How an 18 Year Old College Model Girl Preps Clothes

Photo: Openverse

Prepping clothes before class takes me under five minutes every single night. As an 18 year old college model girl, my clothes take a beating from heavy backpacks, quick changes in tiny dressing rooms, and long days on campus. Taking care of your garments makes cheap pieces look high-end and keeps your favorite outfits lasting for years.

You do not need an expensive setup to keep your wardrobe fresh. A handheld steamer, a fabric shaver, and the right hanger will do most of the hard work for you. Here is the step-by-step routine I use to make sure every outfit looks clean, sharp, and ready to wear.

De-Wrinkle Fabrics Without an Ironing Board

I clear wrinkles out of my clothes every evening right after I check my class schedule. Steam works so much better than a hot iron because it does not flatten the weave of your cloth. I hang a wrinkled cotton shirt on the back of my door and run the steam nozzle down the seams. The warm moisture loosens up tight folds in under two minutes.

Different fabrics need different levels of heat and care. Lightweight rayon and silk need gentle steam kept a few inches away so water spots do not form. Heavy cotton twill and thick denim can take direct contact from the metal plate. If you want to learn more about picking great second-hand garments to steam, read our guide on How an 18 Year Old College Model Girl Mixes Thrift Finds to build your closet.

Here are three fast rules for steaming your clothes safely:

• Steam from the inside out on delicate silk or satin tops to stop water stains.
• Pull the bottom hem tight with one hand while you steam down with the other.
• Let the garment hang for three minutes to cool down before putting it on your body.

Photo: Openverse

Remove Fuzz and Pills From Knitwear

Friction from your bag or arms creates ugly little fuzz balls on soft knits. An 18 year old college model girl cannot show up to a shoot or a lecture with sweater pilling all over her sleeves. I sit on my bed once a week with a small battery-powered fabric shaver and go over my knits.

Lay your garment completely flat on a desk or mattress before you start shaving. If the cloth bunches up, the blades inside the shaving tool can cut a hole right through the yarn. Move the tool in small light circles over high-friction areas like under the arms, along the sides, and near the hips where your tote bag rubs.

Wool blends, acrylic knits, and soft fleece show fuzz fast. A quick two-minute clean with a depiller brings back the smooth texture of a brand-new top. It turns an old ten-dollar thrifted sweater into something that looks right off a store mannequin.

Choose the Right Hangers for Every Garment Shape

Cheap wire hangers ruin the shape of your shoulders. They stretch out necklines and leave permanent bumps in soft jersey knit tops. I replaced all my wire hangers with thick velvet ones last semester and it completely changed my closet space.

Velvet grips slick fabrics like slip dresses, silk blouses, and wide-neck tees so they do not fall to the dusty floor. Thick wooden hangers are best for heavy items like winter coats, blazer jackets, and structured trench coats. The wide shoulder curve supports the weight of the wool without straining the shoulder pads.

For pants and skirts, grab clip hangers lined with soft rubber pads. Bare metal clips leave dark dent marks in leather or soft suede. Hanging your pants vertically by the bottom hem uses less bar space and lets natural gravity pull out small knee creases overnight.

Spot Clean Stains Before They Set

Spilling iced coffee on a white cotton tee right before class used to ruin my whole morning. Now I keep a small spot-cleaning kit inside my dorm room desk drawer. Treating a mark the minute you take off the garment saves the piece from permanent damage.

Blot the spill with a cold wet paper towel right away. Never rub hard in circles because rubbing pushes the dye deeper into the threads of the fabric. Dab a drop of clear dish soap or laundry stain gel onto the spot and work it softly with your fingertips.

Flush cold water through the back of the cloth so the stain washes out of the front. If you want to learn more easy wardrobe ideas, check out the main fashion tips on our blog to build a great closet. Letting a damp spot air dry on a hanger works way better than throwing the shirt straight into a hot dryer cycle.

How Do You Keep Dark Jeans From Fading?

Dark denim fades fast if you wash it in hot water with cheap detergent. Wash your black and deep indigo jeans inside out on a cold gentle cycle. Cold water keeps the blue and black dyes locked deep inside the cotton fibers so the wash stays rich and dark.

Skip the hot dryer entirely when it comes to fitted denim. Heat melts the tiny elastic threads woven into stretch denim, which makes your jeans sag at the knees and waist. Hang your jeans up by the belt loops to air dry over your shower curtain rod instead.

You do not need to wash your jeans after every single wear either. Hang them near an open window to air out after class. Spot clean tiny mud splashes on the ankles with a damp cloth to extend the time between full wash cycles.

Store Shoes and Accessories to Retain Shape

Shoes get crushed fast when you toss them into a pile by your dorm room door. I stuff clean tissue paper or old newspaper inside the toes of my leather boots and flat shoes when I take them off. This keeps the toe boxes from collapsing into ugly wrinkles.

Tall knee-high boots need extra support so the shaft does not flop over and crease the ankle leather. You can roll up old fashion magazines and slide them upright into each boot leg. It keeps the tall silhouette straight and neat inside your closet footprint.

Wipe down rubber sneaker soles with a damp paper towel before putting them away on your shelf. Keeping dirt off the white trim stops the rubber from turning a yellow shade over time. Small storage tricks keep your footwear ready for photos or campus walks without extra prep work.

Prepping your closet takes just a few focused minutes each night. Pick one habit from this list, like switching to velvet hangers or steaming your shirts before bed, and start tonight. Your clothes will last longer and your morning outfits will look instantly better.