We all have that adorable, beloved t-shirt or a sweater that we would like to never wear out! With busy lives and the convenience of fast-fashion, tossing our clothes into the washing machine and forgetting about it all is a pretty easy option. The reality is, with every wash you do and every drying hack that you forget, you are breaking down the fibers that make up your everyday clothes. 

By making small mindful decisions such as sorting clothes, washing only colors, using less detergent, air drying delicate clothing, you will be left with clothing that feels soft, looks bright and can withstand unlimited wear without thinning out or pilling too soon! Aside from looking sharp, these little changes can easily save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars every year and decrease our landfill footprint a little too!

Smart Washing Habits That Protect Your Clothes

A good wash cycle should have more in common with spa-day than boot camp. You want to treat your machine as if it is a delicate masseuse; you want it to work out the dirt, not the threads.

Before you commit to push start, consider this:

1 – Separate and organize your laundry by colour, fabric, and soil level: It is a good idea to keep darks, whites and heavily soiled items apart to avoid the dye from blacks transferring to your whites and to avoid uneven cleaning of loads of laundry. 

2 – The second factor is washing in cold: If possible, wash on the coldest water setting. When washing in cold, you will remove almost all stains associated with everyday wear, aid in reducing shrinkage, and protect bright colours.

3 – Be sure to measure your detergent (yes measure!): Using too much detergent can leave a residue on the clothing that can attract dirt; but using too little detergent will not clean the clothing properly. Always measure using the lines on the cap, or use the scoop of powdered detergent.

4 – Turn garments inside out: By doing this, you help to protect prints, embroidery, and delicate fibers from anything in the drum that could cause abrasion. 

5 – Select the gentle or delicate cycle for fancy fabric: Fabrics like silk, lace, and loosely knit sweaters will have longer life spans with an increased duration of the slow spin and reduced agitation.

Drying and Storage Tips That Prevent Damage

Heat and tension are natural enemies to longevity. If you stuff a delicate sweater in a hot dryer or hang a big knit, you’re setting yourself up for shoulder stretching, hem shrinking and fragile elastic. A little thoughtfulness can keep your garments fitting and feeling new. 

Here are some wise tips:

• Air-Dry Whenever Possible: Lay the delicates down on a clean bath towel or a drying rack so as to not stretch them or not keep their shape.
• Use and Abuse the Dryer: If you must tumble dry, use low heat or “air fluff”, and when they no longer are wet, take your items out to air dry for the rest of their dry time. 
• Hang Shirts on Wide Shouldered Hangers: Super thin hangers leave lines in your shoulders; the broad-shaped hanger for shirts mimic human shape.

These changes may add a few minutes to your laundry experience, but they are worthwhile in clothing that drapes and fits like it did at wear #100 as it did at #1.

Stain Removal Secrets Everyone Should Know

A variety of blunders occur, perhaps you get red wine on your white shirt, grass stains on your favorite jeans, or that fantastic coffee spill you incur while in a rush. Speed and knowledge about which remedies work and which don’t will tip the scale toward removing, rather than gaining, a permanent stain.

When stain time happens, grab your toolbox, and remember: blot, don’t rub. To remove most of the liquid, gently press a clean cloth or paper towel on the stain, rubbing just pushes against the stain, causing it to sink in deeper. 

And when you treat it, think about what your mess was: for a protein stain (blood and sweat), rinse under cold water first and then treat with a mild detergent; for oily stains (grease or makeup), absorb it with baking soda or cornstarch, sprinkle it on, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, brush it off, and launder; for tannin stains (coffee or tea), dampen with cold water and then treat with a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts water, wash; for home-made spot removers, here are two: 1) mix one teaspoon salt, one teaspoon clear dish soap, and two teaspoons white vinegar, apply to stain, watch it bubble for 5-10 minutes, then rinse; or spread a thick paste of baking soda on the stain, let it dry, brush it off, and launder as usual.

Please always pre-test any solution on a concealed seam, as natural materials can discolor dyes or finishes as well, and please continue to be patient with set-in stains by reapplying the treatment before drying, as heat will permanently set any residual discoloration.

Conclusion

Clothing is more than just a thing; it can express your personal fashion style and give you greater confidence and it’s on our bodies throughout our lives. Whether you are high fashion or a thrift store junky, you can help elongate the life of each of our favorite clothing by paying special care on how you wash them, take special care in drying and storing them, and taking special care in what you know about stains.

If you can extend the life of your clothing in this way, you will find yourself replacing clothes less often, and therefore having those funds available to be mindful of your purchases. You will also benefit the environment by reducing the strain of fast-fashion sourcing by using less water and avoiding the landfill. 

Clothing that you have well cared for fits well, retains shape, and their bold colours remain vibrant enough for you to always dress to impress. When you reach the highest or maximum end of the checklist, if you observe these steps and make them habitual, generally losing money and any inspiring desire to create on laundry day; will be a balanced, efficient, and low-waste ritual instead of a wasteful chore.