Earlier this month, I was helping a client clean out her closet when I encountered a horrifying sight: wire hangers. While I could have gone full Joan Crawford, I decided to take a calmer approach and simply show her the damage that the wire hangers were doing to her clothes. Suddenly, the client realized that her “free” hangers from the dry cleaner weren’t a very good deal.
Wire hangers can leave peak marks on the shoulders of your tops. They can also stress the weave of your sweaters and knit tops leaving them looking weak and worn. Also, because the hangers are so weak, clothes hanging from them can actually stretch out because the hangers don’t support the weight.
So what kind of hangers should a person buy?
While wood hangers are ideal (Why do you think department stores use them?), I think the velvet flocked slim hangers are the best choice for budget conscious shoppers.
Because they’re thin, they make it possible to fit more clothes in your closet, but the hangers are also really strong. Each hanger can support up to ten pounds, so whether you are hanging a camisole or a winter parka, your hanger won’t fail you. And the velvet flocking helps keep delicate tops in place so that the straps and sleeves don’t slip off.
The hangers can be found from several brands in several stores. They sell on Amazon fro $29 for 50 hangers. I purchased mine at Bed Bath and Beyond for a similar price. I needed about 80 to finish my closet. I also needed clips for my skirts which run $8 for a set of 12 (6 pair).
All in all, these hangers have kept my closet organized without damaging my clothes. So if you have a closet full of free, wire dry-cleaner hangers, it’s time to ditch them. Because if your hangers are shortening the life of your clothes than they’re really not free.
I converted to velvet hangers this year and I LOVE them. I purchased some of mine at target for roughly that same price, but I also found them at TJ Maxx for a lesser price.
I finally switched over as well and I love these hangers. I ended up finding mine at Costco for about half the price. I think it was $15 or $20 for 50 hangers. They're not on the website, but If you have access to a Costco, take a look!
The velvet hangers are also the PERFECT solution to a college closet – they can hold multiple tops or dresses at once and they let you cram in more clothing than you ever thought possible. I'm obsessed.
You speak the truth. In my days of retail work, I ended up with a gift of a few hundred wooden hangers for shirts and slacks. My dress shirts and slacks never looked better. My dry cleaners also agreed to make sure they used my hangers as often during the process as possible to maintain the quality of the wardrobe. A few kind words and they were happy to assist me.
Something to consider for each of you in DC: find a good cleaner that will work with you. If your normal cleaner won't do it, find one who will!
Do plastic hangers have any downside?
Belle! Tell me you aren't really hanging your sweaters and knit tops on hangers?!? No hanger will work for that. You must fold at least your sweaters on shelves, but basically anything knit. Otherwise they will get stretched out and icky. Really..
Agree with Marie-Christine-
i never hang a sweater or knit top, for that matter I don't hang knit skirts either. If space is a consideration, fold (or roll) and stack in a clear box. If wrinking is a concern place tissue paper between items.
I was at Costco today and these hangers were 50 for $16.
Agree with Marie-Christine-