Caring for your clothes is an essential part of sustainability because laundering and storing them right extends their lifespan, reduces how much you’re spending on new clothes to replace them, and helps to reduce environmental issues such as microplastic pollution. Read on for the top questions we hear from readers, plus a clothing care tip guide to bookmark.
Why care for your clothing?
We all know the fashion industry carries a hefty environmental footprint. From systemic and supply issues to the treatment of animals and people, much work is needed to clean up our clothing production. And while it is the responsibility of the behemoth brands to reduce overproduction and the excessive marketing pushes to get us to buy, we as individual citizens and purchasers of clothing are also inherently woven into fashion’s footprint. There are big and small actions we can take to help the situation: some obvious, some subtle. One crucial part of the sustainability puzzle of our wardrobes is how to care for our clothes, since keeping them around for as long as possible is one of the best things we can do to reduce their impact.
Whether your clothes are new or secondhand, caring for them requires understanding, consideration, and time to ensure you have a good clothing maintenance routine. This is crucial to maximising and expanding the life of our garments, which will save some pennies as well.
Here are a few top questions we hear from readers, friends, and family about loving your clothes and making them last.
What are the best washing detergents to care for my clothes?
So often, we see harsh washing powders, bleaches, sprays, and other chemicals as our only option for washing our clothing, but these harsh chemicals can wear down the fibres of our clothes, make them more susceptible to holes, and fade their colour, let alone the environmental damage they cause. I maintain the quality of my clothing by using more environmentally aligned laundry products with fewer chemicals (avoiding plastic if you can).
There are many homemade, DIY options as well that are simple and fun to make, solely using items from your pantry. Stain remover and washing powder recipes are a great starting point. You can use a recycled jar and source ingredients from your local bulk foods store. And who says everything needs a load of washing to clean it? Spot cleaning can be the way to go when items aren’t really dirty and don’t need a full wash.
If your clothing is grouped by fabrics when you wash it, you should only have to do a few loads a week, and you can use the appropriate washing detergent for each variety. For example, delicates such as linen, hemp, and silk like liquid detergents and wool wash, whereas cottons and more durable fabrics tend to like powders or more heavy-duty products. Secondhand items specifically also do well in a delicate cycle, and if appropriate, in a delicates bag.
Be aware when washing synthetics that residual microfibres shed into waterways and are a serious pollution issue. A Guppyfriend bag is a great laundry companion to prevent most microfibres from releasing in your washing machine.
Does washing on colder cycles make my clothes last longer?
Yes, research suggests it can. Water temperature is important in how your clothes wear over time. Of course, heavily soiled items can’t always be washed on cold, but research by the University of Leeds found that quicker and colder washes result in garments releasing less dye, and slightly fewer microplastics, too. This means that by washing only with colder water you’re not only reducing your energy consumption and saving money, you’re also ensuring the colour isn’t lost too quickly from clothes, nor are they releasing dye chemicals into waterways.
Don’t forget another tool—washing less often. A huge contributor to clothes wearing out is how often and unnecessarily we wash them. Take jumpers, jeans, and undergarments such as bras—these can be worn a number of times before washing is called for. Simply air them out before storing them, and they are good for a few wears. This is the same in winter for other clothing items (as we generally sweat less) and also in summer for clothing we wear to the beach, which we have on only briefly before diving into the water. Take a moment to assess your garments before throwing them straight in the washing basket.
How should I dry my clothes to make them last longer?
The drying part of the caring equation may seem simple, but it is a crucial step. Drying using a clothes rack is the best way to keep your clothes fresh and ideal for extending the life of your clothing—not to mention it will reduce your footprint, as the dryer is one of the most energy-intensive appliances in the home. Remember to hang delicate and brightly dyed clothes inside out, so they don’t bleach from the sun. You should always dry knitwear flat to prevent the weight of the wet yarns from misshaping the garment.
How can I mend and maintain my clothes?
Darning holes or patching up areas where fabric is wearing thin can help extend a garment’s life for years. You can also re-dye colours that have faded or tie-dye if something has a stain. Fixing and upcycling a garment rather than tossing it not only saves you money but also allows you to get creative and view your old clothes from new angles, meaning you’re less likely to make those impulsive fast fashion buys. Darning a hole here and there is an excellent way to keep your clothing in circulation even longer. If darning or DIY tailoring is not quite top of your to-do list, then most local dry cleaners offer repair services at very competitive rates to make small changes such as hemming or patching. It’s a cheap and quick option that can reinvigorate and breathe new life into an old favourite.
How can I store my clothing to make it last longer?
Give your clothing good aeration; space between hangers, and drawers that aren’t stuffed to the brim can help avoid issues with mould or moths. Similarly, don’t leave items in plastic garment bags that aren’t breathable. Keep your clothes out of direct sunlight to avoid fading.
Another hot tip is to establish a capsule wardrobe and, at the end of each season, pack clean clothing items together in cotton storage bags (which are more ideal than vacuum sealing since it can damage certain materials). Store knitwear folded to ensure it doesn’t stretch on a hanger, and opt for sturdy wooden hangers instead of wire ones.
Fabric washing and care guide
Knowing the fibres that make up clothing can be complicated. You can find many different combinations on a care label at any one time—plant-based, animal-derived, synthetic, blended, organic, and much more. Positively, we are seeing a shift to more innovative alternatives over resource-intensive, traditional fabrics. TENCEL Lyocell, organic cotton, and hemp are a few to keep an eye out for. The care label on our clothing and accessories is the key starting point to caring for our clothes.
To be able to wear clothes until they are truly worn out, gauge what fabrics you are dealing with and understand the different washing detergents, wash cycles, and drying needs for each garment. For example, cotton, a pretty durable fabric, is washed differently from the more delicate silk. Begin to group your fabrics in similar bundles so you can effectively care for them. As a result, you will also have good oversight of the materials in your wardrobe, which can guide you when you next purchase new or secondhand to choose more sustainable fabrics.
Should you put leather in the washing machine? And how do you wash polyester? Save our quick tips on fibre and garment care to help make your clothes last for longer.
- Synthetics including polyester, nylon, and acrylic: Plastic-based synthetic fibres like polyester (the most used fibre in the world) shed microplastics when washed. You can minimise microplastic shedding by reducing the frequency of washing these materials, washing on a cooler temperature, and letting them air dry rather than in a tumble dryer.
- Cotton, linen, and other plant-based fibres: Wash on a cool, regular or gentle cycle with like colours, using liquid, plant-based detergents. Put delicate items in a pillowcase or laundry bag if needed.
- Wool, silk, and other animal fibres: Wash on a low temperature to avoid shrinkage and dry them naturally. Store animal-derived fibres with a good airflow to avoid mould and wear and tear, and read the care label for each item in detail.
- Knitwear: Most knitwear should be washed in lukewarm or cold water by hand and dried flat in the shade. Check what your knitwear is made from and refer to our notes on specific fibre care. Always store knitwear folded, not hanging, to avoid causing stretching and misshaping.
- Leather: Don’t put leather in the washing machine and spot clean where needed. If you’re looking to rid leather jacket linings of odours, some bicarbonate of soda may work, but be sure to keep it away from the leather. Use leather protection or conditioner when necessary (and test anything you use on a small, hidden patch first to ensure it’s compatible).
- Swimwear: Swimwear is often made from synthetic fibres using lots of elastane, so wash it infrequently to minimise microplastic shedding. Avoid exposing swimwear to high temperatures in the wash, dryer or iron, since this can cause elastane to lose its stretch and wear more quickly.
