Uniform clothing takes a beating from the daily, monthly, and yearly demands of a job.  While some uniforms are built to withstand more wear and tear, others can benefit from more deliberate care.  Regardless of the durability, there are simple steps you can take to keep them looking good.

When in doubt, turn it inside out.  If you think about cleaning garments, it involves repeated agitation to remove grime and allow for drying.  Simply turn your garment inside out to reduce abrasion on the exterior side of the fabric during washing and drying. ***If you have a particularly dirty garment, keep it right side out to fully allow the dirt to escape from the fabric.

Bag it up.  Use a laundry bag meant for delicate clothes to further minimize the abrasion during the washing.  This trick is great for lighter-weight fabrics, washable suiting, and washable sweaters.  It helps reduce pilling (the fuzzy balls that form on the surface of the fabric) and snags. 

The colder, the better.  Some fabrics can hold up to hot water washing and drying.  However, just because they can take it doesn’t mean you have to wash them that way.  Sometimes less is more and washing in colder water helps to minimize color fading and drying at a lower temperature can reduce shrinkage in some fabrics.  An added benefit is that less energy is required for washing and drying at these lower temperatures.

Hang it up, or lay it out.  Skip the dryer altogether in the quest to keep your garments looking good.  Lightweight synthetic fabrics dry in very little time on a hanger.  Lay sweaters flat on a rack or towel to keep their shape and minimize shrinkage.  It takes extra time for them to air dry, but it’s worth it if the result is a garment that still fits.

***Always read garment care instructions before washing and drying, as some fabrics require special care.  Never wash or dry a garment hotter or more aggressively than the care label states.