Over 30% of unwanted clothing ends up in a landfill, and with fast fashion taking prominence in our lives, this is only going to increase. The best way to avoid a wasteful wardrobe is to become more conscious about the clothes you buy and make an effort to ensure that they last longer. Increasing the lifecycle of your clothes can prevent waste from being sent to a landfill and will also save you money while reducing your carbon footprint. That said, you also get to wear more of your favorite garments. In this article, we explain different ways you can get your clothes to last longer through the right way of washing and storing them.
Tips to make your clothes last longer
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Look for quality over quantity
The first thing to keep in mind is quality over quantity. Whenever you buy new clothes, you must ensure that they are made with quality fabrics. Invest in clothes that are well-made and designed to last longer. Even if you have to spend a little extra on wardrobe staples, buy quality clothes as they will last longer and encourage you to value them more.
Sort the laundry
Do not make the mistake of shoving all the clothes inside the washing machine all at once. Instead, make it a habit to separate the white from dark, heavy fabrics from lighter ones, and always keep the soiled clothes separate from the rest.
Read the label instruction
To avoid clothes-washing mishaps, it is important to read the instructions on the label with care. Especially if you have a delicate fabric. If you do not wear something next to your skin, you can air dry it after wearing it. You can get away with wearing a lot of clothes more than once. Unless they are visibly dirty or have started to smell, you can wear them at least a couple of times before you put them for a wash. When washing your favorite pair of jeans, wash them inside out to prevent them from fading.
Keep a stain-removal pen
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One good investment you can make is in a stain removal pen. It is a good choice for removing a stain and to treat it immediately. Use the pen to dab the area affected, and if you do not have one handy, you can use cold water as well. Your union made clothing will last longer and the stains can be easily cleaned with the stain-removal pen.
Do not wash the jumpers often
Not all clothes need to be washed daily. Your jumpers need less washing as compared to most of the other clothes. You can wash them after four or five wears to keep them in shape and to ensure that the softness lasts longer.
Go easy on the detergent
Do not stuff the washing machine with your clothes. You may think that it helps reduce the number of washes but the clothes do not have enough room to be washed well. And when using detergent, go easy on it. They are full of chemicals and could be harmful to the environment as well as your clothes.
Air-dry the clothes
If possible, avoid hanging the clothes over a heated dryer or a radiator and let them air dry. If you overheat them, it will cause the clothes to fade, shrink or even lose their elasticity. Remember to dry the light-colored clothes outside and the dark ones inside to help them retain their color.
Do not dry clean
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Please keep this in mind if you want your clothes to last longer. Dry cleaning isn’t good for your clothes, no matter the environment you live in. Every time you dry clean the clothes, it will use harsh chemicals that can damage the fabric with time and it will also cost you money. You must try to dry clean the clothes as little as possible and hand wash the dry clean-only clothes using mild detergent and cold water.
Invest in the right hangers
A metal or plastic hanger will stretch out the shoulders of the clothes and will make them sag in the wrong places. Despite being a little costly, wooden hangers are sturdy and will help support your clothes. When hanging clothes, do not stretch the jumpers. Fold them away on a shelf to prevent them from stretching.
Keep the moths away naturally
All of us are aware of the menace that moths can be. They can put holes inside your clothes but you can repel them naturally by using mint or lavender essential oils, or sachets of thyme, rosemary, or cloves. If your favorite jumper gets damaged by moths, put it in the freezer for about 24 hours and you will see the moths dead.
Use canvas garment bags for your occasion wear
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Your occasion wear is clothes you do not wear too often and they are also costly. Do not store them in plastic dry cleaning bags since plastic tends to trap moisture and also causes damage to the clothes. With your favorite clothes, do not take any chances and invest in a canvas garment bag to store them well.
Keep the wardrobe clean
By keeping your wardrobe neat at all times, you can easily find an item and prevent the clothes from getting damaged or creased. When you clean it regularly, you are well aware of what you own and what you should discard. If you are short on space, you can store the out-of-season clothes separately in different garment bags. Look for clothes you never wear so you know what you do not need, and you can then give away those clothes.
We all want to make the most of the clothes we buy, and these simple yet effective steps will ensure that your clothes last longer. You do not need to worry about storing or dry cleaning them time and again, simply wash them right and store them right, and half your job is done. Investing in quality clothes is the first step to ensuring that all your clothes last longer than a few wears. When you buy quality material, you need to look after it in the right manner, to ensure longevity.
