The When-to-Wash-It Handbook: Winter Edition

Pants and Skirts

How often you should wash them: After five to seven wears.

Washing guidelines: Wintry fabrics—tweed, wool, velvet—are fairly tough but can be tricky to wash, so dry cleaning is safest. Of course, that can get pricey, which is why Linda Cobb, the author of Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean ($12, amazon.com), suggests a do-it-yourself alternative, like Woolite Dry Cleaners Secret ($10 at supermarkets).

What else you should know: Try this refreshing trick used by many owners of vintage-clothing stores: Mist the garment with one part vodka and two parts water and let dry. Naturally scentless, vodka helps to deodorize, says Cobb. “Steaming also acts as an antibacterial between washings,” says Boyd.