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Pea coat care guide

Photo by MART PRODUCTION from Pexels

As we adjust to the autumn weather, it’s time to dig out and brush off our jackets. The best way to ensure that your jacket lasts the whole autumn and winter season is to properly care for it. This is your pea coat care guide. 

  • Remove lint, pet hair, and debris
  • Make repairs
  • Pre-wash 
  • Pre-treat 
  • Machine wash
  • Hand wash 
  • Dry

Remove lint, pet hair, and debris 

Pea coats, and coats in general, only need to be washed twice a season. To ensure that your pea coat stays in top condition between washes, remove lint, pet hair, and debris once a week. Hang your coat on a hanger, where you can clearly see it. Using a soft-bristled brush, gently brush away any debris that you can see. Then, use a lint brush to remove any lingering lint and/or pet hair. If you don’t own a lint brush, sticky tape works just as well. Make sure that you do both the front and back of your coat, not forgetting the arms as well. 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Make repairs 

Rips, tears, and holes can be expected when you’re wearing a coat on a regular basis, especially if you have owned said coat for a number of years. Luckily, pea coats are often made from wool or a similar material, so any damage is easily fixed. Simply sew the damage up using a needle and thread the same colour as your jacket. Small rips and holes don’t require any special sewing skills, however, if the damage is more advanced, you may want to take it to a tailor. It’s always better to get small repairs done on a well-loved coat than buy a new one. 

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

Pre-wash

When the time comes to wash your pea coat, it’s important to make sure that you empty all of your pockets. You don’t want to wash your coat, only to realise that there was a tissue in your pocket that is now stuck to your coat forever. Once you have emptied your pockets, zip-up any zips and fasten any fastenings, except for buttons as this could stretch your pea coat out of shape. After you have made sure that your pockets are emptied and fastened any fastenings, your coat is ready to be washed. 

Pre-treat

Before you wash your pea coat, check for stains. The most important places to check for stains are the collar and cuffs of your coat. If you do find stains, simply mix a solution of mild laundry detergent and water, and gently rub this directly onto the stain. You can use your fingers or a soft-bristled brush, but be gentle to avoid damaging your coat and setting the stain further into it. Leave your pre-treatment for 15 minutes, giving it ample time to penetrate the stains. After 15 minutes, your coat will be ready to wash. 

Photo by Brittney Borowski from Pexels

Machine wash 

To machine wash your pea coat, first turn your coat inside out and place it in a laundry bag. This will ensure that your coat isn’t damaged in the washing machine. Set your washing machine to a delicate, cool temperature cycle. Avoid using a hot wash setting as this will damage the delicate fibres of your coat. If your washing machine has a wool-specific setting, use that rather than a delicate cycle. Finally, add a gentle laundry detergent to your machine. Make sure that you are using a gentle laundry detergent as this will dissolve any dirt on your clothing without being too harsh.

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Hand wash 

If you would prefer to hand wash your pea coat, you can do so using cold water and a gentle laundry detergent. Begin the hand washing process by filling a basin with cold water. Make sure that your water is cold and not warm or hot. Once your basin is full, add a small amount of gentle laundry detergent and completely submerge your coat. Use a gentle swishing motion to ensure that your full coat is being penetrated by the laundry detergent. Then, leave it to sit for at least 15 minutes. Once you are satisfied that your pea coat has been adequately washed, rinse it with fresh cold water, making sure that all of the detergent has been removed. After rinsing your coat do not ring it out. Instead, gently squeeze each section of your coat to remove as much excess water as possible. 

Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels

Dry

Regardless of whether you are using a washing machine or hand washing your pea coat, avoid using a tumble dryer. Using a tumble dryer can damage the delicate wool fibres of your pea coat. Instead, lay your coat flat on a clean, dry, towel, on a completely flat surface. You may be tempted to hang your coat up to dry, but this will cause your coat to sag and become misshapen. Laying it on a flat surface ensures that it keeps its shape and the fibres aren’t damaged. It can take a few days for your coat to completely dry, however, it is worth it to ensure that your pea coat stays in the best condition possible. 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

If you are worried about washing your pea coat, we’re here to help. Book your coat in for a Laundryheap dry clean by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app. 


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Trench coat care guide

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

As we adjust to the changing autumn weather, it’s time to dig out and brush off our coats. The best way to ensure that your coat lasts the whole autumn and winter season is to properly care for it. This is your trench coat care guide. 

  • Always check the care label 
  • Spot clean
  • Pretreat
  • Machine wash 
  • Dry
  • Keep fresh
  • Store

Always check the care label

As with any item of clothing, before you begin caring for your trench coat you must check the care label. Checking your coats care label will inform you of what fabrics your coat is made from, whether it is safe to machine wash, what temperature you should be washing it at, and whether it is tumble dryer safe. All of this information will help you to care for your trench coat in the appropriate manner. 

Spot clean

Per season you should only be washing your coat 2-3 times. If your trench has a handful of stains, don’t immediately wash it, try and spot clean. To spot clean your trench coat dampen a soft, clean, cloth with diluted vinegar, and gently dab at each stain until it lifts. Avoid rubbing or wiping motions as this can set the stain further into your coat rather than lifting it. You should notice your stains lifting after a handful of dabs, leaving your trench coat clean and ready to wear. 

Photo by Tony Schnagl from Pexels

Pre-treat 

If you have decided that it’s time to wash your trench coat, make sure that you pre-treat any stains before putting it in the washing machine. To pre-treat your stains make a paste from equal parts vinegar and baking soda. Rub this paste into your stains using your fingers, or a soft-bristled brush, and leave it to soak for a minimum of 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, rinse the paste off with lukewarm water. If your stains persist, add two tablespoons of vinegar and two tablespoons of laundry detergent to a bucket of water and leave your trench coat to soak overnight. The mixture will penetrate the stains, lifting them and leaving your trench coat ready for the washing machine. 

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

Machine wash

Even if your trench coat is safe to wash in the washing machine it’s best to take precautions. Before putting your coat in the washing machine turn it inside out and place it in a mesh laundry bag. This will help protect any buttons, zips, and fastenings your trench coat has. Wash your coat on a normal, warm water, cycle, using a gentle laundry detergent. Avoid washing your coat with any other items. 

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Dry

Once your trench coat has been washed, remove it immediately from the washing machine to limit creasing. You should avoid using your tumble dryer, or any other form of heating, to dry your trench coat, instead opting to air dry. Hang your trench coat on a wooden hanger, making sure that it is sitting on the hanger properly to avoid any stretching, and leave it to air dry in an airy open space. It may take a while for your coat to dry completely, but air drying is the best way to ensure that your coat maintains its shape and is not damaged by heat. 

Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels

Keep fresh

To keep your coat healthy it’s important to freshen it up in between washes. If you own a steam cleaner steaming your trench coat a handful of times between washes will help kill bacteria and remove any creases in your coat. To lift odours, you can spray your trench coat with fabric spray, which is perfect for not only removing smells but giving your coat a quick refresher. The final way to keep your coat looking fresh is by regularly brushing it. Gently run a soft-bristled brush over your coat in between wears to lift lint, hair, and fluff. This will ensure that your coat stays looking pristine and ready to wear at all times. 

Photo by Abdulrhman Elkady from Pexels

Store 

During the autumn and winter months make sure that you hang your trench coat up using a clothes hanger, never on a coat peg. Hanging your trench on a clothes hanger will ensure that it maintains its shape and will not stretch. You may also want to avoid hanging your trench in direct sunlight as this can sometimes make the colour fade. 

When the autumn and winter is over, wash your trench coat one last time, making sure that your pockets are empty, fold it, and store it in a cotton storage bin. This will help keep it fresh and mould free until you need it again next year. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

If you are concerned about washing your trench coat, or your coat is dry clean only, we’re here to help. Book your Laundryheap service by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app. 


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Winter coat care guide

A winter coat is a wardrobe essential this time of year. In order for it to last the whole of winter, and beyond, you must make sure that you are taking care of it. 

  • Empty your pockets
  • Always hang it up 
  • Brush it over
  • Remove stains immediately
  • Wash twice a season 
  • Always read the care label 
  • Send it to Laundryheap

Empty your pockets 

Every time you take off your coat make sure that you empty out your pockets. Leaving heavy objects, such as keys, in your pocket for an extended period of time can lead to sagging and your coat becoming misshapen. 

Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

Always hang it up 

Hanging up your coat will prevent it from becoming wrinkled and dirtied by people interacting with it. It’s best to hang your coat on a wooden hanger as these are sturdy and less likely to break. Make sure it is hung in an airy location so that it has room to reshape and rid itself of any lingering smells it may be carrying. For the best results, leave your coat for 24 hours before re-wearing.

Brush it over

To maintain the cleanliness of your coat, brush it after every wear. A suede brush will help to remove any oils that have built up throughout the day, and a lint roller will remove any lint, fluff, or threads on the surface. This will increase your coats longevity and help you maintain a presentable appearance.

Remove stains immediately 

If you find a stain, do not panic. Use a damp cloth to gently pat the stain, making sure that you do not rub it as this could damage the fibres. If your coat is woollen, you can add a small amount of laundry detergent to your cloth and continue patting. If your coat is suede, try using a pencil eraser to remove the stain. 

Remember, it is always best to treat stains as soon as you notice them.

Wash twice a season

Your coat should be washed at the beginning and end of every season. This will help prevent moths from infesting it during the spring and summer months. In addition, washing your coat twice a season will remove the dust, bacteria, and pollution that it picks up as you wear it, ensuring that it remains in top condition. 

Photo by Ekaterina Belinskaya from Pexels

Always read the care label

Before you wash your coat you should always read the care label. Some coats, such as those made of wool, can be hand washed at home using a mild detergent and lukewarm water. Other coats, such as suede ones, may be dry clean only. To make sure that you are taking care of your coat in the appropriate way you must always check the care label first. 

Send it to Laundryheap  

If you are not confident when it comes to washing your coat, we’ve got you covered. We will pick up your coat, wash or dry-clean it depending on the care label instructions, and re-deliver it back to you, in top condition, within 24-hours.

To book your Laundryheap service, head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.