Our back-to-school survival guide for clothing care - what to do (and what not to do!)

Term-time clothing care can be tricky! The best approach is to wash the school uniform and everyday essentials when needed, rather than through habit. Stains and minor damage should be addressed quickly before they get any worse. Implementing a simple care routine will help your kid’s clothing stay comfortable and look smart throughout the school year.

New school year, same old story!

From scuffed knees to mystery stains, the start of a new school year always seems to transform laundry into a full-time job. Stuffed into backpacks and tossed into the heap behind bedroom doors, not to mention left abandoned on school fields - it’s safe to say that school uniforms are a magnet for trouble! 

The good news? Keeping those day-to-day essentials looking smart and feeling comfortable doesn’t have to be overly complicated.

In this back-to-school survival guide, we’ll take you through our favourite clothing care tips and tricks - from how to wash cotton trousers to a few quick repair hacks - that keep your kid’s everyday essential ready to fight another day!

When to wash everyday essentials?

For many parents, keeping the kid’s everyday essentials clean often feels like guesswork - especially when they don’t fancy helping out (usually most of the time!). Instead of treating it the same across the board, the best approach is to separate up into layers:

This ‘wash less, but care better’ approach is great for keeping the colours vibrant and the layers softer, particularly when it comes to the thick jumpers and fleeces. 

How to wash a hoodie and keep the inside soft?

Dependable hoodies and fleeces (like the Brecknock) are the comfortable all-rounders your kids will practically live in - especially as autumn draws nearer - so it’s important to keep them clean and cosy without damaging the fabric.

Whether it’s school issued jumpers, or the essential throw-over fleece for playground shenanigans, there’s a few easy rules you can stick to:

• Wash less often - If the hoodie or jumper is worn over a school shirt or polo, it probably doesn’t need a daily wash - every 1 to 2 weeks is perfectly fine. Of course, there is an exception to the rule: if it’s visibly dirty or smelly - stick it straight in the wash basket!

• Turn it inside out  - Doing this helps to protect any printed designs or embroidery, as well as reducing wear on the fluffy interior, keeping it smart and cosy for longer.

• Wash on a cold, gentle cycle - This preserves softness and avoids any shrinking.

• Avoid tumble dryers - Tumble dryers are fiends for flattening fleece. It’s much better to air-dry on a rack or hang on the washing line if you’re after keeping them soft and fluffy for longer.

 

How to get rid of stains?

Stains are the bane of every parent’s existence! But, as with washing, there’s a few easy tricks you can use to keep those day-to-day staples looking smart.

How to get stains out of jumpers and sweatshirts?

Whether it’s lunch spillages or marker pens, this is the approach we’d recommend: 

• Pre‑treat the mark - Mix a little detergent in with water to make a paste. Then, apply it to the stain and gently work in.

• Leave, then rinse - Leave it be for 10 to 30 minutes before rinsing with cool water.

• Wash as usual - Use your standard gentle jumper wash routine, checking the stain is gone before drying. If it hasn’t, just repeat the process until you see success.

For more challenging problems, such as how to get a grease stain out of a sweatshirt, the key is to blot with a small amount of dishwashing soap with some kitchen roll or a clean cloth instead of scrubbing at it. Just gently work it in with your fingers - all sorted!

How to get a stain out of a white shirt?

The dreaded stained white shirt! Well, there’s no need to worry: 

• Detergent is the best bet! - Put a small amount of liquid detergent directly on the stain, and leave it for about 5 minutes.

• Rinse under cold water  - Try rinsing from the back of the stain if possible. This helps to push any residue out of the material.

• Use baking soda paste for tougher marks  - For those marks that don’t seem to come out no matter how hard you try, it’s worth applying a baking soda and water paste. Leave it overnight, then wash off, and you should see some success.

How to remove stains from winter jackets?

Waterproof jackets, such as the kid’s Harecroft or Midsley, are must-haves when the weather cools. However, when paired with playground equipment and weekend adventures, that usually means they face a lot of rough and tumble! 

No bother, simply:

• Spot‑clean to begin - Mix a small amount of mild detergent with water. Then, get a clean cloth or kitchen roll to dab at stains.

• For more stubborn dirt - Use a paste made up of baking soda, a little dish soap and some diluted hydrogen peroxide. Apply to the stain and leave for a few minutes. Then, it’s just a matter of a simple wiping away the paste and rinsing. Always be sure to patch‑test first.

• Always follow the care label - Wash on a gentle cycle with low temperature, using a detergent suitable for technical outerwear and skipping the usual fabric softener.

• Air‑dry and reproof - Dry on a rack or line, then refresh the waterproofing with a spray or wash‑in proofer if needed.

• Challenging stains  - If you’re looking for how to remove ink from waterproof jackets or are dealing with other more complicated spillages, the best approach is to use an alcohol‑based hairspray or rubbing alcohol. Just spray or dab on the stain and gently blot with a clean cloth to absorb the ink.

 

What are the easiest repair tricks?

Washing is only half the battle when it comes to keeping school clothes at their best. But, there’s no need to panic if your little rascal comes home with a torn hem or stuck zip - this can be easily fixed!

• Small holes on seams - Turn the clothing inside out and align the seam. Hand‑sew using a simple backstitch along the original line.

• Larger holes at knees and elbows - Place a patch (ideally use similar fabric) behind or over the hole and whip stitch around the edges.

• Stuck zips - Check for any trapped fabric first. Then, apply a tiny amount of petroleum jelly (for plastic zips) or specialist lubricant (for metal zips) on the teeth. Move the slider back and forth until it’s working again.

• Misaligned teeth or damaged zips - If teeth are bent or missing, always remember that replacing a zip is still cheaper than getting a new jacket.

Repairing instead of replacing not only saves money, but also helps keep their favourite school clothes in action for longer. After all, a well-loved fleece or reliable jacket is always worth a bit of extra time and effort! 

Supermarket craft aisles, such as at The Range, are usually the best bet for getting the supplies you need.

Ready to go doesn’t mean perfect!

So, with a few simple tips and tricks, you can keep your kid looking smart and feeling comfortable. After all, for those dependable favourites, a bit of extra time and care is so worth it!

It's also important to remember that school clothes are meant to be worn and played in. Scuffed hems or the odd ink stain is all part of a school year filled with exciting lessons and playground adventures!

For more clothing tips and tricks, just check out our blog, packed with advice for all outdoor adventures from cold weather essentials for kids to our top 5 summer adventures! 

If you’re after updating your kids outdoor wardrobe ahead of the new school year, head on over to our website for the full range.