HOT TIPS

We know how important protecting your lingerie and other fine apparel is to you, so we've pulled together some great tips and ideas from garment cleaning and preservation experts.

Clothing Care
To help you keep your garments safe and fresh for years of satisfaction, HOT ACCENT offers you the following garment care tips.

• Travel Tips

• Storage Tips

• Stain Treatment Tips.

Packing Checklist
Need to pack for a trip in a hurry? Afraid of forgetting something important? Download our handy packing checklists keep you organized and on track.

 Travel Tips for Your Fine Clothing and Accessories

• Group items together by category in different containers inside your luggage (e.g. casualwear, dressy...). This makes it easier to access what you need, repack and keep things neater.

• Where possible, items should lie flat. In tight packing situations, items should be rolled to minimize wrinkling.

• Tissue around very delicate items in your bag, during travel, gives even more protection.

• Pack a change of underwear and other important personal care items in your carry-on, in case your luggage gets lost.

• Be sure to pack a few plastic bags for wet or soiled items.

• Put your more delicate items in the middle of other packed items to keep them safer.

• Small items may be rolled and packed inside of shoes. This not only saves space, but can also protect delicate items, and keep shoes from being crushed, in tightly packed luggage.

• Packing shoes in shoe bags prevents soiling other items, and provides protection against scuffing fine leather.

• With current security requirements, remember to pack anything that contains sharp objects (sewing kits, shavers, swiss army knives, etc.) inside check-in luggage.

• Keep spillable items and sprays in double secure plastic bags, in case they leak or burst open.

For your convenience...

• HOT ACCENT bags protect your most precious lingerie, underwear, formal dresses and more. They also discretely cover lingerie at home and at airport baggage checks.

• All our bags can safely lie flat or be rolled in your luggage to consolidate space.

• The Stack-it Bag™ is perfect for grouping items. The clear view panel lets you see what's inside, the cotton keeps things fresh... and you can use them for conveniently storing clothing at home too!

• The small drawstring bag (style# L04) is great for packing small personal items in your checked-in luggage and in your carry-on.

Back to top

Cleaning, preservation and textile experts suggest:

Severe mildew damage in garment

• Always air out garments before storing to minimize odors like perfume and perspiration.

Heavy moth damage in wool

• Clean your garments before long-term storage. Organic stains like food attract moths, silverfish and other insects that feed on these stains; even if they are in cedar closets or drawers.

• Beaded and knitted items are best stored flat. Avoid folding these items if possible. This can damage fibers and set permanent lines if garments are not often worn or re-folded.

• If folding your fine garments is the only way to store them, remember to pull them out and refold occasionally to avoid fiber deterioration lines.

• Use padded hangers for your fine garments to avoid rust stains and "hanger marks."

• Delicate garments are best kept in the back of your closet, away from high-traffic areas.

• Avoid overstuffing garment bags, and be careful when zipping, to minimize the chance of snagging and wrinkling. Special care should be taken with delicate materials such as feather boas or lace. Placing a sheet of tissue paper between the item and the zipper can provide additional protection.

• Cedar-lined drawers and closets may be effective at repelling insects, but be sure that garments do not come in direct contact with cedar oils which can cause "burning" discoloration.

• For long term long-term storage, fold acid-free tissue in your garments and keep in ventilated containers.

• Store in a dry, dark, place where they will not be overcrowded.

• Hot attics and damp basements are not recommended areas for storage. Extremes in temperature or humidity can damage or deteriorate fibers.

• Periodically remove and clean bags that hold long-term storage items.

Back to top

treating common stains

Important!
1)Treat the stain quickly to lessen the chance of it setting in.
2) Suggested treatments are for non fading, washable fabrics. Check care instructions before trying anything. Take "dryclean only" garments to a professional cleaner.
3) If using stain treater products, test in a hidden area to avoid possible garment damage.

blood
Soak in cold water to remove as much of the stain as possible. Blot (do not rub) with a stain treater (hydrogen peroxide also works great) and launder as usual.

body stains (sweat, collar/cuff soil, deodorant)
Blot (do not rub) with a stain treater. Soak in a mixture of warm water and mild detergent for 15-30 minutes. Launder as usual.

coffee / tea
Blot (do not rub) with a stain treater. Soak in a mixture of mild soap (detergent not bar soap) & cold water for 10-20 minutes. Launder as usual.

candle wax
Remove the dried wax with a dull knife or card. Place stain side down between white paper towels and press with a slightly warm iron until no more stain transfers. Change paper towels often. Apply a spot remover, hand wash in warm soapy water. Rinse and hang dry.

chewing gum
Apply ice to harden the stain. Scrape carefully with an object with a dull edge (e.g. spoon, plastic card). Blot (do not rub) with stain treater. Launder as usual.

drinks (beer, fruit juice, soda, berries)
If stain is fresh, rinse with cold water. Soak item in a solution of mild soap (detergent not bar soap) and cold water for 15 -30 minutes. Launder.

felt tip pen
On color fast washables, Soak for 10 minutes in a mixture of soap and a few drops of amonia. Rinse and then launder as usual. Some felt markers will leave a permanent stain.

gravies / sauces, ice cream
Treat with stain treater. Rinse with cold water. If stain persists, soak garment in mild detergent and cold water for 15-30 minutes. Launder as usual.

grease (oil, butter, dressing, etc)
Use stain treater and launder as usual. If stain remains, sprinkle with cornstarch or unmedicated talc powder. Let stand for 5-10 minutes. Repeat.

lipstick / makeup (for colorfast washables)
If stain is fresh, use stain treater and launder. If dried, try blotting with rubbing alcohol. Immediately rinse and launder as recommended.

ink /ballpoint
For colorfast washables, spray with aerosol hairspray . Launder in cold water as usual. Repeat if necessary.

nail polish
Place stain down over paper towels. Carefully sponge with acetone for 10-15 minutes. Rinse in cold water and launder. Acetone can damage some fabrics. Do not use on DYNEL, ACETATE or SPANDEX.

wine (red or white)
If stain is wet, saturate with club soda and blot (do not rub) with a clean towel. Wash in cold water with detergent (not a bar soap). Rinse and hang dry.

Back to top