Extend the life of your clothing and you’ll save money. How? Because your replacements costs of clothing will go down. Your clothes will look better and last longer.
Some of these tips are easy to do, while others can take just a little more time. I suggest the following if you don’t want to commit to treating all of your clothing with gentle care. You can always just used the more simple tips and save any tips that take extra time just for your very favorite or most expensive pieces.
Don’t Dump
How do you treat your dirty clothes? Do you dump them into a corner or a hamper and leave them there for a week or more? Oils and dirt in your clothing can break down the fibers of the material. Try and wash your clothes within a reasonable time of wearing them. In our family of five, I have to do at least one load a day to keep up. You’ll also have the added benefit of never having to face a mountain of wash on laundry day.
Rotating your clothing is another good way to keep it in shape. It will even the wear of your clothes and prevent the build up of dust on items that are forgotten in the back of the closet.
Wash and Dry
The way you wash and dry your clothing will affect its life span. While there are special detergents you can use for delicates, the truth is that your washer and dryer are the biggest enemies to your clothing.
In general, front loading washers are more gentle on clothing than are top loading washers. Hand washing tends to be the way to really preserve clothes. Line drying is so much better for your clothing than drying them in the dryer. You know all of that lint that comes off of your clothes? Lint is the result of the fibers breaking down and tearing. You never see lint coming off of line dried clothes, so line dry when you can.