How to get your wardrobe ready for Navratri this year

Navratri is just days away, and we all know what that means! It’s time to get into the festive spirit, tapping your hands and feet to the beats of Garba music, feast on delicacies left, right, and centre, and of course, rocking that ethnic look.

Now, many of us keep our ethnic wear reserved for special occasions like these, which is otherwise stowed away for the better part of the year. Chances are then, that your clothes may develop a musty smell, the occasional wrinkles, and even unwanted stains.

This of course, means they may need a wash. However, ethnic wear can’t quite be washed in the same way as our everyday clothes. They require a little extra care even in the washing machine. So, here are a few washing machine tips and tricks to help you wash and prep your clothes in time for the nine-day-long festival.

Check the labels

Checking labels on clothes is paramount when it comes to garment care not just for festivals and special occasions, but even in general. Depending on whether your clothes are silk, cotton, or any other fabric, each of them may have different settings for washing machines, while others may even require to be washed exclusively by hand. Others still, may require dry cleaning.

In addition to this, for smaller stains such as gravy or oil strains, do not wash the entire garment unnecessarily. Instead, dab the dirty area with a damp cloth and see if the stain goes away.

Use a delicate wash mode

Woollen and silk garments, which are traditionally worn during Navratri, require a delicate wash cycle. If you’re wondering what this means, delicate wash cycles use water of the lowest temperature possible, with the lowest agitation and spin for your clothes. On average, delicate wash cycles last only between four and seven minutes on average, and clothes face little to no wear and tear in the process.

Sort your clothes right

We’re sure you’re no stranger to the occasional colour-bleeding while washing your clothes. To avoid this, it is always a good idea to wash your coloured clothes and whites separately, or alternatively, darker coloured clothes and lighter coloured clothes separately. Light-coloured clothes can easily absorb darker colours, and may often appear to be stained due to the same.

Use the right detergent

Much as the right water temperature and wash cycle is important, so is choosing the right detergent. Generally, it is suggested that one try and use liquid detergent rather than detergent powder, as it dissolves in water better. With powder, there are always chances of it clumping up and not washing your clothes properly, and even leaving stains on them.

ALSO READ: When is Navratri?

Another thing to remember is that there are also detergents specifically designed for coloured fabrics, which will ensure their colour doesn’t fade with each wash. These are usually called colour-safe or colour-preserving detergents and can be found in many grocery stores.

Do not use fabric softeners and other chemicals

With ethnic clothes, owing to their fabric, it is best to not give into the temptation of using fabric softeners, or other chemicals such as bleach. Instead, if one absolutely has to, one can squeeze in a few drops of lemon or some vinegar into the wash cycle, so as to ensure clothes stored for long do not smell musty anymore and come out smelling and feeling light and fresh.

Well, there you have it. These quick and easy tips and tricks will ensure your ethnic wear is well taken care of this Navratri.