Have you ever fallen in love with a stunning piece of clothing just for your washing machine to wreak havoc on it? Maybe you’ve swerved buying something you thought was amazing because it just looked too delicate to last, or you’ve caught yourself looking at a luxury item you’ve had in your closet for a while and wondering “how did it get so… lacklustre?”

Sure, there are some garments and stains best left to the cleaning professionals, but, as party season rears its glittery head, there are things we can all do to keep our best clothes looking, well, their best.

That’s why dress technologist Tim Balfour from the Freemans product team has shared his top 10 washing tips for caring for delicate party season ’fits in the wash.

Spot clean any stains first

“As these are trickier materials to work with,” Tim says, “assess whether your garment needs a thorough clean or if it just needs a stain removing. If it’s just a stain, spot-clean the affected area rather than washing the entire garment.

“The most effective way to treat stains is to spot clean as soon as possible, using a mild laundry detergent, as this will help break down the stains and some stain removers, such as bleach, can damage the fabric. Working the stain inside out from the back of the material is recommended, as treating a stain from the front can set it deeper into the fabric”.

Avoid washing delicate party wear too often, instead air it out

“Over-washing can damage less hardy fabrics like sequin tops, so we recommend washing infrequently to limit wear and tear – unless the garment is extremely dirty,” says Tim.

“Sometimes airing the fabric out can preserve the quality of the fabric, as well as freshen up the garment, giving it a new lease of life.”

Hand-wash delicate materials using cool water

“Handwashing is recommended for delicate materials such as velvet, sequins, lace, and satin as it is gentler on the fabric,” says Tim. “Put the item in cool water with your preferred detergent and allow it to soak for 30 minutes. Massage the item if needed but avoid scrubbing fabrics such as lace as it could tear. Rinse well by running water through the item until it is no longer soapy.

“With embellished clothing, handwashing is safer to prevent shrinkage and keep the embellishments intact. Cold water is recommended as hot water could melt the adhesive used to attach the embellishments. Do not soak for more than a few minutes as this could damage the beads. Having the water too hot could cause the embellishments to become loose, soften or crack and using a washing machine could loosen some of the embellishments.”

If the garment label allows for a machine wash, place it in a washing bag

“Always check the label of your item to make sure it is machine washable,” Tim instructs. “If it is, place it in a mesh washing bag or pillowcase to protect the garment. For extra protection, wash it alone on a delicate, gentle cycle. For velvet clothing, using a washing bag will prevent lint from attaching itself to the item.

“For satin materials, placing the garment in a mesh washing bag or a pillowcase will prevent snagging, and for sequin items, this will prevent damaging the beads or sequins. Satin materials can also lose their shine and softness if washed improperly as the fabric is prone to wrinkling and stretching.”

Wash bright patterned fabric and delicate materials inside out to preserve the colours and material

“Turn patterned garments inside out, as this will reduce the fading of the pattern and preserve the brightness of the print,” says Tim. “Turning satin fabric inside out before washing will protect its shiny fibres.

“When hand-washing sequinned clothing, wash inside out to prevent damaging the beads or sequins.”

Make sure zips are secured before washing, but leave buttons loose

“If your delicate garment has any zips, it’s best to close the zipper before washing as it will prevent the teeth from snagging the material and prevent damage to the zip,” Tim explains.

“Equally, buttons on party tops and dresses should remain undone as buttoning them up can cause strain on the fabric and cause them to become loose.”

Avoid using fabric softener when washing delicate materials

“Using too much detergent or fabric softener can impact some delicate materials texture, such as velvet,” Tim says.

“Similarly, for sequins or items with glitter on, fabric softeners can wrinkle sequins, cause satin materials to become discoloured and affect its sheen.”

Avoid wringing out delicate materials

“Refrain from wringing out the water with velvet garments as you could crush the texture or cause shrinkage,” Tim says.

“Similarly, for sequin materials or embellished clothing, wringing out could cause the beads, embellishments, and sequins to loosen or fall off. Be careful not to twist the garment as threads or sewn-on beads could break. After it’s washed, gently soak up the excess moisture with a towel or between two towels, pressing the water out.”

Lay delicate fabrics flat to air-dry

“When drying delicate garments,” Tim says, “lay the item flat on a drying rack or hang them on a coat hanger to air dry, as this avoids creasing and preserves the shape of the item. Avoid putting pegs on clothes, as they can leave marks.

“Avoid tumble drying delicate materials as this can cause shrinkage and damage to the item. With satin clothes, tumble drying can deteriorate the glossy finish of the material.”

Keep satin and velvet out of direct sunlight when they’re drying 

“Keep velvet and satin items out of the sun and dry them inside out when air drying them, as this will prevent the colour from changing and fading,” Tim explains. “It will also prevent the satin from losing its sheen. After washing, use a lint-free cloth on the velvet material to remove any excess lint and hair.

“For all your garments, check the care label before washing too.”

Image: Getty