to iron all their clothes (jeans, underwear, casual t-shirts) - laundry was a normal duty, but ironing all those things that don't really matter? Crazy! UNTIL, I realized that air drying everything (they didn't have a dryer for environmental reasons) made the clothing stiff and sort of itchy, until it was ironed soft :) I never enjoyed all that ironing but I definitely understood the need for soft, relaxed clothes!
Another way to remove the smell of mildew from your clothes is to wash them with some vinegar. This is great for large scale deodorizing after say, leaving an entire load of wet clothes in the washer or dryer for a day or so 😓. Sometimes the smell is so bad that washing them again doesn't help. I learned about this in an old book of household cleaning tips and it's work better than anything I've ever tried including expensive additives like Febreeze that are supposed to illuminate odors from laundry. It's also cheaper and better for the environment. Just add 3/4 to 1 cup of vinegar to a load of laundry in the wash cycle along with your detergent. If you've contaminated many loads of laundry, then buy a gallon of vinegar and treat all of your laundry until the bottle is gone. That will catch all of those secretly smelly items that find their way back into your closet and drawers, and you've sadly discovered them after you're wearing them and have broken a sweat in them or gotten wet. Also, before you treat your clothes make sure you clean the washing machine first.
I do wash woollen garments particularly knitwear in the washing machine on a gentle cycle if it says it is machine washable wool. If not, hand wash with a specific wool detergent, squeeze the garment to get water out then roll it in a towel to eliminate as much water as possible. I then lie it flat on a rack in the shade to dry. I also store my out of season garments (clean only) in a vacuum sealed plastic bag. No bacteria or staining. Thank you for the explanation of the care symbols.
Hi Justine. Thank you for your fabulous site. Even though I am plus size, I love fashion and try to look my best. Your advice is practical, your humour is fabulous, your politics are admirable and your lack of judgment is refreshing. I look forward to your uploads. Do you have a separate website for your designs? I'd love to look at them. All the best from Australia.
I absolutely love your makeup for this video. Your eyes sparkle and demand attention. The lip color is perfect for your skin tone. Overall a PERFECT NATURAL LOOK. Captivating!
If your clothes are wrinkled you can spray them with water before wearing and they dry flat. If too wrinkled you can wet then and dry on hanger. My granny's tip, they used to do this on big table linen to save on ironing and because it would wrinkle while transported.
I have to say I really enjoyed this video. I'm one of the few who actually enjoys doing laundry. I appreciate all the tips! Thank you. I did learn some things!
About that lavender pillow or sachet: I am from Provence, in the South of France. There, lavender grows everywhere and I can get some literally in front of my door. So it is a special-Provence tip ;-)
Looking forward to YOUR tips from other regions of the world!
You are from Provence, where are you living now Justine? I'd love to know more about you! Are you married? kids? I am from CA, married a long time, and grown kids.
ingrid I agree it would be fun if Justine made some "get to know me" videos!
Indeed! Have a great day Nikki~
Your hair is really pretty in this video!
What is a lavender "pillow"? It can be little fabric bag, sachet, or a little cushion filled with dried lavender flowers and closed by a ribbon or a little stripe of fabric (no metal, no thing synthetic).
Another great tip for washing fine wool jumpers is to lay them on a towel when they are washed, roll the towel gently into a sausage, squeeze lightly, and let it sit for about an hour. Then unfold and lay the jumper flat to dry. This takes away any excess moisture without ruining the fibres or shape and the jumper will dry faster.
And wash in baby shampoo, males woollens really soft
I live in Japan where Paulownia wood is used to store clothes. It's similar to cedar when it comes to it's bug repellent properties, but I've heard it is also moisture repellent and anti-microbial. It's so suited to storing clothes made from natural fibres that there exists an ancient tradition of planting a paulownia tree when a girl is born so it will be ready to cut down and turn into a wardrobe for kimono when she marries.
+Erin Czerneda that's a very smart and practical tradition! 😊
Wow! So interesting! We have Paulownia in the US where I live growing like crazy! I didn't know about these properties of it or this tradition, thank you
Love that story Erin!
That's beautiful!
Wow that's really cool
A tip I picked helping with costumes for our local theatre group, we always keep a small spray bottle of cheap vodka handy. The alcohol lightly spayed into the underarms of suit jackets etc kills the bacteria and the odour.
Dont you just feel that justine is the fashionable big sister who knows what she’s talking about and knows what she’s doing 😂
Not only very useful, as usual, but it's nine minutes of relaxation. How you do it, is beyond me. But your voice and manners are simply soothing. Looking forward to Sunday.
sweet, thanks!
yes, simple things like the way she says, "i-ron"
Simblot Friday Exactly how I feel! I sometimes watch her videos just for that soothing feeling. But I always end up learning sth new as well. :)
It comes from her heart...sincere, kind and generous Justine. Thank you))
Hanna Saroka
I think it is also because French people like to speak and communicate in general and they do it well. There is always something charming about a French person speaking.
These are awesome tips. I'm happy to see this lost art of taking care of clothing coming back. One of my favorite tips to share is, if you find moth hole in your sweaters immediately put them inside a bag and then into your freezer for at least 48hrs. This will get rid of any moth eggs that might be present. This tip has saved some of my favorite cashmere sweaters. 🌿😊
Justine, Justine, Justine... what would we do without you :)
:-D that's sweet!
Leyla Layaali Be horribly dressed with poorly cared for clothes.
Leyla Layaali Right! :)
Leyla Layaali wash wool on 65
You would ask your mum or gran!?
My grandmother would tie delicate things into soft white pillowcases before washing with cold water. It gave a buffer for the fabric. Also is cheaper than the special delicate bags
+Kwandaioha O.o good idea!
I use delicate bags for everything delicate plus socks and underwear. I found really well made ones at the Japanese dollar store, Daiso. I checked their online store and nothing shows (right now) under "laundry nets". But generally these bags are expensive or rather cheaply constructed which makes using them pointless.
That's what I do!
Not many know that Stores is Net curtain. I wouldn't have known until we went to a Specialty store.
Using pillow case for delicate clothes, that's a good idea I would adopt. Thank you.
My grandmother's tip- "Crotch to the sun!" She meant, when hanging underwear outside to dry, turn them wrong side out and crotch side up- to the sun! As you mentioned in your video, the sun does a wonderful, natural, safe job of whitening, of course, this method is to be used for white and light colored garments. I hope this wasn't tmi! Thanks Justine for another fantastic video
absolutely right (and smart!) tip.
Love your nan! We do it this way too. We are a country of islands in the South Pacific and we get sun all year. There is nothing like clean undergarments air dried outside. Haha! I live in South America now and still dry my clothes outside. LOL
Many North American cities have bylaws regarding what can be hung outside for laundry. Also, hang drying doesn't work well in Seattle or Vancouver.
Crystal Ward Really?? What can’t you hang usually...? I did not know about that...
It's also good as the sun will kill any bacteria in the fibres.
Tricks from my mom for drying garments in the sun - always inside out so the sun doesn't bleach the outside, elastic or thick parts exposed, peg clothes over the line at least 1/4 down garment (so you don't get stretched-out hems and necklines), and finally changing the clothes around often on the line to expose every part of it so you can take it off quicker (South African sun is pretty harsh!)
Ahh the "shoe freezing" method is one of my oldest hacks, but many people don't know about it and once i was taken for crazy for doing it! imagine a scene: i just moved in to dorm and my new roommate comes in, it is our first encounter... We say hello and soon she goes to make some iced tea, opens the fridge and voila! My shoes in the freezer - it was hilarious, but she still thinks i am super weird : )
does it work with the fridge too? I don't have a freezer D:
#martying well, I suppose... As long as you don't have the fridge settings on too low (I mean the cooling strength). In case of fridge, just make sure to put it in a thinner/softer plastic bag, and completely seal it, as Justine mentioned : )
No, absolutely not! How idiotic!
It doesn't work 👎
@@martying94 maybe get an inexpensive cooler and some ice to get the shoes to freezing
For people not wanting to use bleach, you can substitute white vinegar for it instead. I like to use a splash in my loads of white towels and sheets. It also works well for any laundry that has accidentally sat in the washer too long and has gotten "smelly". I adore vinegar for cleaning purposes, it works wonderfully and is very gentle and non-toxic.
Bailey Tenerovich It's also anti-microbial & anti-viral! I use it all the time. If you add baking soda with the vinegar it whitens even better. 😊
Sorry one more comment! ;) Something I've been using a couple of years now, are actually something pretty ancient. Used on clothes before deodorants on the underarm are of garments - called garment shields/dress sheilds/sweat pads. They exist in both washable cotton that you pin onto the garments, or disposable ones. I made them myself and use tiny safety pins & pin them to the inside of the armpit area of garments I do not wish to wash too often but do not want sweaty. Of course I wear deodorant but if I use a blazer on top of a sleeve less top on a warm & sunny day it might still get a bit sweaty... But now I just throw the garment sheild in the laundry hamper & pin a clean one on for the next day. There are companys that sell these but you can sew yourself too. In the old days they used this & they have survived/kept in memory much thanks to theatre/dance costumes that get sweated in a lot or need to be preserved etc. They are great and should become used by everyone again!
Great tip, thanks:)
K. L. Good idea.What is it made of?
Just plain cotton fabric in the colour of your choice. I have made them in black, white & beige cotton fabric normally used for beddings/sheets (actually the white ones I made from old torn sheets I already had, so a good way of reusing/remaking things instead of wasting, but I bought the other colors). I found out how to make them buy googeling :-) There are also companys that sell ready made ones (in washable cotton fabric) too. Some shops that sell fabrics & sewing equipment might have them too. You can find them on Amazon if nowere else. Just search for "dress sheilds", "garment sheilds" or "sweat pads". Good luck! :-)
Just plain cotton fabric in the colour of your choice. I have made them in black, white & beige cotton fabric normally used for beddings/sheets (actually the white ones I made from old torn sheets I already had, so a good way of reusing/remaking things instead of wasting, but I bought the other colors). I found out how to make them buy googeling :-) There are also companys that sell ready made ones (in washable cotton fabric) too. Some shops that sell fabrics & sewing equipment might have them too. You can find them on Amazon if nowere else. Just search for "dress sheilds", "garment sheilds" or "sweat pads". Good luck! :-)
whats the best way to stick them to the garment?
Hi Justine, I'm a new subscriber!
I'm training as a costumer and one trick I have learned is that vodka in a spray bottle works wonders for getting out smells from costumes that can't be washed. Hang the costume on a hanger. Put cheap cheap vodka in a spray bottle and gently mist the garment with the vodka. the vodka evaporates and takes the smells with it. The vodka must be the cheapest possible as they work best.
hahaha you mean the cheapest the vodka, the more you are likely to get pure alcohol? ;-) I didn't know this tip, thanks!
It's true! my aunt was an opera singer, and this is how they kept the costumes fresh between performances!
stitchygodmother You must be east European or russian.
Katrine Petersen Why? I'm not, actually, but I'm curious to know what makes you think so?
The stereotype is that vodka is the "national" drink of Russia/former USSR states/Eastern European countries.
I can NOT even tell you the satisfaction it gives me to hear a FASHION designer declare herself a non ironer. :D :D :D :D :D **doing my little happy dance** LIFE is for living and it is seldom crease free. Also, love the stinky shoe hack! Makes perfect sense. We often hang bedding, especially duvets out here in Sweden when the temps dip super low (-20)
Works for carpets as well. Spread a carpet onto snowy ground when the weather is cold (preferably colder than -10C). Let it sit there for an hour or more. Turn and leave again. Shake the snow off and voilá, your carpet smells clean, the dust mites have died and the dust has been left on the ground. This method doesn't clean any stains, though.
wow so many good tips! I can share a tip too- Whenever there was an ink mark on my white school shirt, my mother would apply milk on it and wash it after 10-15 mins. The ink mark would disapper completely!
+Harsha Shrivastava great tip!
hairspray removes ink too.
Plain old rubbing alcohol works, too!
My grandmother did the same thing!
My brain grew two sizes today. I am learning to take care of my clothes as part of the process I am learning to take better care of myself, and your videos have been invaluable. They popped up in my recommended and I'm so glad I clicked.
+PearSquared hahaha thanks 😁
Congratulations on getting "over" 100K followers. I am so impressed with your confidence, intelligence and beauty. I admire the way you care about humanity and work toward that end. Good on you, Justine.
You can actually reshape a wool sweater if you've washed it on too high heat!
Disolve a good amount of conditioner in water, and soak your shrinked sweater for an hour or more, then while it's wet carefully begin to stretch the fabric out again, once it's big enough to wear again put the wet sweater on and move around and stretch it till it fits you perfectly again. Then carefully without pulling too much take the sweater off and lay it flat on a clean towel to dry.
I've read that you can also use baby shampoo instead of conditioner, but I've never tried that. I've saved a lot of sweaters I would have otherwise thrown away with this method.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing.
Warms my heart to see you now close to 1 million subscribers. You deserve all the recognition and success. I have learned so much from your channel and I hope to see it grow more and more.
I'm embarrassed by how much I learned in this video 😳🤣. Thanks, Justine! Next step: making a cheat sheet that I can post in my laundry room with all those icons and their meanings!
Once machine washed my husband's cashmere jumper. it came out like a child's felt tunic! He did ban me from doing the washing so that worked!!
hmmm... That's a technique many men I know used to make sure they won't have to do the laundry at home again. Doesn't work with me ;-)
Sarah Gill in
Great tips! I have a couple to suggest that worked well for me. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleach agent (does not hurt the environment) that works especially well on enzyme stains such as blood or vomit and animal stains. Simply soak the stain, it will bubble up, then wash as normal. If it's really stubborn, put some baking soda on the stain, pour on the hydrogen and leave it to bubble and soak. Rub the mixture into stain.
My second tip is a product called colour catcher. A piece of treated fabric that goes in the wash and catches colour from the water before it goes into the clothes. I have been using for about 6 months as we have hard water 💦 which can have a greying effect on fabric. Very pleased with how much brighter my light coloured clothing becomes.
Enjoy your videos Justine, I always learn something! All the best
I never knew how to read the instructions, now this is really helpful. Thanks so much! Wishing you continued success, ur effort n hard work shows. Good luck!
thanks!
Abhilasha Aind I never even realized those little symbols meant anything!
Me, too.
@@jennifer14256 :D seriously? why do you think they are printed on the garments? :D for fun? :D
@@jennifer14256 I found the symbols and what they mean in a magazine- clipped it out and keep in laundry area because I can never remember what some of them mean
In some places they are used to ironing everything due to parasites. In South Africa Tumbu flies will lay their eggs on wet laundry so before dryers one would have to use a very heavy hot iron to ensure none survived to burrow into a persons skin. Even swimming towels could not be used more than once. I think some people elsewhere probably iron all their clothing due to tradition, because they enjoy a task they can just zone out doing, or it might help them to keep things more crisp when they put it away for storage.
Never heard of Tumbu flies and I was born in South Africa and lived there for 38 years before migrating to New Zealand and have to wear lots of wool here for the cold!
Ironing was done in Europe also to kill fleas, bedbugs etc !
@@lindaroseinbloom according to Google, they're common in east and central Africa. It said nothing of South Africa so this is probably why you haven't heard of them. Lucky you! 😃
I have become addicted to your laughter! Just love watching you laugh! :)
yes she as a sweet gummy smile!
I just discovered your channel a few days ago and I'm already a fan :)
A trick I learned for ironing difficult linen clothes (or table cloths): sprinkle some water (or spray) on the fabric, then put in a plastic bag for a couple of hours. The humidity will spread evenly in the fabric and make it more easy to iron. More gentle than using steam.
Another tip to keep whites white. Wash them with 1/2 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup oxygenic peroxide and your regular laundry soap. It is wonderful!! And safe.
ROSANA COSTES That's what Oxi Clean contains: works like a charm! 😊
What is oxygenic peroxide? Is that the same thing as hydrogen peroxide? I live in the USA 🇺🇸.
Sounds like oxy clean, but cheaper, more natural.
@@baileemiller9862 hydrogen peroxide is basically a type of bleach....
I too use oxygen bleach for soaking. Does not fade colors, removes some stains, especially protein stains. Is reported to be environmentally friendly, but this is Justine's channel, so she has the final word. Best known brand in U.S. is OxyClean (powder, not the liquid laundry detergent.)
In the 70's I was told to wash all animal protein fibers ( wools and silk) with shampoo. I have found my wools come out clean and do not stretch. My silks come out clean even where oil has spilled on it. Yes wools and silks do not need washing often as they seem to repeal orders Thank you for the information. I will try the freezer trick.
These are great tips! Before I put my non-seasonal clothes into storage, I spray them with a homemade disinfectant fabric spray [1 part crystal vinegar, 1 part rubbing alcohol, 1/4 part water, generous drops of lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, and tea tree oils]. I spray the clothes, let them air dry for a moment, and then pack them away in the cupboard. (Note: I don't have animal fibre clothing, so I don't know if it would be ok for wool, silk, etc.) The citronella keeps bugs away, while the other ingredients kill bacteria and fungus. I also use this spray on my bedding, before I go to sleep, and before I make the bed, in the morning.
oh wow, thanks for sharing. It must also smell great!!
October Rose what is crystal vinegar? White vinegar, maybe?
October Rose , hello but what I really wanted to say is Thank you for the DYI disinfectant spray . I subbie your UA-cam page 😋😊
October Rose What is crystal vinegar? How is it different than regular vinegar?
I really like this tip as well! We used Citronella oil + wood oil to keep Wasps away from the attic so I'm sure it works on keeping bugs away from stored clothes.
I wash all my clothes in cold water and hang to dry. Add 1 c. white vinegar to colored loads and this keeps the colors from fading. Loved your other tips Justine!
Gall soap is also a very effective, natural and cheap stain remover, especially oily ones...and very gentle on the fibers. And sometimes ironing can make a somewhat worn piece of clothing look much newer...it doesn't just remove wrinkles, it also overall smoothes the surface of the fabric. Kind of like a good face creme ☺
Rara Avis yes, also garments will fit better when ironed 😊
I no longer buy dry-clean-only clothing, but with the few of those items that I do have, I wash on the delicate cycle and place in a rack to dry. They usually come out just fine. I love doing laundry !
I know that this is an older video, but I just found your channel. Lucky me! You are wonderful. I have learned so much watching you. You are such a great teacher. I was lucky enough to be able to go to Paris in the fall of 2014 and we had unbelievably great weather and a fabulous experience. My husband was working so I walked all over the city by myself and had such a fabulous time. l do not speak French -- just basic high school French and everyone was very kind about that. Everyone that I interacted with was extremely friendly. We stayed in a boutique hotel within walking distance of the Louvre and the D'Orsay which was great. We had dinner one night in the hotel bar and they had a piano player who was very good so my husband sent him a drink. The piano player played Somewhere Over the Rainbow for us after he got the drink -- it was such a special moment. I have to say that Paris is my favorite place that I have ever visited. I got lost once (even with a map!) and had some lovely young women help me on my way. I just wanted to tell you of my lovely experience in your home country. I want to go back to France some day and see more of it.
When you wash wools. Use term 'soak'. Sweaters do not need agitation. Special pH close to neutral soap also minimize damage. I use special wool wash. I also wear very thin tshirts or chemise under sweaters or nice fabrics to soak up body oils and salts so outer fabric does not absorb and get smelly and dirty. Women use to use dress shields to protect their dresses. Also slips. I am starting that trend too. Easier to wash. Probably younger people do not wish to bother. Wish we had lavender so easy to get here.
Sue M I'm sure you can get dried lavender online. 😊
Cedarwood does a similar thing to lavender and you should be able to get small blocks of it at most hardware stores for relatively cheap!
I've hear thyme works as well
Justine, I have just discovered you and am bingeing on your videos. Unlike you, I love to iron, (love the feel of the bedsheets) but I also hated it when I was young and wouldn't want to waste a minute on something so boring!
I am so happy to hear you say that you hang your clothes out in the fresh air to clean them. I love the smell of anything that has blown in the wind and do the same thing. I also bleach whites outdoors all through the summer months. It's hard to find a dry, sunny spot outdoors in the winter here on the west coast of Canada.
It's lovely to hear common sense advice from a young and vibrant young woman. Keep on inspiring all of those who were never taught before. And you laugh is infectious!
I love ironed bedsheets too but it’s so tedious to iron them 🫤
This is such good information! I'm wondering why I have never learned it before... You have such an excellent channel, and a knack for getting straight to the heart of the matter. Your straightforward style is very much appreciated!
As a child I learned to iron by ironing my father's handkerchiefs and pillow cases.. I iron a crisp white shirt and NOTHING else as an adult.
I understand! ;-)
Justine Leconte officiel
I'm allergic to the iron! LOL!
My neighbor still irons her bed sheets...Unbelievable!! 👎
I also learned to iron handkerchiefs and pillow cases as a child. I still iron (or press) pillow cases because they feel so good on my face when they're ironed smooth. Some things are worth a little trouble.
I’ve been watching your videos for a while now and I just wanted to say, you have such a calming voice and seem like a very humble and kind person. Your smile is infectious and I can only imagine what a joy it must be to be around you regularly. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us! You are appreciated!
I loved the tips! Especially don’t use the plastic bags...I do and although they lost their seal, it still stinky from plastic. I think I’ll use old pillow cases or large laundry bags.
I use a pillow case to store all the sheets and other pillow cases for a set of sheets. Very handy when putting away and easy to grab everything I need to change the bedding.
I love ironing. When I have finished ironing a basket of clean clothes, I go to the wardrobes and look for stuff to re-iron. So satisfying.
Thin panty liners with wings can be used as underarm protectors from sweat :-) And Thank you for recommendations for stinky shoes! Normally I ventilate my dancing shoes outside on a balcony... But now I will dry freeze them too for better results. Actually we can freeze Angora sweaters too! I tried this one myself.
I once read that if you hang your shirts in the bathroom while you are showering, the humidity removes the wrinkles and it changed my life
Kendall Phillips If you have a dryer at home you can also wet a clean washcloth, wring it out & put it with the garment in the dryer for 10 minutes. Works perfectly.
I'm from the North Atlantic coast of Spain. We also use lavander or put dried laurel leaves in the wardrobe or drawers. To remove yellowish stains from white clothes my granny used lemon juice instead of our cider vinegar, which we use to mix with water and rinse our hair....It leaves it really shiny and smooth!! Thanks Justine for your video!!
I live in area of Glasgow that has a terrible problem with cloths moths. To keep my jumpers and favourites items safe, I bag them individually in large freezer bags ( a certain Scandinavian furniture shop has good ones of different sizes), and put them in the freezer for a week ( like the trainer tip). This kills the moth eggs/larvea. I then store them in the bags until the next season....no problems with discolourations as it looks like the freezer treatment kills all the bacteria off as well.
Black/Dark colors and lint. I had a white cat and believe me, that fur loves the dark colors and so did she, the brat! Anyway, a little white vinegar in the rinse will add extra helpto keep those blacks looking really pristine.
First time in my 32 years that I really understand how to do laundry in a washing machine. THANK YOU SO MUCH
Chère Justine, your videos are wonderful. They are also the only ones where I read all the comments because you draw such interesting & erudite viewers, like attracting like, of course! 😉 I don't know if you have Oxi-Clean in Europe, but it is my secret weapon for stains. It is not a bleach, rather a peroxide & baking soda formulation. They make pre-treating liquids that you spray on before washing; these will take out most stains easily. If I have a genuine stain nightmare (like when I was eating homemade spaghetti and meatballs & my dog leapt into my lap from a running start!) I use the original powdered Oxi-Clean in the washer with hot water & let it soak fir a while, then wash as usual. The spaghetti sauce came right out of my pale mint-green skirt; it looked brand new. It can't be used on silk, wool or leather, but it cleans gold & diamond jewelry like nothing else. It also kills odors completely. Now they even make laundry & dishwasher detergents which I find superior to any others. I also use vinegar for cleaning. My older cousin had a beautiful, delicate, snowy white wool blanket that was ruined when her mother was dying & had lost control of her bowel/bladder function. You can imagine how horrible those stains were. But my cousin refused to give up: she sprayed vinegar in the stains & left it to soak in & then rinsed it. She repeated that process for weeks & now you can't tell there were any stains at all.
What brand of vinegar did she use?
Thank you. You are one of the very few people who posts something helpful. Most of the fashion people talk about themselves and their own wardrobe or life etc. I recommend you to my friends and contacts.
+Chris Day thanks a lot! 😘
Love the lavender tip, storing clothes in fabric bags instead of plastic, and placing whites in the sun! Thanks!
My tip, that I've converted many people to is using window cleaner for stains. I've cleaned turmeric, curry, and ink stains all with a blue coloured window cleaner. It cleans White's, and very old stains too😁Also if you want to clean clothes that have gone yellow because you haven't worn them for a long while then normal bathing bar soap works great for them, much better than cloth detergent bars or powders.
+Shayri Garg I must try with a window cleaner...!
Justine Leconte officiel But those cleaners usually have ammonia in them. Wouldn't that be very hard on the fabric?
Another excellent video. And I must confess I iron my sheets and some linens because of love the hotel quality of the look and feel. :)
Wonderful tips i enjoy all your videos Thank you
twominutetips, same here!
I was one of those who asked the questions about care, so I was delighted to see this video responding to your audience. Lots of your tips were familiar, but I didn't know you don't have to wash silk and wool very as often as I have been doing it. The comments on this video have lots of good info too, thanks everyone. Also, it is nice to find a community of people who loathe ironing :) I hang to dry, I steam with a compact little hand steamer. It works just fine. Justine, I enjoy your videos not only for the helpful and clear information, but for your presence in voice. That is a rare combination. I hope you keep sharing!
+Pamela JL Alexander thanks to you & to the others who raised the question 🤗
Thank you! This was incredibly helpful. And I guffawed when you made fun of people, like me, who iron our socks and underwear. I find ironing very meditative. And I like the way my clothes lay flat after just a quick, one time, roll over of the iron. Keep up the great work, your videos are unique and amazing!
I know quite a few people who also say that they find ironing meditative... Well then... 😅
Ironing socks and underwear - "lost lifetime" 😂 my thoughts exactly! Lol
Great video as always Justine. I have learned a lot today and thank you for translating the symbols, always a mystery to me! One or two tips I have learned. Like you mentioned, wash clothes as little as possible. As I take off my clothes at night I hang them to 'air' before putting away. I store my good cashmere jumpers in tissue paper in a large box along with moth sachets but I will now swap them for lavender bags. I have a chalk stick - retails as a Janie stick - that you can rub on a stain on jackets etc after several hours you can brush away the chalk and the grease has gone. Any dusty mark can usually be rubbed away with a well wrung out damp cloth. A soak in very salty water loosens a blood stain prior to washing.
Lemon juice can bleach things though it is sticky if you don't rinse it really well. Also works to whiten your teeth! but it can soften the enamel temporarily so don't eat for at least 30 minutes after drinking it. Right, I am off now to put my skanky trainers in the freezer!
Thank you so much for all of your videos. At 65 learning now what I wish I had known years ago!
"Thank you for 75,000 subscriber's"
Fast forward 2 years and it's 656,000.
I might be a little late but being a person who irony underwear and socks, I would like to share my experiences!
1) I just love the smell of ironed clothes. It's as simple as that :)
2) Especially for socks, I like the "crispness" of washed socks when I put them on
3) Ironing actually kills bacteria. This is important to know when it comes to underwear if you want to feel a little extra clean, but is also good for when you for example have a wound and need to stop a bleeding. You don't want unnecessary bacteria, so I like to be prepared for the, I must admit, very unlikely case to have an accident at home and the only thing to cover a wound and a sock being the only thing to use. But hey, you never know right ;)
Thank you Justine! ☺️ love your videos because you are so smily! 😊💋😊
My grand Mama's tip: To get oil stains off clothes you need to try and soak up with a dry paper towel as much if the oil and do not wet the garment. sprinkle with talc powder (baby powder) and let it sit a couple of hours. The talc will absorb the oil. Then you brush (gently!) the talc away and wash normally. Stain should be all gone! 👍🏼
Liat B. Brilliant! I never thought of that.
Oh, I'm so happy I'm not the only one who never irons anything!
Justine, I rarely leave comments on videos even though I'm subscribed and follow a lot of people. But I find your work soo excellent I simply have to :)
I am not even a fashion lover! I am an ordinary girl who is still figuring out her closet, and ran into your videos recently accidentally, but I find your content soo good. Your videos are short simple very understandable and veery educational and organised!
And the way you speak is soo soothing and you seem so nice! very loveable :)
Thank you for all the inspiration and motivation, and keep up the good work, I am learning soo much from your videos!
Big kisses from Croatia!
+PetraZ thank you so much 😘😘😘
I love the freezer tip. And yes, I got rid of my iron when I realized I had not used it in 4 years. Now I'm free!
Old tip: Fels Naptha (sp?) soap is a wonderful stain remover and you can find bars of it in most grocery stores ( I live in the NE of US). You can also make your own laundry soap with it. On really tough stains( on lighter fabrics) simply soak spot in water, gently rub bar of fels naptha and maybe add a squirt of hydrogen peroxide from your medicine cabinet (always to a test to make sure it's not going to damage the color of fabric). Let sit for about an hour and wash normal. I have used this on jeans, tees, ties, dress shirts, etc. It has removed blood, pen, grease and other stains. My family thinks I have laundry witchcraft. =) Also NEVER mix bleach with dish soap. NEVER mix bleach with vinegar. NEVER mix bleach with ammonia. Never mix any household chemical unless you have done your homework! I love your tips-- I do lavender sachets but never a bag. What a great idea! Does it have to seal (zipper) or can I just get a cotton pillow case and add the lavender buds....hmmmm. Thanks Justine!!
Fletcher Can it be used on silk? Will it remove under arm stains?
The only silk I have tried is a tie. Since it's under the arms maybe do a spot test on stain before you do the whole area. Wet the stain really well, use a damp q-tip and rub it on soap and then over stain. Use same q-tip to gently rub peroxide in next. I would let it sit for about an hour before hand washing-- and sometimes it won't look like it's out until it's dry. Good luck!
Fels Naptha is great! I like to grate a bar and keep it sealed in a mason jar. I just melt a few strands in a bowl of lukewarm water to hand wash my best bras and panties. I also keep a whole bar to dampen and rub directly on stains before they go in the hamper or washing machine.
I try to stay away from Dry Ceaners also...but what do you think about "Green Cleaners"?
Elaine BB You can use a window/glass cleaner & bathing bar soap (nothing that leaves slight residue like dove) for silk. I've gotten stains out of silk by using them, they neither damage the fabric nor change the colour etc.
Love your videos...learn to much....I wash all wool, silk, linen, cashmere, merino etc. with delicate soap and a touch of baking soda...rinse well with cool water and some vinegar to ensure no residue soap and squeeze, roll in a towel and lie flat...I wash very rarely..
Excellent video +Justine Leconte officiel
I'm old school when it comes to clothes care and prefer to hand wash and naturally preserve my clothing as much as I can, but some of the insights/tips you gave into garment care were new to me, in particular, removing the plastic cover on dry cleaned items immediately. I must admit, I usually just pop them in the wardrobe with it on and tend to remove it only when I'm about to wear the item!
Oh my gosh. I've been doing it wrong my entire life. I have the worst luck with my cream/off white blouses turning gray/dingy, so I'm going to try line drying in the sun! Can't believe I've never heard that tip before. Thank you!!!!!
I think I'm actually excited to do laundry now. Your videos are always so helpful!
such a great video! My tip would be to add vinegar as softener and lavendel essential oil for the smell in the washing machine. When you have blouses and you don't have time to iron them you can bring them with you when you're showering. You can also DIY your washing powder to avoid chemicals
I just discovered this girl and I think I'll be binge watching the heck out of her videos. Amazing tips, super classy style.
I air dry everything and the dry flat sign is a revelation !
Thank you so much for explaining in detail the symbols on the clothing tag. I often buy European labels & they have no written instructions, just the symbols & I was confused. I usually wash cold water & any delicate feeling fabric is line dried in my garage or flat dried on a mesh rack. I like rayon & rayon blends but they are definitely not to be machine dried.
Love the tip for removing odors. Those polyester "moisture-wicking" active wear shirts tend to retain odors. I will try putting them in the freezer in a sealed plastic bag, as you suggested.
As usual, good, sensible advice, delivered with humour and precision. You're a winner! :) xo And I learned a lot (especially appreciate the 'why's')
especially when you just shrinked a sweater, right? So annoying and yet really easy to avoid when you know "why"...
Yes, exactly then! Funny you should mention that as when you were talking about wool, I remembered my sad experience of having put my hand-knit (brand new, and quite expensive!) Irish wool sweater in the washing machine - on the cold and delicate cycle - and it came out the size to fit a small-boned 3 year old girl. I cried. Then told myself I was stupid because I knew better. Then shook my head and just learned my lesson :) But yes, for me, I always love knowing the "why" and what I hadn't known was that it's not really necessary to wash wool sweaters (but it makes sense!). xo
Maureen Bouey You may not believe this but I did exactly the same thing, also with a beautiful, handmade Irish sweater! It was a lovely sky blue color & a great, lightweight knit; it could have been worn in every season of the year. I didn't think twice about washing it on the delicate setting in cold water because I had other wool-blend clothing that I had washed that way with no problem (of course I knew better than to dry it!). I was devastated. I still don't understand how it could shrink in cold water! Does anyone know why?
Wow, that's an odd coincidence Amy! It's heart-breaking isn't it? In my case, I had literally just bought it and only worn it once or twice but a dog had jumped on me and got it dirty. Maybe Justine can explain how wool can shrink in cold water; I certainly thought I was safe. I just did a quick google search and found this explanation "The “shrinkage” that happens when you wash wool is something most people know about, but it isn’t really shrinking at all. It’s the fibers clinging together so tightly the wool appears to have shrunken down." Maybe that explains it in part? In my own case though I was house-sitting on a Greek island and the washing machine (and everything else of course) was brand new to me. I wonder now if maybe, even though I thought I chose the 'cold' setting on the machine, if I made a mistake and didn't after all. In any case, I"m sure those of us who have experienced this will not repeat this particular mistake!
Maureen Bouey So true, Maureen! In my case I had just spent a week in Ireland & purchased the lovely sweater there. I wore it several times while there, so naturally I wanted to wash it when I got home. Thanks for the explanation you found. It occurred to me after posting my comment that Justine had said that the agitation of the washer can compress the wool fibers & turn them to felt. Maybe that was the case with our sweaters. I had read about Scots & Irish women in the old days "waulking" the wool: sitting in 2 lines on the ground facing each other with the wool cloth between their feet & pushing against each other to compress the fibers & turn the wool into the smooth, felted cloth they used for cloaks. When the cloth was compressed like that it was almost entirely waterproof. The information in this video is so interesting to me. Justine is a wonder! Take care ~ 😊
i'm finding myself watching these laundry tips at 4 am...you have such an elegant and kind delivery.
Wow!! Putting your videos on hold while I make a lavender pillow 😘
+Delta Dawn hahaha very good 😁🤗
@Delta Dawn, how does one make a lavender pillow?
Love that you respect the environment
Thanks for another informative, very well presented video! I appreciate the info. :)
thanks!
Great video! When I was a kid, my father always wore dress shirts, mostly white ones, and my mother used to make a paste out of baking soda and white vinegar and she would use a stiff bristled brush and gently scrub the collars and underarms of my dad's dress shirts before putting them into the washing machine. His shirts always looked so white, crisp and beautiful. He looked like a million bucks! 😁
Thank you! I never knew any of the wash symbols on the clothing tag !
I didn't know that fact about natural fibres. I will put them to use immeditately. About ironing. I watch you videos while I am doing the ironing. It relaxes me and it remainds me of my mother. Plues you cant beat a flat ironed white shirt. I love it.
A tip for decreasing silk is taking it it with you to a steammy shower room. It works. Keep up with you videos, Justine. They the most interesting thing to comeo out of UA-cam in years!.
I'm so proud of me, I do almost all of these things already :D
The leave in the sun hack also works great for your pillow shams, which sonner or later pick up your hair and BO scent which is very hard to remove.
great tips Justine wonderful, thank you. I also learned that soaking whites in lemon juice can remove stains without the need for chemical bleaches, I suppose this is similar to vinegar.
Excellent advice. Even if you can't buy super-high quality all the time, you can take a big bite out of fast fashion by divorcing your dryer (or at least relegating it to "Let's just be friends" status). Buy what you love; love what you buy.
Thank you for these very helpful tips 😊
welcome!
Same for the ironing, it's the worst chore for me, but recently I've purchased several linen items in my second-hand store. They're great and super breathable in summer, but I loathe to iron them. I use vinegar for sports clothing as well. It really freshes them out and sometimes you can't wash them in super high temperature. Really appreciate the tip on the plastic bags from the dryer, I've immediately went for my closet and removed it. Thought I was keeping my clothes safe from dust etc.
Great topic, I actually have great pleasure in knowing how to care for my clothes. I always appreciate fresh smelling laundry too. What are your tips?
One of my grandmas tips is to hang the woollens up to dry over the door as often there's no space to dry flat. Also I always hand wash my lingerie and tights.
Love your content as always 😘
I love your videos! I'm now working on minimizing my wardrobe and doing key pieces like you suggest. I'm donating to a local women's shelter who need clothing. Feels invigorating shedding clothes I know I will never wear.
Hi, Justine! I really, really want to thank you for wonderful videos, for all the kind, insightful and funny little gems of wisdom you so generously share. You not only teach me tons, but you also open my eyes to the realities of the fashion industry and make me rethink my relationship with style and fashion, all "sprinkled" with winks and humour!
thanks a million for this sweet comment!
I spent a year as an au pair in the Netherlands and was a bit miffed that my host family asked me to iron all their clothes (jeans, underwear, casual t-shirts) - laundry was a normal duty, but ironing all those things that don't really matter? Crazy! UNTIL, I realized that air drying everything (they didn't have a dryer for environmental reasons) made the clothing stiff and sort of itchy, until it was ironed soft :) I never enjoyed all that ironing but I definitely understood the need for soft, relaxed clothes!
Another way to remove the smell of mildew from your clothes is to wash them with some vinegar. This is great for large scale deodorizing after say, leaving an entire load of wet clothes in the washer or dryer for a day or so 😓. Sometimes the smell is so bad that washing them again doesn't help. I learned about this in an old book of household cleaning tips and it's work better than anything I've ever tried including expensive additives like Febreeze that are supposed to illuminate odors from laundry. It's also cheaper and better for the environment. Just add 3/4 to 1 cup of vinegar to a load of laundry in the wash cycle along with your detergent. If you've contaminated many loads of laundry, then buy a gallon of vinegar and treat all of your laundry until the bottle is gone. That will catch all of those secretly smelly items that find their way back into your closet and drawers, and you've sadly discovered them after you're wearing them and have broken a sweat in them or gotten wet. Also, before you treat your clothes make sure you clean the washing machine first.
Dearyvette TN Great tip! If you add some baking soda with the vinegar it will work even better. 😊
I do wash woollen garments particularly knitwear in the washing machine on a gentle cycle if it says it is machine washable wool. If not, hand wash with a specific wool detergent, squeeze the garment to get water out then roll it in a towel to eliminate as much water as possible. I then lie it flat on a rack in the shade to dry. I also store my out of season garments (clean only) in a vacuum sealed plastic bag. No bacteria or staining. Thank you for the explanation of the care symbols.
Hi Justine. Thank you for your fabulous site. Even though I am plus size, I love fashion and try to look my best. Your advice is practical, your humour is fabulous, your politics are admirable and your lack of judgment is refreshing. I look forward to your uploads. Do you have a separate website for your designs? I'd love to look at them. All the best from Australia.
Elisabeth Welch The link to her clothing line is in the description box. 😊
I absolutely love your makeup for this video. Your eyes sparkle and demand attention. The lip color is perfect for your skin tone. Overall a PERFECT NATURAL LOOK. Captivating!
hi justine, i admire your eyeliner. can you make a video on makeup :)
role model: Cleopatra. I always was a fan of ancient Egypt :-)
Okay I find this refreshing. I love doing laundry. Really paying attention to each piece...I can listen to this when I'm doing my assignments
If your clothes are wrinkled you can spray them with water before wearing and they dry flat. If too wrinkled you can wet then and dry on hanger. My granny's tip, they used to do this on big table linen to save on ironing and because it would wrinkle while transported.
I have to say I really enjoyed this video. I'm one of the few who actually enjoys doing laundry. I appreciate all the tips! Thank you. I did learn some things!