How to care for the pocket square?
For a constantly reused clothing article like a pocket square, maintenance plays an important role in getting the most out of it. With the right care and maintenance, the pocket square is sure to offer you loyal service for years to come and still retain the good looks and sheen it had the day you bought it. While normal home washing with mild detergents is adequate, linen pocket squares are more suited to being dry-cleaned. Dry cleaning tends to retain the material’s crispness and also minimizes any shrinking. Delicate cleaning is a must especially for those pocket squares that have embroidery or fancy hand-folding on the edges.
In order to increase the life of your pocket square, experts recommend that your pocket square be stored in a cool and dark place, preferably enveloped in cotton packing. Storing them in a closed plastic container is bad idea as due to the lack of air, the material may disintegrate. Another ‘no-no’ in pocket square maintenance is to wring it out after washing, which could result in broken fibers. In order to get the best results, the pocket square should be ironed when still damp with a just-warm iron. Also, try to avoid ironing along the hand-rolling as this could diminish the intended effect.
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How to store pocket squares for long periods?
Want to treasure your favorite pocket squares for years? Don’t want to let that bright pocket square you wore for your high school prom loose the sheen it exuded on that special night? With proper care and maintenance, your pocket square can remain good enough to be worn by even your grandkids. While all pocket square fabrics require normal care, silk ones generally require more stringent care. One rule of thumb says that the squares should not be kept in a cramped up area within the closet. Doing so can result in the disintegrating of fibers and also formation of permanent creases on this versatile clothing accessory. Since pocket squares are not usually worn on a regular basis, it is advisable to remove the pocket squares from the cupboard once a month for proper aeration.
When ironing the pocket square most experts advocate use of a press cloth between the pocket square and the iron. This prevents that characteristic ‘ironed gloss’ appearing on the surface of the material, which makes the pocket square look old and well-used. Also, keeping the iron temperature low prolongs the life of the pocket square fibers. As with most delicate fabrics, it goes without saying that during the washing process, the pocket square should not be too harshly squeezed or wrung out.
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Can pocket squares be hand washed?
While most pocket squares can be hand washed, for best effects it makes sense to dry clean them. This is especially true for silk pocket squares, since dry cleaning retains the original gloss and texture of the fabric. If you choose hand washing, care should be taken that wrong or excessively harsh detergents are not being used. Pocket squares should only be washed in cold water. Additionally, gentle rubbing is a must. A definite ‘no-no’ is wringing the square to remove any excess water. After just a gentle squeeze, the pocket square can be hung out to dry. Even when drying, it is preferable if the pocket square is kept in the shade. The reason being, exposure to direct sun for long periods of time could result in discoloration and fading.
Generally, linen and cotton pocket squares can be more easily hand-washed as compared to silk ones. Some people follow the practice of blotting some of the dampness from a washed pocket square with a dry cloth before hanging the square out to dry. Also there is no need to wash the entire pocket square when only a small portion is dirty. All pocket squares can be spot washed by rubbing a wet cloth on the dirty area until the stain disappears. This area can then be dried again by re-rubbing with a dry cloth this time.
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