HOW TO MAKE YOUR
CLOTHES LAST LONGER

Extending the lifecycle of an item of clothing reduces its carbon footprint significantly and saves you money at the same time, so why wouldn’t you want to? I’ve got some simple tips for you to take care of your garments and make them last longer.

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GET TO KNOW THEM​

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Taking the time to really get to know your clothes will help you to care for them properly, therefore making them last longer. Different materials and garments will have different washing, drying and ironing instructions (usually found on the label) so sticking to these will prevent damage and extend their lifecycle.

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WASH THEM CORRECTLY ​

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The first step to this is to wash them less. Our clothes really don’t need to be washed after each use (excluding underwear of course), so unless they smell keep wearing them as the less we wash our clothes the longer they’ll last and the fewer microfibres they’ll produce. It’s very tempting to just empty your whole laundry basket into the washing machine and put it on the mixed fabrics setting, but the different settings are there for a reason! Separate your fabrics out, making sure not to overfill the machine, and select the right setting for them. Using less laundry liquid or a more natural one and using a low temperature will also help. Avoid using the tumble dryer where possible, try hanging your clothes outside or on a drying rack.

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STORE THEM RIGHT​

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I know it can feel like a lot of effort to neatly put away your clothes at the end of a long day but trust me, throwing them onto the floor in a crumpled mess isn’t doing them any favours. Hanging things up will make them crease less, meaning you won’t have to iron them so much and they’ll last longer as a result. However, some heavier items are better off folded or rolled up as hangers can make them stretch and pull.

 

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