Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. (BPT) - Whether youâre preserving a treasured hand-me-down, caring for an expensive sweater or just trying to maintain that perfect pair of jeans, the right cleaning steps can keep your favorite clothing looking and feeling better. A key solution? Choosing the right tools, additives and procedures to care for your most favored wardrobe items. âAt first blush, learning how to do laundry is a simple task â throw in the clothes, add the detergent, press the button,â writes Kate Rockwood on Realsimple.com. âBut after accidentally shrinking a sweater or ruining a few T-shirts with stubborn sweat stains, you quickly learn it's more complicated than it seems.â