The (boring) tools every wardrobe needs

I must admit, this probably won’t be the most exciting blog post you’ve ever read… I mean, I’m going to be discussing garment steamers, lint rollers, and fabric shavers… see what I mean? Pretty difficult to make those items sound exciting.

But stick with me! There’s a method to my madness (or in this case, a good reason for my compulsion to write about a few things that usually fly well under the radar).  And that reason is simply that I have found these tools to be indispensable for keeping your clothes looking neat and clean, your outfits looking polished and put-together, and your style looking fabulous all of the time!

So, let’s give them their moment, shall we?

THE GARMENT STEAMER

Although I haven’t necessarily ranked these items in order of importance, if I had to choose just one of these to always have in my wardrobe arsenal, it would be a garment steamer. I think that it makes the most difference in taking an outfit from sloppy and rushed to polished and put-together.

No outfit, regardless of how much time you’ve spent planning and perfecting the idea of it, is going to look its best if it looks like some (or all) of the pieces you’re wearing have just been pulled from the bottom of your laundry pile.

I find that it typically takes me less than five minutes to steam any one article of clothing, so you really do get a huge impact without having to put in much effort.

There are probably hundreds of different steamers to choose from, but if you want something simple this is basically the same steamer that I use (with a few extra attachments that mine didn’t come with), and I find that it does everything I need and does it well.

THE LINT ROLLER

An essential item for anyone wanting to look polished and put-together, but a non-negotiable for anyone with indoor pets or garments that “shed” easily.

A stray hair here or there is absolutely fine (and likely not even noticeable), but an outfit will never look its best if your clothes are constantly covered with pet hair or lint or any other little “fuzzies”.

Lint rolling doesn’t take long at all (probably 30-60 seconds max), so it’s easy to do this as you’re getting ready.

You can buy a lint roller with disposable sheets like this one, or if you’d rather not have the waste of disposable sheets, you can try a reusable one like this.

THE FABRIC SHAVER

I first discovered the magic that is a fabric shaver close to the start of 2020 and I haven’t looked back! I use it on all of my sweaters, sweatshirts, coats, wool socks, or anything that has a bit of pilling and needs to be refreshed.

The impact that this little device makes cannot be overstated. It can take your garments from looking old, worn out, or grungy, to looking almost like new!

Of the three tools I’ve discussed, using this one probably takes the most time, especially if you have something like an oversized sweater (or multiple items) that you want to “shave”, so my recommendation would be to carve out a little bit of time one evening or weekend and do whichever garments need some attention all at once.

This is the fabric shaver I purchased back in 2020, and I have no complaints. It’s simple, easy to use, and does the job well.  

I get so much use out of each of these tools, but some definitely more than others. For example, I use my steamer almost daily, my lint roller several times a week, and my fabric shaver only a handful of times per season (or as needed).

How much you use these tools will be specific to your daily or weekly wardrobe needs, but regardless of how much you use them, each tool is indispensable for keeping your wardrobe (and you!) looking its best.

So, to recap, these tools are essential for every wardrobe because they make a huge impact on your overall style and appearance without requiring very much effort and without having to spend tons of money (i.e., they’re a great investment and if you don’t already own them, what are you waiting for?!).

What about you? What are some other “boring” tools that you find absolutely essential for keeping your wardrobe looking its best? Let me know by submitting a message through my contact page or by emailing me directly at hello@awellroundedwardrobe.com.

Amber

Hi, I’m Amber

Creator and founder of A Well-Rounded Wardrobe. Whether you’re looking to start building a wardrobe from scratch or simply want to fine tune what you already have, you’re in the right place. Start exploring.