How To Make Your Clothing Last Longer
It’s important to remember that proper care can make a big difference in your clothes maintaining their shape, color, and texture for the long haul. If you have invested in higher quality, staple pieces to round out those trendy less expensive picks, than you need to follow these tips to ensure your hard earned dollars aren’t wasted. Now let’s find out how to make your clothing last longer.
These are all simple tips, ones that you can add to your garment care routine. A few extra minutes can result in your clothing lasting longer and in the end saves you money. Now who wouldn’t want that?
Side note, the pictures I chose have nothing to do with the tips, just some awesome street style this Spring!
8 Tips on How to Make Your Clothing Last Longer
1. Refresh your clothes with a dye bath
If you wear a lot of black (ahem Clarissa!), you may start to notice the slow fade that happens with this fabric color. When blacks are starting to look a little less bold, a simple dye bath is the quickest and easiest way to refresh than replacing that piece.
2. Invest in good hangers
Soft, velvety thin hangers can make all the difference. They’re also way easier on clothing fabric than those horrible wire hangers.
3. Go easy on the dry cleaning
Not only is dry cleaning expensive, but the harsh chemicals from the dry cleaning process can damage fabrics. It’s unnecessary to dry clean after just one use. A good rule of thumb is to dry clean every three to four wears to keep clothes clean and in good shape.
Just need to de-wrinkle? Purchase a handheld steamer or hang it in your bathroom when you’re taking a shower for a natural steam. Stained garment? Before heading to the dry cleaner, check the tags and launder it then steamed without starch, if the fabric allows it.
TIP: Deodorant stains on one of your favorite white t-shirts? Try Raise, a specially formulated treatment that helps to remove yellow armpit stains.
4. Zip up all Zippers
Little snags and tiny tears usually start inside the washing machine. The culprit? Unzipped zippers. Zip everything up! Jeans, jackets and dress all need to be zipped up prior to adding them to the wash. This ensures they don’t snag everything else in the load. I can’t tell you how many times this used to happen to me, ruining sweaters or other t-shirts.
5. Waterproof special fabric
Protect special fabrics like suede and leather with fabric waterproof. I always spray my shoes, jackets and bags before wearing them.
6. Stuff your shoes, boots and bags
Maintain the shape of accessories by stuffing them with old newspaper or tissue paper when not in use. Not only will it keep the shape, but it will force you to clean out the purse before you switch bags. I stuff all of mine, Curtis thinks I’m crazy!, but it is so worth it when you spend money on nice pieces. You can also get boot and shoe shapers to keep the shape.
7. Separate clothes before washing into categories
Take care when washing your clothes. Make sure to read the labels and wash in the right temperature.
You can do this by washing in cold water with less detergent; separating your delicates from linens and turn shirts with graphics and other fabrics (like denim) inside out to avoid fading. The extra time will make a big difference in the lifecycle of your clothing.
Try washing your denim every four to six wears and letting them hang in a closet to air out between uses.
8. Freeze tights to keep them from running
Run a new pair of tights under water and squeeze out the excess. Then, place them in a plastic bag and let them freeze overnight. Let them come to room temperature naturally and voila! They should now be more resistant to snags and tears. You can put that clear nail polish back in the cupboard!
I didn’t know that you can freeze tights! Thanks for that tip! I will try this out for sure!
Why did I never think about stuffing my shoes ?? And also the hanger thing is real specially if you have knitted sweater and things like that 🙂
Wait freeze tights?! I never thought of that, might try it today. Thanks for tips gurl. x
I never zip the zippers – just throw the jeans and jackets like that 🙁
These tips are so useful. The last point about tights is something I completely unawre. Thanks for sharing this post.
Never knew of these tips…I’m going to have to try them! Thanx 😊
Awesome Tips, I definitely need to start doing these.
These are really great tips! I need to remember to stuff my shoes and bags!
Great tips, the one that amazed me the most was number 8, I did not know you could do that to improve stockings.
Essential reminders and new ideas. Thanks!
I never thought to refresh black. That’s an awesome idea!
These are great tips! I’m familiar with the hangers and the zippers, but the dye bath is a new one!
I’ve never heard of the freezing technique for hose. I’ll have to try that! I’m terrible with my laundry habits, but I do have some items in my closet that I still wear from high school! Yes, some things in my closet are 15-20 years old! I’m definitely going to start zipping my zippers before wash, though,
Get ideas! Some I knew… some are new! Thanks for sharing
I love the idea of washing blacks with a dye wash – I need to look into that some of my favorite black t’s and leggings are totally fading but in good shape otherwise!
worst thing about black clothes, i hate the fade.
These are some great tips! I would love to read about how to die your clothes to refresh them! I didn’t know you could freeze pantyhose to keep them from running. That would have saved me so much money in the past!
Oh my God! Leslie, these are mindblowing, you are awesome. The freezing one is really Strange.
I have been debating on refreshing the dye on my blacks. These are all great tips that I need to start taking into consideration.
I love #8 Freeze Your Tights! I’ve never heard that before. I’m going to try that. So tired of my tights only lasting one wear.
I had no idea about the hose and the freezing. I am so trying that! I’m also going to get better about zippers.
This is all grat advice. I steer clear of the dryer most of the time, it destroys fabric.
Great tips! I also avoid putting clothes in the dryer by hanging them. I love the tights in freezer tip!
Love the tights tip. I have never heard of that!
Good reminder on the laundry tips.
Not bad! I definitely do the whole newspaper filler, ha ha! But it totally works! Thanks for sharing.
xo,
Suz
http://www.suzannespiegoski.com
Wow! All of these are amazing tips — I had no idea that unzipped zippers cause snags, or that wire hangers are bad for your clothes. And that tight hack is genius…I’m doing that to all my tights now!
Emma | http://www.creativexplorations.com
Freeze thights!?!? I’m trying this! Thanks so much for the tip! Awesome post
I did not know about the zipper thing, but it makes sense. I line dry or air dry all my clothes, and that has helped them last as well.
Okay so that zipper tip and freezing tights tip…AMAZING. I never thought about the zipper being the reason my soft cardigans were becoming snagged. And I’ve heard of freezing your tights before, but now that I’ve seen a couple of people recommending it, I’m definitely going to try it, thanks!
Loved the tips! So useful! Thank you for sharing 🙂
<3: Jasmin N | littlethingswithjassy.blogspot.fi
Thanks for this!!!!! I suck at keeping my clothes in good shape!!!
Oh my gosh, I love that tip about freezing tights! With my kids always climbing all over me my tights tend to snag easily, I can’t wait to try this! That’s also smart about the unzipped zippers, I never thought about that before. thanks so much!
thanks justine! so glad you found it useful 🙂
Some great ideas – As of right now, one of my best pairs of work jeans is about to get thrown in the “retired” pile. Thanks for sharing!
I just wanted to drop a note and invite you to come join us at Sunday’s Simple Homemaker Link-Up. Would love to have you link-up!! http://www.prairiegalcookin.com/sundays-simple-homemaker-5th-weekly-link-up/
thanks! sorry i missed this was on vacation.