Top tips for taking care of your clothes sustainably

As a result of the rise of fast fashion, it’s estimated that around three-fifths of all clothing manufactured in the world ends up in landfills or incinerators within just one year of being made. This is largely due to their complex combinations of materials, fixtures, and accessories, making them difficult to recycle.

Rest assured, there are lots of easy steps you can take to do your bit in protecting the planet whilst ensuring your clothes look as good and last as long as possible.

Washing your clothes responsibly

It may seem simple, but certain items of clothing don’t need washing as much as you think they do. While sportswear and underwear must be washed after each use, items like jeans, jumpers and jackets can be washed after 3 to 10 wears dependent on the garment material. Reducing the number of washes will not only keep the garments in better condition but will also save energy.

Even if we stretch out the time between washes, at some point the need for a good clean is inevitable. So, when it’s time for a wash, it’s important to do so with care to help protect the quality of clothing. An easy way to do so is to pay attention to care labels. These let us know whether items can be ironed, need dry cleaning, as well as the optimum temperatures the clothing can withstand when washing.

If your washing machine has an eco-mode, make sure to use it. This setting uses less water and lower temperatures, reducing overall energy usage.

Air dry where possible

Machine dryers can accelerate the wear and tear of our clothing with high heat being harsh on the fabric, loosening elastics, causing colours to fade and of course causing potential shrinkage. Not to mention that the average machine dryer uses more energy than most other household appliances.

A simple solution to this is to invest in a drying rack, or if you live somewhere where the sun shines, a clothesline outside will do the job and will help maximise that fresh washing scent.

If you do find yourself using a machine dryer, don’t overstuff it. If there’s no room for warm air to circulate through the clothes as they tumble, the load will take far longer to dry - using even more energy in the process.

Retaining the quality of your clothes

If you’ve got a wardrobe bursting with colour, the last thing you want is to be faced with dull, colour-faded clothes post-wash. Make sure to separate lights and darks and for new items of clothing, consider handwashing on the first wash to make sure the colour doesn’t run.

Another simple hack to retain quality of your wardrobe is to turn clothing inside out before putting in the washing machine. This means the outside fabric, zips and buttons aren’t exposed to the brunt of the washing machine cycle - lengthening the life of your much-loved pieces.

Storing your vintage items with care

We’ve all got items that are too sentimental to donate or sell. Whether it’s your wedding dress, or your dad’s leather jacket from the 80s, it’s important that such items are stored with care so that the condition is retained for years to come.

Home storage can often expose these special pieces of clothing to excessive heat, cold or humidity, which can discolour fabrics. Our units offer a clean, damp-free environment to store your valuable clothing, ensuring it stays in perfect condition.

Use non-toxic washing products

Washing detergent made with synthetic cleaning agents and phosphates can be toxic to the environment when they eventually get into the soil and water supply. To avoid potentially damaging the eco-system, consider using an eco-friendly laundry detergent made with natural ingredients. These are biodegradable, meaning they break down faster and go back into the earth without the polluting effects that synthetic cleaning agents have.

What’s more, non-toxic washing detergents are kinder to your clothes. The absence of synthetic additives means your clothes aren’t being exposed to harsh chemicals. The naturally derived ingredients are less likely to cause fading so your clothes will look newer for longer.

Giving your clothes a second life

There’s nothing worse than when your treasured jumper catches on something, and that little unnoticeable hole soon becomes a large noticeable one. However, this doesn’t mean it needs to be chucked in the bin. Most clothing can be mended quickly, with slight damages only needing a simple thread and needle to complete the job. Plus, you can add personal touches to items, helping refresh your current wardrobe without buying new. If you’re unfamiliar with how to sew, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials that will take you through step-by-step.

Caring for our clothes doesn’t end when we stop wearing them. Part of the process is ensuring that we give them to a good home after we’re done using them. If the item is still in good condition, consider selling it as there are many re-sale apps where you can find a suitable buyer who will give the piece a new lease of life. Alternatively, there are plenty of charities such as Red Cross and Cancer Research UK that would be grateful for a clothes donation (within each Charity’s donation guidelines).

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