How do you care for your clothes? It’s probably not something that we give much thought to, but it can play a huge role in determining the lifespan of an item. And when you’re seriously investing in an item, you want to make sure you get mileage out of it, and are able to enjoy that piece for years to come.
Wearing Everlane alpaca sweater, ASOS jeans, Boden flats, Charles & Keith bag, Thomas Sabo earrings (10% off with the code ‘JAMIE-LEE10’), Linjer watch, Orelia bracelet
I get ask about how I care for my clothing a lot over on my YouTube channel, so I thought today I’d share some of the methods I use to extend the life of my clothing and keep them in tip-top shape.
INVEST IN QUALITY
I talk about this all the time, but carefully selecting quality items is the easiest way to make your clothing last longer. This doesn’t always mean spending more either. Good quality comes at every price, it’s a matter of doing your due diligence before heading to the till. Hardier fabrics like cotton and linen will generally fare better than more delicate ones like silk, so that’s another thing to keep in mind. Check the seams are straight, make sure there are not loose threads, and that the buttons are well secured.
TREAT EACH ITEM WITH LOVE
My next tip is to treat each item with love and care. Properly storing your clothing items can go a long way to extending their lifespan. Knitwear in particular, is a big one. I have to admit, I cringe a little when I see people leaving their knitwear stored on a clothes hanger. This can have the effect of stretching out the shoulders, and misshaping the sweater, so it’s better to fold them neatly and store them on a shelf or in a drawer. Another thing I do is put away my clothing at the end of each day. I won’t leave it lying on the floor, instead I’ll put ‘soiled’ clothing in the wash basket, and anything I can re-wear back in the closet.
REPAIR & REWEAR
There’s a lot to be said for the art of repairing clothes, but it can breathe new life into a worn out favourite. A simple repair of a ripped seam, hole or missing button can be easily fixed with basic sewing skills. Anything more advanced – such as replacing a zipper – can be mended by a tailor for a small fee, all of which will help to extend the life of your clothes and make them last longer.
LAUNDER WHEN NEEDED
Something I try to do a lot is only launder my clothing when it needs it. Washing your clothing frequently – and before it really needs it – puts more stress on the fibres of your garment, and can cause them to wear more quickly. The same goes for dry-clean only items. These are cleaned through a process which uses chemicals to pick up the dirt from your garments, and over time this will show through wear on the item itself. If it hasn’t been stained, consider airing the piece out (outside or with a steamer) to freshen it up.
FOLLOW THE CARE INSTRUCTIONS
This might sound like a no-brainer, but take note of the care instructions. These are there to provide you with the best method of laundering your items, and going against the grain can sometimes have disastrous effects (yes, I’ve shrunk a sweater before..). While there are exceptions to the rule (such as cashmere, which can generally be hand-washed), it’s usually best to play it safe.
Do you have any other tips or tricks you use to make your clothes last longer?
I hang all of my nice knitwear and I need to change that since I’m tired of the shoulder marks!
Anything I own that goes through a gentle cycle on the wash is an automatic air dry for me. I hang or lay clothes flat and I swear it has helped immensely with the longevity of most items. Also, in regards to detergents, fabric softeners, etc., I always use a perfume and dye free detergent (here in the states we have Seventh Generation, Method, etc) and as a fabric softener, I skip the ones from the store since I found they weaken the fibers over time. To soften and deodorize at the same time, I use white vinegar in the rinse cycle. It doesn’t leave a vinegar smell, it’s gentle on the clothing, you get soft clothes and it works wonders on gym clothes to get that funky smell out.
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Folding knitwear makes all the difference! I use the konmari method mostly, otherwise I fold down the centre.
I am going to be giving that vinegar trick a go next time I have to wash our gym gear – thank you so much for the suggestion! 🙂
One tip is to wash your clothes in a washing bag. Not just the delicate ones, but all of them. This requires a big enough washing bag(s) to fit all the clothes (the reason I haven’t tested this yet myself), but it should protect the fabric from getting into the small holes of the drum and tearing it.
Some clothes I wash inside out to prevent the outside from wearing so much and faded denim I have successfully re-dyed with machine dyes (e.g. Dylon).
Fabric softeners weaken at least elastane and tumble drying damages all fibers.