In case you are not already sick of the lists that have been plagueing the internet, here is one of mine. I’ve kept it concise for your reading pleasure. I’m sure many of you have already had your fall coats out for a while, and will be getting your winter coats out soon. Here are a few tips to protect your gear and get it ready for the winter.
1. Buttons
Reinforce buttons that are coming loose so they don’t fall off later. It only takes a few minutes, and will save you from the headache of looking for lost buttons later.
2. Dry clean your coat
I wear my coats for years, and rarely do I clean them (does anyone?). Then they sit in that dirt all summer until fall comes and I pull them out of the closet again. Dry cleaning your coats at the beginning of the season is a good way to wash them without compromising the coat’s shape or the many types of fabric that comprise it. Also, many coats are dry-clean-only.
3. Weatherize boots
I oil and then spray my leather and suede boots with a silicone spray to protect them from snow and slush in the coming months. First, I give my boots a rub down with saddle soap. This conditions the leather and keeps it from drying out and cracking. A day or so later, I spray my boots with a silicone spray made to protect work boots. On the suede boots, I use a suede and nubuck protector. You can find these at your local sporting goods store.
4. Patch up holes in lining
I’ve let these go, and they only get worse. Catch them early in places that get a lot of wear and tear, such as the shoulders and the insides of the pockets. Patch them with an iron-on patch and hand stitch around the edge, or mend any tears along seams by hand.
What else do you do to get ready for winter?
hoopesparkstudios.wordpress.com 