Taking Care of Kid's Clothes

Kids are tough on clothes, so you have to be tough on taking care of them. It can be so frustrating having to buy another pair of jeans, another shirt or jacket because it is just worn out, when they are probably going to grow out of it before long. Some of this wear and tear can be prevented by taking a few extra precautions with your children's clothing. If you will take note of these simple tips on laundry and storage and spend only a couple extra minutes per day, you can keep your kids clothes looking great.
As you are gathering up your kid's clothes from around the house or out of the clothes hamper, be sure to empty all of the pockets and close all zippers (to keep them from snagging). Make sure you read all of the labels of newer clothes and check the ones you are not sure of, and follow those instructions carefully. Turn each of the colored garments inside out. This prevents a little bit of fading. The normal color separation is then appropriate. Be sure to keep denims and whites separate from colors for the first three or four washes. Make sure all stains are pre-treated and holes or tears are mended before you put them in the washer.
Keep lint-producing garments separate from those that attract lint, especially dark colored clothing items, and wash whites in hot water. Of course you should wash bright colors and darks in cold water. Even though dryers are extremely convenient, drying your kid's clothes on a clothes line will extend their life considerably. If you do decide to use a dryer, you should take the precaution of not overloading it and being sure to remove the clothes as soon as they are dry. Over drying is especially damaging to clothes.
Probably one of the most important parts of kid's clothing protection is storing the clothes properly. Many people do not have the right kinds of hangers to store their kid's clothes, and as a result, most of those clothes are folded, even if they really need to be hung. Purchasing some childrens clothes hangers will vastly improve the way your kid's clothes are stored. Childrens coat hangers are also designed to keep those jackets and outer layers stored properly. Some parents think it is silly to use childrens clothes hangers, but they will really make a difference in the lifetime of your kid's clothes. When it comes to folding, storing kid's garments in plastic containers will actually preserve them better, and it is important to add cedar chips if your house is known to have moth problems.
Just a few simple things and an extra couple of minutes to every wash day can keep your children's clothes looking new. Kids really are hard on clothes, but you don't have to stand by and do nothing. Take a little action and save yourself the trouble of replacing your kid's clothes too soon.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of childrens clothes hangers and childrens coat hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlykidshangers.com.

Another Idea for Recycling those Old Wire Hangers

Now that the age of hangers has shifted and most people have changed to plastic or wooden hangers, there is a surplus of wire hangers, especially those that come from the dry cleaners, scattered around the house or in the floors of closets. Why not uses those old pieces of useful wire to make a fund craft that your kids will enjoy. Not only will it solve the wire hanger problem, but it will also provide a way to keep your children’s minds stimulated and hands busy with an inexpensive craft. In this example, you will learn how to coach your kids through making and designing their own wire mask.
Kids love to play dress up, and there is nothing more fun than playing with a mask for make-believe. So grab those unwanted wire clothes hangers around the house along with old knee-high nylons, glue, scissors, markers or crayons, and any other decorative items like glitter, yarn, pipe cleaners, wiggly eyeballs, or fabric scraps. Once you have these items assembled, you are ready to move forward with the craft, so call your kids into the playroom or wherever you have assembled the materials and start of with step one.
Using the hook like a handle, bend the triangular shape of the wire clothes hanger into the desired shape of your child’s mask. A diamond is very easy and works great since you need only stretch the hanger out by pulling the hook away from the middle of the bottom wire (kind of like drawing a bow and arrow). If you want to get a little more creative you can form the hanger into an oval, square, or any other shape. For example, some kids might like to make a mask for Valentine’s Day, so you might help them shape the hanger into a heart shape. After the hanger is shaped, the hook of the hanger is now the handle (or holder) for the mask, think of those masquerade style party masks that people hold up to their face.
Next, take a knee-high nylon that you collect for this craft and stretch it over the top of the shaped part of the hanger. This will create a flat figure in the shape of the hanger that you bent. If you kids want the mask to look three dimensional, they can even press their face into the stretchy nylon to make the relief of their face through the mask. After you have made the basic form, it is time for the decorating process. To keep it simply, you can just provide markers or other writing utensils for the kids to draw on the nylon with. If you want to get more involved they can use all of the decorative items listed above or more. You would be surprised how much time decorating their mask can take up. It can really be a fun thing to do.
Keep seeking new ways to use those old items around the house to have fun with your kids and stimulate their creativity. You do not have to spend a fortune on arts and crafts from the major craft venders for your kids to enjoy themselves and learn a few things.

About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of Only Kids Hangers, a leading provider of childrens clothing hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlykidshangers.com.