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The end of summer means storing away your swimsuits and making room for fall fashions. Follow these tips to keep this summer’s clothes in mint condition for next year.

Wash Clothes, No Matter What Clean everything, even if you can’t see stains. Some stains take time to appear: sugar spots can turn brown and oil can turn yellow. Also, any trace of food on a garment attracts insects, which can eat through fabric.

Handle Swimsuits With Care Hand-wash your bathing suits with baby shampoo, then air-dry them. Spritz suits with an odor eliminator to get rid of the chlorine smell, says a spokesperson for the Coin Laundry Association, a trade organization.

Pack Clothes Away Correctly Put garments in cotton bags. Don’t pack them in plastic, which will allow mold and mildew to form and can cause fading.

Store Garments Away From Light Keep the bags in closets with the doors shut — sunlight can turn white clothes yellow.

Get Rid of Summertime Stains Learn how to remove these common messes from clothes. Be sure to check the garment’s label for laundering instructions first.
 

• Oils: Rub cornstarch into stains such as mayonnaise and suntan oil. After it has absorbed the oil, brush it off. Apply a pretreatment gel onto the stain. Wash in the warmest water recommended on the label.
• Tannins: Apply drops of white vinegar to stains like strawberry and iced tea. Rinse with water and wash with detergent.
• Dyes: For stains such as ketchup, Kool-Aid® and barbecue sauce, pour a liquid detergent onto the stain. Let it sit for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water. Soak the garment in all-fabric bleach; launder it in the warmest water recommended on the label.
• Proteins: If the stain — such as ice cream or blood — has dried, scrape or brush off what you can. Then soak the item in cold water with detergent. Wash in warm water.