Most of us replace our clothes before they’re worn out. We start browsing once the colours fade or the fabric weakens. These changes typically happen within three years.
Interestingly, there are things we can do to prolong the life of our clothes. This means you can stop your favourite outfits from showing signs of age! It also means you can save your cash for more important things.
Rotate Your Wardrobe
The less you wear your clothes, the longer they will last. You don’t need an excessive wardrobe to avoid wearing the same clothes too often. Instead, give your clothes rest throughout the week. For example, you might get two or three wears out of a pair of jeans before laundry day. Rather than wearing said jeans three consecutive days, do so over a longer period.
Store Your Clothes Properly
Seasonal apparel gets only a few months of use per year. How you store those clothes during the off season impacts their longevity.
- Avoid overfilling drawers
- Fold heavier items instead of hanging them to prevent stretching
- Button your buttons and zip up your zippers
- Refrain from using wire or plastic hangers
- Find a dry, cool place to prevent unwanted growth
- Use only breathable bags for clothing
Wash with Care
Harsh chemicals can harm clothing. Even products for stain removal and fabric care can cause damage when applied improperly.
For washing, always sort your clothing. Mixing materials can cause unnecessary wear-and-tear. For example, denim can scratch your delicates over time. Sorting also avoids colour bleeding and over/under washing. How soiled your clothing is should affect sorting just as much as the materials.
Quick tip! Regardless how you sort, always use a mesh bag for your delicates. Doing so prevents snagging during the cycle.
Know that drying can greatly reduce the lifespan of clothing. Heat fades, shrinks, stretches, and deteriorates fabric. Think about lint—that was once part of your clothes!
Like the washing machine, know which settings are ideal. Only use the machine if necessary, too. Hanging to dry is preferable in almost every case.
Read the Label on Your Clothing
Most manufacturers outline the best practices for wearing and cleaning the apparel. The label describes the ideal water temperature and other wash restrictions (i.e. “dry clean only”).
Use the label to sort your clothes, as mentioned above. Most people sort based on colours, but piling based on fabric composition is a smart idea as well.
Note also that the life expectancy of your clothing depends greatly on its quality. While some of us feel guilty over high price tags, the upfront cost might be well worth it! Read the label to see what your shirts and pants are made of — it matters!