I’m a clothing expert & simple washing mistake is ruining your Christmas party outfits, avoiding it will save you money

A CLOTHING expert has revealed that a simple washing machine mistake could be ruining your Christmas party outfits.

People all over the country will be getting ready to glam up for nights out and parties over the festive season.

Experts have shared their top tips on how keep your Christmas party clothes goodCredit: Getty

But despite their sparkle, many outfits come with complex washing instructions.

And many don't know how to wash them which means some of the outfits end up ruined after just one wear.

Luckily, one fashion expert has shed some light on how to wash and care for our perfect Christmas outfits.

Dresses technologist Tim Balfour from Freemans has shared their top tips on how to keep our tricky-to-wash clothing pristine throughout the party season.

And it includes a fix for a simple washing machine mistake that could be costing you money.

1. Spot clean any stains first

It can be too tempting to start scrubbing when we spot a stain in a bid to get rid of it.

But the experts have said that this is a definite no-go if you want to keep your clothes good.

Tim said: "As these are trickier materials to work with, assess whether your garment needs a thorough clean or if it just needs a stain removing.

"If it’s just a stain, spot-clean the affected area rather than washing the entire garment.

“The most effective way to treat stains is to spot clean as soon as possible, using a mild laundry detergent, as this will help break down the stains, as some stain removers such as bleach can damage the fabric.

"Working the stain inside out from the back of the material is recommended as treating a stain from the front can set it deeper into the fabric”.

2. Avoid washing delicate partywear too often, instead air it out

Outfits that have sequins on them can be damaged if you overwash them in the machine.

So experts advise limiting the number of times you throw it in the machine - meaning you can save money from fewer washes.

They suggested: "Over-washing can damage less hardy fabrics like sequin tops, so we recommend washing infrequently to limit wear and tear – unless the garment is extremely dirty.

"Sometimes airing the fabric out can preserve the quality of the fabric, as well as freshen up the garment, giving it a new lease of life.”

3. Hand-wash delicate materials using cool water

Some fabrics are better if they are hand-washed just because of how delicate and gentle they are, according to experts.

They advise: "Handwashing is recommended for delicate materials such as velvet, sequins, lace, and satin as it is gentler on the fabric.

"Put the item in cool water with your preferred detergent and allow it to soak for 30 minutes.

"Massage the item if needed but avoid scrubbing fabrics such as lace as it could tear. Rinse well by running water through the item until it is no longer soapy.

“With embellished clothing, handwashing is safer to prevent shrinkage and keep the embellishments intact.

"Cold water is recommended as hot water could melt the adhesive used to attach the embellishments.

"Do not soak for more than a few minutes as this could damage the beads.

"Having the water too hot could cause the embellishments to become loose, soften or crack and using a washing machine could loosen some of the embellishments.”

4. If the garment label allows for a machine wash, place it in a washing bag

Even if a piece of clothing is machine washable, putting it in a washing bag can keep it looking good for longer.

Experts say: “Always check the label of your item to make sure it is machine washable. If it is, place it in a mesh washing bag or pillowcase to protect the garment.

"For extra protection, wash the garment alone on a delicate, gentle cycle. For velvet clothing, using a washing bag will prevent lint from attaching itself to the item.

“For satin materials, placing the garment in a mesh washing bag or a pillowcase will prevent snagging, and for sequin items, this will prevent damaging the beads or sequins.

"Satin materials can also lose their shine and softness if washed improperly as the fabric is prone to wrinkling and stretching.”

5. Wash bright patterned fabric and delicate materials inside out to preserve the colours and material

There's nothing worse than having a bright, colourful top or dress only for it to fade after a few washes.

But Tim has a solution, he explained: "Turn pattered garments inside out, as this will reduce the fading of the pattern and preserve the brightness of the print.

"Turning satin fabric inside out before washing will protect its shiny fibres.

“When handwashing sequinned clothing, wash inside out to prevent damaging the beads or sequins.”

6. Make sure zips are secured before washing, but leave buttons loose

It's important to keep in mind that outfits with buttons and zips have different rules to follow when washing.

Tim added: “If your delicate garment has any zips, it’s best to close the zipper before washing as it will prevent the teeth from snagging the material and prevent damage to the zip.

"Equally, buttons on party tops and dresses should remain undone as buttoning them up can cause strain on the fabric and cause them to become loose.”

7. Avoid using fabric softener when washing delicate materials

Everyone loves it when outfits and nice and soft on your skin - but experts warn that adding it to wash with the the wrong outfit can actually ruin it.

Experts explained: "Using too much detergent or fabric softener can impact some delicate materials texture, such as velvet.

“Similarly, for sequins or items with glitter on, fabric softeners can wrinkle sequins, cause satin materials to become discoloured and affect its sheen.”

8. Avoid wringing out delicate materials

If you are handwashing clothes then it's almost automatic that you wring them out to get rid of excess water to help them dry quicker.

But Tim said doing so can actually damage your clothes depending on it's fabric.

He explained: "Refrain from wringing out the water with velvet garments as you could crush the texture or cause shrinkage.

"Similarly, for sequin materials or embellished clothing, wringing out could cause the beads, embellishments, and sequins to loosen or fall off.

"Be careful not to twist the garment as threads or sewn-on beads could break. After it’s washed, gently soak up the excess moisture with a towel or between two towels, pressing the water out.”

9. Lay delicate fabrics flat on an airer to air-dry

Not tumble drying any delicate materials is key to keeping them in good condition.

Experts advise: "When drying delicate garments, lay the item flat on a drying rack or hang them on a coat hanger to air dry as this avoids creasing and preserves the shape of the item. Avoid putting pegs on the item, as they can leave marks.

“Avoid tumble drying delicate materials as this can cause shrinkage and damage to the item. With satin items, tumble drying can deteriorate the glossy finish of the material.”

10. Keep satin and velvet out of direct sunlight when air drying them

Certain fabrics, like satin and velvet, can actually become damaged if you leave them out in sunlight.

Experts explain: "Keep velvet and satin items out of direct sunlight and dry them inside out when air drying them, as this will prevent the colour from changing and fading.