Care Guide

THE CARE GUIDE

CARE MORE, WEAR MORE

care/k:/

noun

serious attention or
consideration applied to doing
something correctly or to avoid
damage or risk.

Correct care results in longer garment life, and there are ways to reduce environmental impact while maintaining the cleanliness and integrity of clothing. This guide will help you preserve your performance wear and minimize your carbon footprint.

GET SOME SUN

A little bit of fresh air and
sunshine will do a garment good.
Hang or lay jackets, breeches or shirts out in the sun for a little bit
of natural R&R.

SPOT CLEAN

Stains of all kinds, shapes and sizes are part and parcel of equestrian sports.

Small, superficial stains (dust, saliva, etc) can be eliminated by spot treating the affected area with mild soap and water, or wipes.

TIP - Keep a packet of wipes in your gear bag, car or tack box. They will always come in handy.

THE WASHING PROCESS

When washing your clothes, consider the following:

LOAD UP

Fully load the washing machine, by collecting all similarly-colored items and wash them together. This saves water and energy.

COOL DOWN

Wash with cold, even cold water. This reduces the risk of garments shrinking and color bleed. Also cooler washes consume less energy.

AU NATUREL

Avoid the dryer, if you can. Hang show jackets/shirts and lay breeches flat to dry (socks too!). Over time, the dryer dimities the elasticity of some garments.

TIP - If the dryer is necessary, the lower heat setting would be best.

GET THINGS STRAIGHT

Wrinkles are unavoidable in the washing process. Here are some easy ways to avoid them:

HANG UP

Remove all shirts and jackets from the washing machine immediately and hang them to dry.

This will help garments maintain their original shape.

IRON, MAN

If stubborn wrinkles arise, reach for the iron or better yet, the steamer. Make sure the iron is set to the lowest setting.

TIP - Always pack a clothes hanger for show weekends, jackets can be hung throughout the day instead of being folded.

RECYCLE

Reduce environmental impact by recycling clothing that you no longer wear or have outgrown.

TIP - Consider donating old jackets and breeches to an equestrian center near you.