Top tips for wiser wear

Here are three things you can do to get the most mileage from clothing:

• Make sure your clothes are clean when you put them away. A stain left in a piece of clothing can become a permanent one. Clean spots and spills as soon as possible.

• Repair small rips, tears, and pulls when they happen. The more clothing is worn, the worse the rips get, and repairing them can be much harder later on.

• Store your clothes the right way. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from damp, moldy areas. Keep moths away from woolens. Don’t hang stretchy clothing on hangers that can pull it out of shape.

Here’s a spicy sweet alternative to mothballs: whole cloves! Bugs hate them just as much as mothballs. Make a clove sachet with cheesecloth for hanging in the closet, or just put a few individual cloves in the pockets of wool coats and jackets.

An inexpensive substitute for a cedar closet is lying around the aisles of your local pet store. Just look for a bag of cedar shavings used to fill cages for small pets. Fill several paper lunch bags with the cedar shavings, then staple tops closed. Punch holes in the bags to let out the aroma, and place the bags around the inside of your closet or drawers. Spot blotter

Grease spot on your favorite cotton dress or shirt? Take a clean powder puff or cotton ball, and dip it in baby powder or cornstarch. Rub it into the stain. Brush off the excess powder when the stain disappears. For stubborn stains, repeat the process.

When you have a messy job to do, dress for it. Have a special “work” wardrobe for messy chores, and keep it in a convenient place. Those clothes that have already been stained or painted are the perfect choice. Save your good clothes from accidental ruin, and you’ll have them to wear when you want to look nice.