10 Ways to Make your Clothes Last Longer

We all have that one favorite piece of clothing that we adore with all our hearts. We wear them all the time – whether it is a casual day out with our friends or a hectic day at work. Ergo, you might as well agree that some clothes are irreplaceable, and you just cannot find something like them anywhere. All the reasons why you wouldn’t like them to become old, ragged, and worn out with time.  

However, everything has to go through the test of time – even clothes. You have to make them last for them to stay the same.

But how would you do that? Well, sit back, and let me do the talking. 

10 ways to make your clothes last longer

1. Invest in high-quality clothes

It’s a no-brainer that cheap quality clothing wouldn’t stay until a few wears. Thus, invest in good quality clothing

that will last longer. (Would you skip fast fashion already?)

Some signs to recognize top-quality clothing.

• No see-through material
• No loose stitching and no threads pulling out.
• Well-working zippers and seals, and well-fitted buttons.
• Well-stitched lining.
• Material and pattern matching at the seams.
• Fabric – Silk, Nylon and leather can be high-quality. On the other hand, sheer fabrics are not.

2. Don’t wear the same clothes frequently, keep on rotating

The rule doesn’t change – A garment becomes less durable with every wear. Thus, the least you can do is not wear a fine piece of clothing – or your favorite one frequently. Switch around. Don’t wear the same garment more than once a week.

3. Separate your home clothes and outings clothes

Let me give you one more reason to be in your most comfy pajamas, and loose t-shirts while you are home –

to protect the clothes you wear outside. Ergo, make a rule for yourself – Every time you come back home, change into a different set of clothing.

Why? It’s simple. The more you wear it, the less they will last.

4. Store your clothing properly and with care

For in-season clothes, the rule is simple – Keep them properly, as in washed, and neatly folded or hung.

As for off-season clothes – meaning those you would not wear for months, keep them properly in a cabinet or under your bed drawers. You can even use breathable garment bags or plastic storage containers for storage.

Also, do make sure the clothes are dry and cleaned (don’t go by the look of them, they might look clean but they can still be unwashed, dirty, and full of odor)

5. Hand wash, and avoid dryers

Washing machines and dryers may make your lives easy but they may affect the life of your clothes for the

worst. Thus, for a delicate piece of clothing, always go for hand washing and line drying.

While you are at it, do not forget to check the washing instructions on the label of your clothes. Follow them strictly. If you can’t allow to hand wash and air dry, make sure to use the most gentle cycle on the dryer for your laundry to avoid any damage. 

6. Don’t over wash your clothes

You might like your clothes washed up and clean. You might as well think that by frequent washing, you are keeping the clothes clean to increase their life. But you are doing the opposite.

In fact, the more frequently you wash your clothes, the shorter their lives will be. Don’t wash clothes after every wear (some types are exceptions). Stick by this guide.

• Underwear, socks, under-shirts – After every wear
• Bras – After 3-4 wear
• Shirts and tops: After 1-2 wears
• Dress pants After 2-3 wears
• Jeans: After 4-5 wears
• Sweaters: Up to 6 wears, if worn with an undershirt; 1-2 wears without it
• Suits/blazers/casual jackets: After 5-6 wears
• Workout clothes: After every wear
• Sleepwear: After 2-3 wears
• Bed-sheets: Once a week
• Towels: After three uses

7. Attend to stains immediately

The longer you allow the stains to sit in, the deeper they set and dry. Consequently, it will become harder for

you to remove them. Thus, immediately wipe them out. If you are somewhere out find a wet napkin, or even better if you carry a stain-remover pen with you.

8. Use cold water

Too much hot water is damaging for your skin, hair, and clothing as well. I know you would be surprised, but it’s true. Your clothes would stay fine, and won’t shrink when using cold water in washing machines.

9. Attend to seams. pulls and holes immediately

If you keep wearing clothes with holes, or threads coming out, you will make them worse. Thus, attend to them at the earliest. Learning how to sew and repair clothes can be a blessing for you in this regard.

10. Take care of the clothes in the closet

I know you thought your job was done when you washed, ironed, and folded your clothes neatly before putting them properly in your closet. But no, something minute is still left – what the title is about.

So, here are a few tips for that.

• Keep your closet doors open; at least once or twice a week for good air circulation.
• Ensure that your closet is not stacked, and the clothes have space to breathe freely.
• The closet and clothes are both dry.

 

Now that you know how to make your clothes last longer, you can wear your favorites with no worries! And if you absolutely love something and want to wear it more than once a week, purchase it in multiples. In case you have some additional tips regarding the same content, feel free to drop them in the comment section.