The Ultimate Guide to Taking Care of Your Nice Things
Sure, Taylor Swift may think that we can’t have nice things, but we’re going to have to respectfully disagree with the pop songstress on this one. While it may come as an initial shock to your wallet to invest in luxe fabrics for your work wardrobe or a comfortable, durable mattress for your first apartment, you’ll end up saving money in the long run with investment pieces you won’t have to replace after a year. That is, of course, as long as you take care of them properly. And we’re here to help you do just that with this care guide for all your most prized (and pricey) possessions.
Clothing care
Not only does buying quality, timeless pieces from brands like Everlane and Reformation mean a sustainable wardrobe; it also means a chic one (double score). Sure, they’re a little pricier than their fast fashion counterparts, but using simple hacks like zipping up zippers before washing them (no snags) and switching to velvet hangers (no pulling) will ensure you’ve got those basics for years to come. We’ve got a ton of the best laundry care advice and tips to make your clothes last longer — and even have the scoop on how to properly wash and care for your swimwear (it involves vinegar).
We also suggest getting pieces like blazers, trousers, and vintage treasures tailored (see our full tailoring breakdown): They’ll become instant everyday essentials you can throw on without a second thought, which means you’ll look and feel great all day. There’s nothing worse than continually tugging at your pants or rolling up your blazer sleeves at an important meeting because they don’t feel quite right.
PS: Stains happen to the best of us — spilled coffee, dropped doughnuts, and dirty puddles are just a part of daily life — but our handy stain removal guide will make sure you keep your clothes spot-free. (Photo via Getty)
Phone Care
Your phone is one of the most important and well-used investments you own, which makes caring for it even more crucial. With Samsung+, you have access to guides and troubleshooting tips on your phone to improve your current experience or to “get to know” your new device. There are even Samsung Pros on-hand to answer questions 24/7, and you can give them remote access to resolve any issues immediately (it’s like having your own personal tech squad at your fingertips) — all for free. There is a whole library of tips, tricks, and how-tos that will help you maximize your battery life and use all the features you didn’t know you needed. With Samsung+, getting the most out of your phone is even easier than coming up with that perfect Instagram caption (though maybe the Samsung community could help you with that too).
Pet care
Taking care of a living, breathing critter is a major daily responsibility — but we love those furballs more than we love other humans (seriously, science says so), making all the stress more than worth it. To save your sanity, once you bring home a new pet, it’s important you learn how to keep them safe in cold weatherand in warm weather and feed them healthy treats to keep ’em strong.
We’ve also got all our pets connected to Paw Scout, a community-based GPS system to ensure they never get lost. A tag attaches to their collar that sends radar tracking to an app on your phone, so you can find Fido immediately.
Jewelry Care
There’s nothing worse than trying to untangle one of those tiny knots in a gold chain. To keep your necklaces tangle-free, we’re all about chic jewelry storage options that are as practical as they are pretty.
When it comes to keeping your stones shiny AF, all you need is a baby toothbrush and bottle of Windex (natural window cleaner just won’t do here). Just spray, brush softly, and rinse off with warm water to reveal some serious sparkle.
And it doesn’t hurt to take your most precious jewelry (engagement rings, we’re looking at you) into your local jeweler to tighten the prongs and give it a deep clean.
Kitchen care
Splurging on four quality knives is a must-do for any aspiring Ina Garten — but they do require some maintenance. You should be honing your steel knives after every use, the way you see chefs do it on Top Chef, you know? If you hone regularly, you should only need to get your knives sharpened once a year (we recommend hitting up a professional, but you can also do it yourself with a Whetstone tablet).
Since your appliances get so much wear, we suggest slowly upgrading your kitchen gadgets and appliances to the heavy hitters — just remember to clean them thoroughly with a natural kitchen cleaner after every use (yes, even around that annoying lip thing on your juicer’s lid).
And don’t be afraid of attempting to slay a quiche in a cast iron skillet just because you’re intimidated by the upkeep. It’s actually incredibly low maintenance (seriously, you just wipe it out after every use), and seasoning it before first use couldn’t be easier. (Photo via Getty)
Do you have any adulting hacks that makes caring for your investment pieces a breeze? Tweet us @BritandCo and let us know how you do it!
