The Whistles Product Care Guide

Dust and dirt should be removed prior to cleaning with a neutral leather cream.

 
New leather shoes can be softened slightly by putting on a pair of socks and then using a hairdryer to the warm areas that are tight. The heat from the hairdryer will gently soften the leather.

Remove dust and dirt before cleaning. A crepe brush should be used to gently and carefully remove any marks in the suede. Suede is a natural dyed product and cannot be entirely colourfast, so some loss of colour may be experienced during wear.

Particular care must be taken while wearing or cleaning embellished shoes. Beads and studs may be lost or damaged if caught or snagged.

Heel tips are a replaceable component and can be easily refitted by a good cobbler. Do not allow them to wear down beyond the repairable heel level as this can cause irreparable damage.

 
Thin and delicate heels must be worn with extra care. Wearing stiletto heels on uneven or abrasive surfaces, or when driving may weaken the shoes and spoil the leather sole or other components of the shoe.

Hair on the leather naturally varies in length and direction. Colour can also vary within the product because dye reacts differently on different parts of the skin. Hair loss will occur if continual rubbing is experienced on the surface of the product, for example: on the back of a shoe while driving. Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry thoroughly to get a smear-free finish.

Dust and dirt should be removed before cleaning with a rubber brush or fabric foam cleaner. Fabric shoes are not ideal for use in wet weather.

Due to the porous nature of leather, a leather sole will naturally absorb some water during use. With this in mind, we do not recommend that you wear such shoes in very wet conditions. A leather sole will wear away after general use, making it necessary to have the shoe resoled by a cobbler as often as required.

Materials such as cork and wood naturally absorb water so should not be worn in very wet conditions.

Dust and dirt should be removed prior to cleaning with a neutral leather cream. Moisturise your bag using a leather moisturiser or balsam to prevent flaking and wrinkling.

If your leather bag gets excessively wet it is important not to dry it too quickly or to let it get ‘bone’ dry as this will lead to the leather becoming hard and brittle. Dab some balm or neatsfoot oil onto a cloth, gently rub over the item and then wipe away any excess. Dry in an airy room, but not directly on a heater.

Remove dust and dirt before cleaning. A crepe brush should be used to gently and carefully remove any marks in the suede. Suede is a natural dyed product and cannot be entirely colourfast, so some loss of colour may be experienced during wear.

Hair on the leather naturally varies in length and direction. Colour can also vary within the product because the dye reacts differently on different parts of the skin. Hair loss will occur if continual rubbing is experienced on the surface of the product. Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry thoroughly to get a smear-free finish.

Dust and dirt should be removed before cleaning with a rubber brush or fabric foam cleaner. Fabric handbags are not ideal for use in wet weather.

Dust and dirt should be removed prior to cleaning with a neutral leather cream.

Remove dust and dirt before cleaning. A crepe brush should be used to gently and carefully remove any marks in the suede. Suede is a natural dyed product and cannot be entirely colourfast, so some loss of colour may be experienced during wear.

Hair on the leather naturally varies in length and direction. Colour can also vary within the product because the dye reacts differently on different parts of the skin. Hair loss will occur if continual rubbing is experienced on the surface of the product. Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

Dust and dirt should be removed before cleaning with a rubber brush or fabric foam cleaner.

Jewellery should not be worn in a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna or steam room, or while bathing or showering. Chlorine, detergents, oils and perfumes can all cause tarnishing and damage.

 
Makeup, perfume and hairspray all contain chemicals which may dull the finish of jewellery. Gently wipe jewellery clean with a soft cloth after each wear to remove any makeup.

 
Coil your necklaces to prevent damage in storage and always dry jewellery after exposure to water, as moisture can cause tarnishing and affect the performance of clasps.

Silver reacts with hydrogen sulphide present in the air, causing it to tarnish over time. This can be easily removed by cleaning with a quality silver polish and using a soft, clean cloth.

Most gold jewellery can be maintained with a non-abrasive gold cleaner. Avoid exposing gold jewellery to household bleach, which will cause gold to discolour. Store gold jewellery in a suitably lined box or pouch.

Clean your sunglasses with the soft microfibre cloth that comes with the glasses case. This cloth has been specially developed for cleaning lenses.

 
Store your sunglasses in the case provided and avoid putting them face down on any surface as this may scratch the lenses. Use soap and water when cleaning your sunglasses and avoid using any solvents or alcohol.

Keeping your whites bright and white will ensure you wear them longer, so it’s a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. The following tips will help you to brighten older pieces and keep new ones fresh:

 
Tip 1: Pre-treat stains using 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Put this solution on the stained area and wash as per care label instructions.

 
Tip 2: Add ½ a cup of baking soda to your wash cycle.

 
Tip 3: Add ½ cup of lemon juice or 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash.

 
Tip 4: Add water softener to your wash cycle.

 
Tip 5: Only wash white garments with other white items.

 
Tip 6: Separate items by fabric type (you will find the fabric composition on the wash care label located inside the garment):

 
• Wash acetates with acrylics

• Wash linen and cotton together

• Wash wool on its own

• Delicates should be washed by hand

Garment shrinkage is often a result of water being too hot. So gentle hand washing in cold or lukewarm water will reduce the likelihood of shrinkage happening. Do a small patch test in an inconspicuous area of the item to check for potential shrinkage and colour fastness before you hand wash, and never mix colours in case the dyes transfer from one garment to another.

 
Follow this step-by-step guide to washing your silk garments and they will last for years:

 
Step 1: Using a clean bowl, dissolve a small amount of Mr Black’s Delicate Wash detergent (or other suitable detergent) into lukewarm water at a max temperature of 30°C.

 
Step 2: Add the garment and gently agitate it, very lightly rubbing any stains.

 
Step 3: Gently squeeze the excess washing water out (do not wring or twist as this will damage the fabric).

 
Step 4: Rinse the item in lukewarm water until all soap residue has been removed. You can add a few tablespoons of distilled white vinegar to the rinse water to neutralise alkali traces and dissolve soap residue.

 
Step 5: Lay the garment on a clean dry towel and gently press the water out of the fabric by rolling it up in the towel.

Gently pull damp garments to shape, then lay flat to dry. Silk garments can be air dried but it is important to keep them away from direct sunlight (to avoid fibre damage or colour fade).

 
Warning – be sure to avoid:

 
• Drying clothes directly on a wooden drying rack, as the wood finishes can leave stains
• Drying on a radiator as the heat can cause the silk to shrink and cause the fabric to dull (this can also be a fire hazard)
• Using a tumble dryer as it can damage the silk

To minimise the need to iron silk garments, hang them in the bathroom when you have a shower as the humidity will help the creases drop out.

If it is necessary to iron silk, follow these steps to avoid damage:

 
Step 1: Set the iron to cool.

 
Step 2: Turn the garment inside out and press whilst damp. Do not wet areas of dry silk as this may cause water marks.

 
Step 3: Use a clean, soft, lint free and light coloured pressing cloth between the iron and the garment.

 
Step 4: Take care! Too much heat can cause the silk to become dull, pucker, or burn.

• Do not let hair sprays or perfumes get onto the silk as it will damage the fabric
• Do not wash silk too frequently – we advise using a refresher such as Mr Black’s Delicate Refresh, or air it on a hanger (but do ensure it is hung away from direct sunlight)
• Only iron when absolutely necessary – hang to allow creases to drop out

Always read the garment care label before cleaning a viscose garment. Some Whistles viscose garments are dry clean only, while others can be hand washed.

Viscose is a semi-synthetic fibre made up of regenerated cellulose. It has a high absorbency, is highly breathable and is prone to shrinking up to 5% when washed. Please ensure you follow the wash care label carefully to ensure the garment lasts for its optimum lifespan.

Hand Wash

If your wash care label instructs to cold hand wash:

Step 1: Using a clean bowl, dissolve a small amount of Mr Black’s Delicate Wash detergent (or other suitable detergent) into lukewarm water at a max temperature of 30°C.

Step 2: Submerge the item and gently agitate with your hands, ensuring the soap is evenly distributed.

Step 3: Leave to soak for up to 20 minutes.

Step 4: Rinse the item well with cool water. Do not wring, instead, press the water out of the item.

Step 5:Your item will have a different feel now it is wet due to the high absorbency qualities of the fibres. (Once this is dry and ironed the texture will return to its original quality.)

Machine Wash

If your care label instructs to delicate machine wash:

Step 1: Turn the viscose item inside out.

Step 2: Ideally place your item in a mesh/guppy bag – this helps to prevent snags and damage to the item.

Step 3: Add Mr Black’s delicate washing detergent (or other suitable detergent) to your machine according to the load size (try not to include other items such as jeans that may increase agitation).

Step 4: Select the delicate machine wash cycle on your washing machine, ensuring the temperature is not above 30 degrees and has a very low spin cycle.

Step 5: Your item will have a different hand feel now it is wet due to the high absorbency qualities of the fibres. (Once this is dry and ironed the texture will return to its original quality.)

Drying Viscose

Step 1:Lay garments in their natural shapes to dry. Do not use heat or put them in the tumble dryer.

Step 2:To remove the creases, turn the item inside out and ensure the iron is set to a cool setting. Place a damp cloth between your item and the iron, this will help reduce the creases and help to prevent glazing at the seams.

Always read the garment care label before attempting to clean a polyester garment. Some Whistles polyester garments are dry clean only, while others can be machine washed.

Polyester is a synthetic fibre, which is durable and resilient thanks to the strong man made fibres. It washes well, dries quickly and is crease resistant. Please ensure you follow the wash care label carefully to ensure the garment lasts for its optimum lifespan.

Washing your polyester garment

If your wash care label advises a delicate machine wash:

Step 1: Pre-treat any oil based stains prior to machine washing. Spot clean with detergent/stain remover and thoroughly rinse garments before washing.

Step 2: Turn the polyester item inside out. Ideally place your item in a mesh/guppy bag – this helps to prevent snags and damage to the item.

Step 3: Do not overload the machine – garments should be able move freely. Wash similar colours together.

Step 4: Add Mr Black’s washing detergent (or other suitable detergent) to your machine according to the load size. You can also add fabric softener as this helps reduce staticness.

Step 5:Select the 30 degrees machine wash cycle on your washing machine.

Hand Wash

If your care label instructs to hand wash:

Step 1: Using a clean bowl, dissolve a small amount of Mr Black’s Delicate Wash detergent (or other suitable detergent) into lukewarm water at a max temperature of 30°C.

Step 2: Submerge the item and gently agitate with your hands, ensuring the soap is evenly distributed.

Step 3: Leave to soak for up to 20 minutes.

Step 4: Rinse the item well with cool water. Do not wring, instead, press the water out of the item

Step 1: Hang or line dry. Please read the care label as to whether to avoid direct sunlight due to the garment colour/print.

Step 2: Do not dry with heat or in a tumble dryer as it may cause gradual shrinkage.

Step 3: To remove the creases, turn the item inside out and apply a warm iron on reverse.

If an element of your item has been lost or damaged, for example, a button, zip, popper or buckle etc, please contact your nearest standalone Whistles store or our Customer Care team on enquiries@whistles.com. We will then endeavour to repair the item at no cost to yourself where possible.

If items are taken into the store for repair, we will send this free of charge to our repair partners. If the repair is being sent from home the customer will need to cover the cost of postage out to the repairs partner.

We have now also partnered with the Clothes Doctor and Universal Leather, who will be carrying out your potential repairs alongside Whistles internal teams.

Our Customer Services team or store staff will be able to direct you to the site where you will be able to complete an online assessment form to request repairs with the seamstresses at the Clothes Doctor or Universal.

Our repair timescales vary depending upon the exact nature of what is required, as well as the wear and tear of your item. We always take the very best care of your clothing, and it may take more time and skill to repair an item that has aged over time.

With that in mind, the process may take anything from 2-4 weeks and we will keep you updated throughout the process on timelines.

Contact your nearest standalone Whistles store or our Customer Care team on enquiries@whistles.com