Tips to make clothes last longer

It’s Laundry Day!

In this era of fast fashion, it is expected that we will buy clothes and throw them away after a few wears. If a garment is worn out, it can be replaced in the same afternoon. And yet… have you ever felt sad when your favourite dress starts to fray or those jeans that you live in start to fade? No matter where you buy your clothes from or who made them, it is important to be able to care for them.

Laundry tips to make clothes last longer

Read the care label. The washing symbols can be confusing if you are not used to them, so click here for a guide. Checking what fabric the garment is made of, is the first step in being able to care for it. The care label should give information about the washing, drying an ironing of a garment.

Wash your clothes less. Washing clothes is the quickest way for them to appear faded, worn and past their best. Fabric sheds every time it is washed, causing it to weaken over time – the less clothes are washed, the longer they will last. The constant motion and rubbing of the clothes causes fabric to shed. For natural fibres like wool – it is not nessecery to wash every time you wear it. Airing wool, cashmere and even cotton sweaters can breathe fresh air into them without washing. Jeans also don’t need to be washed very often. Treat stains as a separate issue. It is possible to treat a stain without washing the whole garment.

Always sort laundry. Nothing will cause a white t-shirt to loose its luster as fast as washing it with a different coloured garment. Dyes always run, even if it’s not generally noticeable. It is important to wash delicates separate too – maybe in a delicates bag or a spare pillow case – to ensure they are not torn apart by more robust garments.

Wash as many clothes as you can inside out. This prevents colour loss when the clothes rub against each other. It can also prevent the deterioration of embroidery, printing or external parts.

Reduce the water temperature. You might have heard this before as a response to saving on the electricity bill or saving environmental pollution. However it is also an excellent way to keep clothes looking new and fresh for longer. Hot water wears out clothes more quickly, fades fabric colours and can go as far as totally ruining a fragile garment in one wash.

Use less detergent. The box will usually tell you the correct amount to use. It can be fine to use less than this if your clothes are not super dirty. Using too much detergent will make it difficult to remove afterwards. This means it will build up in the clothes, leaving it dull or even marked with white stains. Some detergents can be incredibly harsh so try swapping to a gentler alternative and your clothes will thank you for it.

Skip the fabric conditioner or softener. Fabric conditioner coats your clothes in extra chemicals, dyes and fragrance that are just not necessary. If you add too much conditioner, the clothes retain the residue and feel waxy. The conditioner will build up over time, leading to colour fading and fibre breakdown. If you prefer to still use softener, a small amount of vinegar is a good alternative.

Air dry if possible. Using heat to dry –  whether it is a tumble drier or an electric heater –  cause fabrics to shrink and the elastic to break down. Did you know that the extra lint you find in the tumble fryer is actually bits of your clothes? The fibres are literally breaking down while you dry them. Drying clothing on a line or flat on a rack and it will not only be great for your clothes and the environment, it will also be great for your electric bill. If you really want to use the dryer, try using it to finish off drying the clothes at a low temperature.

Iron your clothes. It keeps them presentable for longer. Meaning that unless you spill your dinner down the front then you will need to wash them less. Make sure the temperature is not too high. Again think about what type of fabric you are working with. Ironing is the fastest way to ruin a garment if you go too hot!

Give the dry cleaner a break. They often use harsh chemicals which can break down the fabric with too much use. There is now an influx of organic dry cleaners but they don’t have an industry standard set for them yet. It is possible to gently handwash some dry clean only clothes – for example a silk cami or cashmere jumper. Often the laundry label will say dry clean because the garment has not been tested for washing, not necessarily because it can’t be washed. So handwash at your own discretion! It is also possible to steam clothes yourself to freshen them up, use a steamer or hang them outside the shower to catch the steam.

Store the clothes properly after cleaning. Whether on hangers or folded, it keeps the clothes neat and tidy which will maintain them for longer.

If you have any other laundry tips to make clothes last longer, share them below!

If you want more sustainable fashion info, check these six ways to dress more eco friendly – here.

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