A key part of creating an ethical, sustainable wardrobe is how and where you buy your clothes. The other is caring for what you already have. Fast fashion asks you to add to your wardrobe, not knowing how to care for your clothes means you need to. Today I’m going to be sharing with you a comprehensive list of the best tips, tricks and ideas for making your clothes last longer, giving your closet longevity and that ethical edge. You don’t need to feel guilty for past fast fashion purchases, just make them worth their while as part of your new ethical lifestyle. This is a bit of a mega post as I’ve collected advice from all across the internet, but I’ve split it into sections to help ya out!
LAUNDRY
– Your clothes come with tags for a reason, and following those instructions properly can make your clothes go much further. If you have specific things you want to avoid (you have no time for hand washing for example) then make these tags part of your shopping routine going forward; you’re better off spending your money on clothes you know you can care for properly instead of ignoring care instructions and ruining them.
– Don’t wash your jeans. This is something that surprisingly few people know about, but it’s been discussed by many a publication AND the CEO of Levi’s, so you should probably listen. Now this applies to good quality denim jeans rather than hybrid fabric mixes, but if you’ve invested in a really good (raw) pair of jeans you want to leave them for at least 6 months before washing them. Spot clean them, hang them outside on a sunny/windy day or turn them inside out and shake, as washing them will break down the denim fibres and can cause shrinkage and damage.
-When it is time to clean go for natural products and specialist when needed; bleach and regular detergents contain harsh chemicals that are not the best for your clothes or you. For those aforementioned jeans or delicates such as cashmere go for Mr Black or Tangent GC (Mr Black also have a denim care spray for those months of not washing!). For regular laundry look for brands such as The Simply Co (USA) or Bio-D (UK). Bio-D have their own eco-friendly, chlorine free ‘bleach’ if you need some whitening too.
– Don’t dry clean. Dry cleaning is toxic, you can read my post on eco-friendly dry cleaners here, or you can wash some dry clean items at home.
Some other general laundry tips:
- Wash dark clothes inside-out to hold their colour
- Wash metal separately. Buttons and zips can become hot in the dryer, which can lead to scorching and melting on your other clothes. Wash clothing with metal components separately and never with delicate clothes.
- Wash your clothes less. The washing process is pretty tough on clothes, unless they’re visibly dirty you don’t need to wash your clothes after every time you wear them. See if you can extend washing to every other wear, or even few wears.
DRYING
– Check your settings. The heat from dryers can scorch clothes and cause shrinking and fading. A lot of dryers let you change temperature, timing and dryness. If you can, try lowering the heat so your clothes still come out a little damp. If not, dry for a little less time then hang your clothes to avoid shrinking. If you can and have the time, go fully for hang drying (in London this is basically a given anyway because who has a dryer here)
IRONING
– Too much heat can ruin fabrics, as well as causing accidental burning or yellowing. Go for a heat level that suits your fabric. Most irons have different levels for fabrics on their heat dial, but as a general rule:
- Linen: 230° C
- Cotton: 204° C
- Viscose/Rayon: 190° C
- Wool: 148° C
- Acrylic: 135° C
- Polyester: 148° C
- Silk: 148° C
- Acetate: 143° C
- Lycra/Spandex: 135° C
- Nylon: 135° F
STORING
– Fold heavy jumpers on shelves. Hanging heavier items such as wool can stretch them as they hang, stack them folded on a shelf to save space and keep their shape.
– Do up your buttons and zips. This stops items catching on each other while they’re store together, fasten up to help your items keep their shape and to avoid damaging your other clothes.
– Don’t overpack your wardrobe. Squishing everything together can result in wrinkling and fading fabrics, try and give your clothes some breathing room.
– Store in cool, dry places. Try and avoid humidity or moisture when you store clothes in order to avoid mould.
– Rotate your clothes. By rotating in your wardrobe you avoid wearing and washing certain clothes more than others. Put clean clothes to the back so the next items you grab will have been there longer. Eventually you’ll get back to the beginning, but your clothes will have had a little more space between wears/washes.
MENDING
– Learn basic repairs for your clothes to make them last longer and save money. There are a ton of resources and workshops out there to learn how to replace buttons and hems, but my favourite resource is definitely Love Your Clothes, they have tips for basically everything. Invest in a simple sewing kit (scissors, needles, thread) and check out their tutorials to get started. If you want more direct help, look for sewing/mending workshops and groups in your area, maybe you’ll stumble upon a new favourite hobby while you’re at it.
HYGIENE
It’s easy to overlook this one, but hygiene impacts your clothes too:
– Shower daily and wear proper underwear to protect clothes from body oils which attract bacteria and cause odour issues.
– Pick a good, natural deodorant. Most commercial deodorants/anti-perspirants contain aluminium which can turn clothes yellow and cause brittleness. Check out my deodorant diaries for some natural options (hint, a new one of these is coming very soon!)
– Do your hair and makeup before you get dressed, or wear a dressing gown over your clothes to avoid accidentally getting cosmetics on them, as these can both stain and fade garments. No more dropping lipstick on your white shirt.
– Avoid hair spray. I don’t use this anyway, but if you do either don’t spray with your clothes on or wrap a towel around your shoulders, as it’s a huge culprit when it comes to faded clothes.
– Wear an apron when you cook. Speaks for itself, but actually do it to avoid stains and grease.
– Get a shoe spray. Keep your shoes fresher for longer with a natural spray to eliminate odour and make your shoes last longer. I love Mr Black’s Shoe Refresh as it’s plant derived, biodegradable and lasts up to 500 uses.
How do you care for your clothes? Let me know if you have any top secrets I’ve missed here.
Until next time, stay magic y’all.
19 Comments
izabelsmeow
Thank you for the tips on avoiding dry cleaning!
And I’d add…
Dress shields for the underarms of delicate items. I used them when I was allergic to just about every deodorant and had to throw away a couple of silk blouses. Fresh sweat might not pong but it does stain and the stains can be very difficult or impossible to remove from some fabrics.
If something you really love gets damaged – small tears or burns, moth holes, etc – consider creative ways with patching or embroidery to keep it wearable and have something unique.
Make sure all woollen jackets/suits are dried gently and thoroughly before hanging up to avoid creases becoming permanent or smelling them like a damp dog.
Be mindful of impromptu walks along the beach as salt water can seriously damage leather shoes.
A steamer can be less harsh on garments than an iron.
Always, always check the temperature on the iron incase someone else has used it for linen before you want to use it for lawn.
Be one of these people who always has a handy carrier bag incase she has to sit on a wall or a public bench.
And I know this makes me sound like a grumpy old bag but be mindful of furry friends with claws and even cute children. Remember there’s a reason for “mummy clothes” and if you aren’t wearing them give the little dears a quick once over for chocolatey fingers and such like which can ruin some things and send others to the dry cleaner.
Gianni Francesco Cattaneo
Thanks for your suggestions,
taking care of our clothing and
buying products for long term
It is a basic point for sustainability.
Regards