How to Keep Your Clothes Looking Sharp

So you've cleaned out your closet from ascots to zoot suits. You've begun to think twice about each new purchase. There's space on your hangers and wiggle room in your drawers.

And now: Time for a brush-up on caring for the things that

matter, so they'll always look as new as the day you brought them home.

The first rule: Dry-clean. As expensive and hard on the environment as it is, professional care is key if a garment calls for it. Hand-washing usually doesn't work as well, and neither do those DIY dry-clean products (they don't let you immerse fabrics in a solvent the way professionals can).

But dry-cleaning is only part of the equation.

The rest is up to you, and it all starts with your washer and dryer.

Some laundry room wisdom:

** Wash clothes only when they need it. If they aren't dirty or smelly, let them air out for a few hours and save the wear and tear on the fabric. Who'll notice?

** Check labels for washing instructions. When the tag on a garment says, "Wash in cold water" or, "Lay flat to dry," it isn't joking. Don't experiment.