How to Protect Your Clothes from Moths

How to Protect Your Clothes from Moths

Have you noticed small holes in your shirts, sweaters and other garments after taking them out of the dryer?  Some people automatically assume their clothes dryer or washing machine is to blame. But before you point the finger at your appliances, you should first check to see if moths are the culprit. According to Wikipedia, there are more than 160,000 species of moths on Earth. The moths that most people know and recognize — the variety that you can see flying around at night — are not the ones that feast on clothes. Clothes moths are smaller and more reserved, preferring to hide in the shadows as they feast on woolen materials. Store Your Clothes in a Well-Lit Area One of the easiest ways to protect your clothes from moths is to store them in a well-lit area. It’s a little-known fact that moths hate light and will often avoid it when possible. You can use this to your advantage by storing your clothes in a well-lit area, such as your bedroom closet with the light on. Vacuum Another essential step in maintaining a moth-free home is to vacuum your floors on a regular basis. Moths lay eggs during their reproductive cycle — eggs that will remain scattered on the floor until they hatch. Vacuuming at least once per week will make a world of difference in your battle against these pets, breaking the moth’s life cycle one egg at a time. Moth Balls Of course, you can also protect your clothes from moths by using special additive products known as moth balls. Moth balls are small balls which...
Tips for Staying Fashionable on a Budget

Tips for Staying Fashionable on a Budget

Keeping up with the latest fashion trends shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. Unfortunately, though, for many people it does. You might purchase a new jacket or dress, only for it to go out of style the following year. If this sounds like a familiar scenario, keep reading for some helpful tips and tricks on how to stay fashionable without breaking your bank account. Quality Over Quantity When shopping for new clothes and accessories, it’s important to focus on quality over quantity. Sure, the allure of buying a t-shirt for $5 bucks may sound enticing, but how long will that t-shirt really last? As the saying goes, you get what what you pay for, holds true in the world of fashion. A $5 t-shirt will most likely wear and tear down faster than a premium, well-made t-shirt. For this reason, it’s recommended that you choose fewer, better-made garments as opposed to many poorly made garments. Check Consignment Shops Another helpful tip to stay fashionable on a budget is to check some of the local consignment shops in your city or region. Consignment shops differ from thrift stores in the sense that they only accept gently used clothes. So while most of the clothes they sell are used, they are gently used and typically show no signs of wear. What’s great about consignment shops is that you can often purchase name-brand clothes for half off (sometimes even more). Whether you are searching for a new pair of jeans, a shirt, a dress, or any other garment, check the consignment shops. Wash Less Why should you wash your clothes less?...
3 Easy Ways to Soften Leather

3 Easy Ways to Soften Leather

Do you own a leather garment or accessory that’s just not quite soft enough for your liking? Leather is prized for its strength and durability (among other things), but it can also be rough at times. As a result, some people seek to “soften” their leather so it’s supple and easier on the skin. The good news is that you can soften leather — something that we’re going to talk about in greater detail in today’s blog post. Store in Semi-Humid Environment One of the easiest ways to soften leather is to store it in a semi-humid environment. Because it contains thousands upon thousands of pores, leather fluctuates according to the surrounding moisture content in the air. When stored in a dry environment, leather will shrink and become stiff. But when stored in a semi-humid environment of 50-65% relative humidity, the opposite occurs: it expands and becomes softer. Consider installing a humidifier in your home to help soften your leather. Use a Leather Conditioning Product Of course, another easy way to make leather soft is to use a leather conditioning product, such as saddle soap for instance. Leather is unique from other fabrics and materials in the sense that it requires some regular maintenance to preserve its attractive characteristics. Failure to give your leather a little TLC will result in it becoming hard, stiff, and uncomfortable to wear. A leather conditioning product, however, helps to protect against the natural wear and tear of leather by adding valuable moisture to it. You see, saddle soap and similar conditioning products contain moisture that seeps into the pores of leather — much...
Fun Facts About Leather

Fun Facts About Leather

There’s ‘Salmon’ Leather No, I’m not talking about salmon-colored leather. There’s actually leather that is made from the skin of salmon. Many people in Iceland and Norway farm salmon for this very reason. The high strength and unique, elegant look make it a prized type of leather, although its popularity has yet to catch on here in the U.S. Four Forms of Leather Most types of leather can be broken down into one of the four following categories: full-grain, top-grain, corrected-grain, and split leather.  Of the four, top-grain and full-grain offer the highest level of quality, making them the preferred choice for jackets, pants, and other leather accessories. Leather Has Been Around for Centuries Leather is one of the oldest — if not the oldest — the fabric on the planet. Civilizations from across the globe and throughout time have used leather to produce clothing and other items. While construction techniques have changed over the years, the basic concept of leather remains the same. The Average Person Wears Four Pieces of Leather On any given day, the average person wears roughly four pieces of leather on his or her body. This may include your shoes, belt, jacket, watch, hat, jewelry, and more. The next time you are getting ready for work in the morning, count how many pieces of leather you are wearing. The answer might just surprise you. Leather is a Renewable Resource Leather is classified as a natural, renewable resource. This makes is an excellent choice of material for Eco-concsious companies and consumers. Leather Changes Based on the Surrounding Environment Because leather contains thousands upon thousands of...
How to Choose the Right Leather Dress for Your Body

How to Choose the Right Leather Dress for Your Body

With the summer season now behind us, there’s no better time to update your wardrobe with a stylish new leather dress. A leather dress is a fun, fashion-forward garment that will enhance your appearance. Many women assume that traditional fabrics like cotton and polyester are the only viable options for dresses, but this simply isn’t true. Leather dresses offer the perfect blend of modern style with classic elegance to achieve a look that’s unlike any other. Dress Length One of the first things to consider when choosing a leather dress is the length. Leather dresses are available in a wide variety of different lengths, with some stopping just shy of the knees and others going well below the knees. Dress length is ultimately a personal choice, but many women prefer longer dresses for formal occasions and shorter dresses for casual occasions. If you are unable to decide, you can always get two different leather dresses: one short length and a second long length. Dress Fit Something else to consider when choosing a leather dress is the fit. In other words, how does it look when worn? Many leather dresses are designed to be slim-fitted, meaning they contour to the shape of the wearer’s body. This style is an excellent choice for women who are seeking to differentiate themselves from the crowd. However, there are other leather dresses that are more open and do not contour to the shape of wearer’s body. Dress Color Don’t feel restricted to only wearing a brown leather dress. While Brown is the single most popular choice for leather dresses and other leather garments, there...