Every year in America, more than 17 million tons of textile waste go into landfill sites. As a result, it’s no surprise that brands around the world are seeking new ways to produce clothes more ethically.
We have a part to play too. There are a wide range of different ways for us to be sustainable when it comes to fashion.
One of the easiest and most sustainable ways to change our shopping habits and achieve a more sustainable wardrobe is to preserve the clothes we already own. While you might not know it yet, there are lots of different ways to make your clothes last longer.
In this post, we’re going to show you 5 ingenious ways you can get started!If you want to learn more about preserving clothes, including things like why you should use garment bags, check out Hayden Hill.
1. Sort Your Washing Properly
One of the best things you can do if you want to make your clothes last longer is sort your washing properly. We’ve always been told to do this, but let’s face it, we don’t always listen.
Sometimes, we’re in a rush and just throw everything in the washer. While this may save time, it won’t do your clothes any favors. Some garments will lose color and shrink, while others will take on the colors of other wardrobe pieces.
We recommend separating whites and darks at the very least, but you should also separate heavy fabrics and light ones. Washing towels and heavily soiled garments on their own is a great idea too.
2. Wash Jumpers As Little As Possible
This method for preserving your clothes can be applied to most clothes, but it is particularly important for making jumpers last longer. In fact, aside from your underwear, almost all your clothes can be worn more than once before needing to be washed.
Interestingly, big brands like Levi’s tell their customers to never wash their jeans. When it comes to jumpers, repeated washes wear down the fabric and make colors fade.
This will only happen over time but you should avoid washing your jumpers whenever possible. When you do wash your jumpers, consider setting your washing machine to low heat
3. Zip Up All Zips
It may sound super simple but you’ll be amazed at how many people don’t zip up the zips on their clothes before washing them.
While this might not sound like a big problem, open zips and loose drawstrings can easily get snagged in your washing machine. As you would expect, snags can tear your clothes or break the zip.
It’s also worth noting that snags can damage your washing machine’s drum too. With this in mind, always make sure any zips or drawstrings are zipped or tucked away. This will prevent any unnecessary disasters.
4. Air Dry Your Clothes
Where possible, try to avoid hanging your clothes on heated airers and radiators. Radiators and heated airers might dry your clothes quicker but the heat can also cause your clothes to shrink.
That’s not all though, as the heat can also cause colors to fade and reduce the elasticity of your clothes. This is particularly the case with activewear.
To avoid this potential problem, do everything you can to air dry your clothes. Allowing your clothes to dry naturally on a washing line or airer is perfect.
It’s also worth mentioning that drying lights outside and darks inside can help retain colors. However, don’t worry about this too much because we know it isn’t always possible.
5. Use The Correct Hangers
You probably thought you could never go wrong with the type of hanger you use to hang your clothes up, but you can.
It may come as a surprise to you but the wrong hanger can cause your clothes to stretch at the shoulders. Over time, this will make your clothes sag, which is obviously something you don’t want.
To avoid this problem, steer clear of metal and plastic hangers and opt for wooden hangers instead. Wooden hangers are more expensive but they are sturdier. Therefore, they will support your clothes better.
Final Thoughts
In this post, we’ve shown you just 5 of the ingenious ways you can make your clothes last longer. The fashion industry has had a huge impact on the environment so it’s only right that we do our part to reduce waste.
Besides, making our clothes last longer will save us money and ensure we can wear our favorite clothes for longer.
