The thing about stains is that time is of the essence – the longer you let the stain sit and dry, the more difficult it is to eradicate it and get your clothing back to its original, pristine condition.

When you’re out and about, we suggest carrying a stain removal pen with you. Tide and Dr Beckmann are brands that retail such products and are easily available at supermarkets. The portable tool allows you to immediately treat the stain until you can get home to target it with stronger, specialised remedies. Do read the manufacturer’s instructions as the pen might not be suitable for all fabrics.

Besides using your laundry wash bag to keep your delicates and undergarments safe and shapely in the washing machine, there are other things your can store in it too. For one, if you’re exasperated with the occasional sock that somehow gets lost in the washer, store all of them in the wash bag first.

Moreover, you can employ the wash bag to protect clothing made of thinner, less resistant materials such as lightweight and thin silk, satin and cotton from rubbing against thicker fabrics like denim, which would invariably cause damage.

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All zips should be zipped up before placing them into the washer or dryer. On the other hand, buttons should be left unbuttoned. The harsh spinning motion causes a lot of friction and tumbling, which can cause stress on unzipped zips and buttoned buttons and make them break off. Leaving open zips also runs the risk of causing scratches from their teeth.

If your wardrobe consists of lightweight fabrics, opt for a steamer that may be less harsh on your clothes than a conventional iron. They allow you to start steaming immediately without the need to heat up the iron plate. In addition, the steamer is also advantageous if you don’t have a lot of space in your home.

Additional tip: If you use a dryer, hang your clothes up immediately after drying. The heat on the clothes helps keep the fabric straight and reduce the need for ironing/steaming subsequently. Moreover, if you like to take hot showers, hang your clothing in the toilet (away from the water of course) while you shower to make use of the steam.

After all the backbreaking ironing/steaming, the worst thing that can happen is your hanger leaving an unsightly crease that ruins all your efforts. Purchasing sturdy and dependable hangers can also extend the longevity of your clothing.

Look out for those that aren’t too wire-thin that will leave marks nor those that are too thick that it gobbles up precious wardrobe space.

There are also hangers with a velvet coating that has added grip to prevent dresses from slipping off. Finally, there are hangers dedicated for pants to keep them neat and crisp.

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Not all garment bags are created equal. To protect your precious evening gowns or your husband’s expensive suit, we suggest picking one made with breathable, natural material (preferably acid-free too).

Most found in the market, including those given out by dry-cleaners, are made with plastics and do not allow for moisture dissipation. Combined with Singapore’s hot humid weather, this becomes a recipe for mould and mildew growth and unwanted yellowing.

Bras are an especially finicky item to store. You want to keep them properly to ensure that their shapes, wires and constructions remain optimal to give you maximum comfort and longevity.

To do so, first ensure that your drawer has sufficient space to keep them without needing to be folding or scrunched up. Next, line up your bras by stacking them cup to cup. You do not want the cups to be compressed in any way as it would cause misshaping.

Another big no-no is to invert the cups. You can purchase a bra divider for your wardrobe or hang them up by layering the straps across the J-shape part of your hangers. Again, take note to not compress the cups.

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From joggers to bolster covers, drawstrings can slip into the tunnel if the ends aren’t properly secured with a knot. A quick way to remedy the problem is to use a safety pin.

First, pull the string out in its entirety and attach a safety pin that can fit into the drawstring tunnel onto one end. Then, fit the pin-attached side into the tunnel and slowly ease the pin through to the other end. Once the string comes out the other end, remove the pin and tie to a knot to keep it in place.

If the ends of the drawstring are broken, leaving the safety pin in place works as a replacement too.

If you haven’t got the time to mend a button that’s threatening to fall off, a solution you can try is to apply a thin layer of clear liquid nail polish. Once the polish dries, it forms a hardened area that keeps the remaining thread fibres in place till you’re able to mend the problem.

But if the button has come loose, this hack wouldn’t work. Sewing a button is fairly easy and you can pick it up easily with a simple sewing kit and a YouTube video.

If a zipper hasn’t been used for a while, it has the tendency of getting stuck. To fix it, get yourself some clear lip balm or petroleum jelly and rub it along the tracks. This would provide some lubrication to help the zip move at ease. Use a Q-tip to pinpoint apply the littlest amount necessary. You can also use a clear candle too.

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Text: Ho Guo Xiong