It’s always disheartening when your favourite garment loses its charm or becomes damaged. We’ve come up with 15 ways for you to ensure that you get the most of your clothes and keep wearing them for longer.
1. If your clothing becomes stained, always wash the stain out or wash the whole garment immediately. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to get the stain out of the fabric.
2. It may seem obvious but always remember to wash similar colours together. It is so easy to lose an odd sock in your white wash, so be sure to take care when dividing your colours.
3. Try to line dry your clothing as often as possible. Not only will it save energy, it will put less strain on your clothes and will therefore extend their life.
4. If you like that freshly tumble dried feel, put your clothes in the dryer for 5 minutes prior to hanging on the line. This will leave them feeling soft and will retain the washing powder smell.
5. Make sure you repair any holes or tears as soon as they happen. If you leave them longer they will only get worse and you may not be able to save them.
6. Reinforce any buttons or other fastenings before they become loose so that you don’t lose them and find yourself unable to replace them.
7. Store any delicate items like tights or underwear in separate bags to avoid snags from your drawers or cupboards.
8. Try to keep clothes in a clean, well ventilated area that’s free of any pests that may damage the fabric; such as moths. If you are unable to do this for all of your garments, try to do this for particularly old or special ones.
9. Hang clothes on wooden or cloth-covered hangers as metal ones can leave rust stains or even misshape them.
10. Try not to wear your clothes or shoes for 2 days in a row. Leave at least a day in between to give them time to breathe and restore.
11. When washing, it is essential to find out whether you use hard or soft water in your area as this will determine the amount of detergent you will need to use. Using too much may end up damaging your clothes over time.
12. Always fully dissolve detergent in the water before adding the garment you are hand washing. Also avoid soaking the garment and wringing it out when you have finished.
13. Avoid washing your garments too often as this can damage the fibres. Also try to wash them at 30 degrees to prolong their life and to be more eco-friendly.
14. Always follow the guidelines on the care label inside your garment, and don’t tumble dry any clothes that won’t be able to take it.
15. Give clothes away if you no longer need them as this will prolong their life and allow someone else to enjoy them.
