10 Must Know Tips to Help Make Your Clothes Last Longer
One of the best ways we can encourage sustainability is by loving what we already have! This includes the clothing in our closet. By taking care of what we already own, this can extend the lifecycle of our clothing and prevent them from ending up in the landfill.
Of course, clothes do wear and tear, becoming stretched out or faded, with loose buttons and broken zippers adding to the problem.
At this point, the item might not look good or could even be uncomfortable or impractical to wear.
That’s when these clothes often head to donation bins, secondhand stores, charity shops, or trash bins – but no matter how you discard of your clothing, it often ends up in landfills anyway.
By caring for your clothes properly, you can make them last longer. In this blog post we’ll learn some tips and tricks to keep our clothing in top notch condition to keep them out of the landfill and in your closet.
How to Make Your Favorite Clothes Last Longer
Here’s a list of tips to help make your clothing last longer! A lot of these tips have to do with how we wash our garments, but we’ll also dive into mending, steaming, storing clothes, and more!
This post contains some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer receives a commission from your purchase, however, this is at no additional cost to you!
Pin some of these tips to remember!
wash clothing inside out
By washing your clothing inside out, this can prevent fading and restrict pilling to the inside of your clothes. The same applies for ironing. It can prevent shiny marks, especially on darker clothes.
Deal with Stains Immediately
Blood, wine, ketchup. We’ve all spilled them at one time or another (especially when wearing white!). Whatever the stain, treat it immediately so it doesn’t set.
Repair Don’t Replace
A loose button is no excuse to throw away an item. Have a basic sewing kit, so you can replace buttons, darn holes, and fix hems.
Here is the sewing kit I use! I love the mini size!
If the repairs are out of your depth, look for a good tailor or even a friend or family member with the necessary skills.
You can also maintain your clothes with items like fabric shavers, which go a long way in getting rid of those annoying pills on sweaters.
Here is the fabric shaver I use! I’ve had it for five years and really love it.
Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
Cold water is often best for washing, especially for dark clothing and delicates. Hot water can be more damaging and leads to more microfiber shedding. Washing with cold water can prevent shrinkage and wrinkles, as well as color fading and bleeding.
However, hot or warm water is better if your clothes are heavily soiled, you’ve been sick, or it’s winter and you live in a cold climate. It’s also better for some stains (like grass stains), while cold water is better for food, drink, and blood stains.
Air Dry
Avoid using a dryer. Air drying is gentler on clothes and also prevents shrinkage and lets elastics last longer. This is particularly important for wool, silk, underwear, and athleticwear.
Bonus: you’ll save energy too, which means it’s good for the environment and your electric bill.
Wash Less Frequently
Washing too often wears out clothing and makes it break down faster. It’s also not necessary for certain fabrics. Denim can go months without a wash. You really only need to chuck them in the wash if you’ve badly soiled them. Denim manufacturers give the same advice.
The same goes for wool clothing. Rather air out a woollen garment after wearing it, instead of constantly washing it. If it’s winter, you’re likely layering anyway and the bottom layers will create a barrier between your skin and the wool.
Use a Steamer
A nifty way of cutting back on your washing is using a steamer. It’s particularly useful if your clothing is not dirty, but you want to freshen it up a bit.
iSteam clothing steamer
Using steamers avoids direct heat contact with the fabric, making it a gentler option than tumbling around in a washing machine. Steamers also eliminate odors and wrinkles.
I’ve been using the iSteam for five years and LOVE it! It’s small, but mighty. I also love the smaller size because it’s great for traveling.
Buy Quality Clothing
When it’s time to buy new clothing be sure to opt for high quality garments. Not only does quality clothing look and feel better, it lasts longer.
If an item is poor quality, it’s going to fall apart a lot quicker and you’ll have no choice but to look for something new.
Invest in quality pieces that are designed and made to last. This does not mean you have to buy expensive clothes or luxury brands. It’s about looking for durable fabrics and good design. If you’re so inclined, you can even make your own.
If you love a garment with a bit of flair (zippers, lace, beads), make sure these are also of good quality and properly sewn into or onto the garment.
To find high quality sustainable clothing brands consider exploring our guides:
Read Labels
When buying new clothes, it’s important to read the care labels. Care labels provide guidance like telling you whether an item should be handwashed, dry cleaned, or is suitable for machine wash. Sometimes it also provides guidance on the temperature of the water.
Treat your Delicates Delicately
When it comes to delicate items like wool, silk, and underwear, be extra gentle with them. Hand wash them or make sure your machine is on a delicate cycle. Provide extra protection for bras and underwear by placing them in laundry bags.
Proper Storage
How you store your clothes also makes a difference. Velvet hangers – as opposed to plastic or metal ones – keep clothes from slipping off.
Be mindful of hanging T-shirts and knitted sweaters on hangers, as they can stretch. Consider folding them so they can retain their shape.
Separate Colors
separate wash loads according to darks and lights, as well as types of fabrics. Yes, this extra step can be a drag! However, this can prevent colors bleeding.
Separating types of fabrics can be particularly important when it comes to towels and bedding, as these can be abrasive on your clothing.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Claudia Hauter is a South African writer, copy editor, and content creator with degrees in Drama and Anthropology. She works in television managing web content. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s walking her dog, finding small businesses and markets to support, or attracting butterflies and bees with her vegetable garden. Learn from Claudia on Twitter or Instagram.
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Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer. She has always been passionate about business for good and has a Bachelor degree in Social Entrepreneurship. She currently lives in Seattle where she practices imperfect sustainability. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, clean eating, & practicing slow living. Learn more about Emily’s journey starting The Honest Consumer.
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