We’re all in search of more sustainable ways to clothe ourselves. And not just by shopping consciously, but by taking care of the clothes you have now to wear them for years to come (and maybe even pass them on!). However, that’s often easier said than done! Here are some tips to help you out!

Repeat clothes? Yes, please!

Remember when people were outraged (or disgusted) by wearing the same clothes as the day before? Those days are thankfully over. Repeating an outfit is no longer avoided, but is rather encouraged and admired. For instance, Emma Stone was recently praised for wearing her wedding dress to the Met Gala. In other words, repetition of clothing is a good trait for fashion lovers.

Those assets need love, of course. Garments that are to be loved for a long time need to be well cared for. That is, to prevent the colors from fading or the fabric from being damaged after washing. Of course, not washing is also out of the question.

Washing

Clothes should last a very long time. Fortunately, many washing machines are equipped with various practical functions today. We list them below:

• Using too much detergent is not good for clothes. Too much detergent can damage the fibers of the clothes. This results in faster wear and poor color retention. Or you may get ugly streaks on your favorite clothes. It can also create a “greasy” condition that is not good for your washing machine and can create unpleasant odors.
• It may sound crazy, but try adding a little vinegar to your laundry. Vinegar keeps clothes beautifully colored and makes fabrics soft and supple.
• Vinegar also removes stains from the washing machine, so you can kill two birds with one stone.
• Wash clothes inside out. This way, the inside of the garment wears out first and the outside stays beautiful longer!
• Close all zippers (pants, skirts, etc.). This will prevent damage to other garments.
• Wash whites in white, blacks in black, and colors in colors. This will prevent colored garments from turning gray and white socks from suddenly turning pink.
• Be sure to read the maintenance label. That way you will know exactly what temperature to wash them at or if you should hand wash them.
• Wash at the lowest possible temperature. Tops and jeans often clean best when washed at 30 degrees Celsius, and underwear and white goods at 60 degrees Celsius.
• Delicate garments should be washed in a wash bag to protect the fabric.
• Do not leave them in the washing machine for long periods. Damp areas will harm the fabric and cause wrinkles in the garment.

After Washing

And now: drying and ironing the laundry! The process is not intended to actually change the texture of the garment. So, worn shirts, fuzzy sweaters, and wrinkled shirts are a no-no (which also saves on ironing).

Avoid the dryer and use a regular clothesline. It’s super tempting to throw your clothes in the dryer after washing, but unfortunately, it doesn’t lead to better quality garments. Sweaters and blouses become tacky. Use a regular clothesline to dry clothes instead of the dryer.

Leave light shirts, dresses, blouses, and t-shirts on hangers. This will not leave unsightly wrinkles like a clothesline. Don’t do this for thicker clothing such as sweaters and pants. Doing so can cause wrinkles.

Ironing temperature should not be too high and should be done less frequently.

Still have a lot of wrinkles in your clothes? Choose the steaming option. This is gentle on your clothes!

Storing Your Clothes

Clothes that should be folded (so they don’t get soggy):

• Cardigans, sweaters
• T-shirts, tops
• Trousers/jeans

Clothes that should be hung up (so they don’t get wrinkled):

• Blazers, jackets
• Blouses, Shirts
• Dresses
• Skirts
• Avoid direct sunlight and place the clothesline in a wardrobe with a door or in a dark corner of the room.

Let us know if these few tips have helped you in the comments below