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	It may be hard to believe now, but spring is here and most ski mountains have closed a few weeks earlier than expected. Most skiwear items are quite durable and should last at least two to three years, if they are cared for properly, according to the International Fabricare Institute (IFI). Skiwear can be dry cleanable or washable, depending on the fiber content of the shell fabric and lining. To keep your skiwear looking good for several years, here are some tips:

	Be sure to clean these items often, since they often get stained or soiled. Follow the care instructions on the label.
	Avoid excess temperatures when drying, even if the item is machine washable. The inner linings used to hold the filler materials in most ski jackets may stiffen or shrink. (When in doubt, just ask your Pressed4Time representative!)



	You're in a store and see a brightly colored sweater on sale. But wait, the care label says, "Hand wash in cold water." You may think to yourself, "Hey, I'll just throw it in the washing machine on the gentle cycle and that should be fine." WRONG! Don't throw this type of garment in the washer because you'll probably be VERY unhappy with the results. Hand washing involves no agitation, wringing or twisting of the fabric. Any machine wash cycle (yes, even gentle) involves agitation, which could damage the material. If you really love that sweater and you must have it, then be sure to follow the instructions. Simply soak the item in cold water for five to ten minutes, rinse and squeeze gently, then lay flat to dry.

Here's a quick tip: If you spilled red wine on a white shirt recently and decided to just dye it, please reconsider. Before you dye any clothing item, you must remove the stain. If you don't, the dye will color the stained area differently from the rest of the fabric and you'll still see the spot!

Men's ties can make a fashion statement. They can be humorous or entertaining. They can be a real conversation piece. But ties can also become pretty weird looking because of excessive wear and cleaning or because of dye migration.

If you've got a tie that looks rippled or puckered, it's probably because of the way the tie was made, according to the IFI. That's because tie fabric is cut on a bias and is susceptible to stretching from tension and stress of tying and untying. Also, the materials used in ties can shrink during cleaning.

If your tie's pattern suddenly starts to 'bleed' and migrate onto other shades, it's probably because the dyes are not colorfast when coming into contact with water. Since a tie can get wet in the rain or snow, contact with water is pretty common!

Unfortunately, we at Pressed4Time can't tell in advance how well a tie is made. We don't know whether the manufacturer used unstable dyes, sizing or finishes. And we can't fix a tie that has experienced dye problems or becomes rippled.

We're not trying, to pass the buck, but that's the truth about ties. If your tie does have problems, maybe it's a good excuse to purchase a new one!