When you’ve invested in high-quality clothing, good care can help them last longer. Ensuring the longevity of your garments saves you money and protects your investment. Preserving your clothes is also better for the environment. Instead of needing to throw out clothing, you can have a more sustainable wardrobe by making your clothes last for the long haul.
Read our clothing care guide below to learn how to care for clothes to keep them in great condition.
How to Make Your Clothes Last Longer
Here are a few clothing care tips you can put into practice to preserve your garments and have a sustainable wardrobe.
1. Treat Stains Immediately
It’s crucial to treat stains as soon as they happen to improve your chances of removing them. Use this simple stain remover to spot-treat stains on machine-washable garments before washing them:
- Wet a cloth with cold water.
- Place a drop of dishwashing detergent onto the cloth.
- If you can, place a cloth on the underside of the stain.
- Dab the stain with the wet cloth with the detergent to lift it from the garment. Avoid rubbing it so you don’t damage your fabric.
- Put your garment in the wash immediately. Let it soak in water overnight if it’s a tougher stain.
2. Prevent Moths
Moths can wreak havoc on clothing by creating holes or thinning out the fabric. To deter moths from your clothing, you can use cedar balls or stuff your clothing with lavender sachets that add a lovely scent.
3. Use Laundry Detergent Sparingly
You can wash most clothing using regular detergent, but be aware of how much detergent you use. Using too much detergent can cause soap build-up in your clothes. It’s also wise to choose unscented, natural detergents. Laundry products with heavy scents can leave residue on your clothes that deteriorate delicate fabrics.
4. Invest in Good Hangers
Using wire or plastic hangers can stretch your clothing. Invest in high-quality wooden or padded hangers to keep your garments in good condition. Slim fit hangers are also a great option as well as a space-saver in your closet.
5. Wash Clothes Inside Out
It’s wise to turn some articles of clothing inside out when you put them in the washer. This technique is especially true for dark clothing. Dark clothes tend to bleed color when washed, causing them to fade over time. Washing certain items inside out can help to slow down fading. lessen the effect.
Tips for Washing Your Clothes
Knowing proper laundry clothing care is one of the most important aspects of caring for clothes and ensuring longevity. Always pay attention to the clothing care label. If you need further guidance on how to wash specific kinds of clothes, check out the following tips:
- Jeans: Denim is a fabric that should be washed in cold water. Depending on soiling and stains, they might not need to be washed after each wear.
- Sweatpants and tops: If you wear these items to work out, they’ll need a wash. If you’re lounging at home, you can wash them after a few wears if no stains or soiling is present.
- Jackets, coats, and outerwear: Occasionally wearing your jackets and coats means they won’t need frequent washes. If you live in a colder climate and wear them throughout winter, you’ll need to wash them. Delicate outerwear, such as leather jackets and wool coats, will need dry cleaning.
- Underwear and swimwear: Always handwash your delicates and swimwear to preserve their elasticity. Fill a basin with cold water and use delicate detergent. Gently wash and hang up to dry. Soak your swimwear after every use —the chlorine and saltwater cause the fibers to break down over time.
- Bottoms: Depending on how often you rotate your pants, you can wash them twice and rewash them before putting them away at the end of the season.
- Activewear: It’s best to wash your activewear after every use to prevent a buildup of sweat and protect them from odors. Wash your activewear in cold water and allow it to air dry.
- Shirts and tops: You can wash some of your shirts and tops after every two or three uses. Stains from makeup and sweat can build up on the collar of shirts. If you notice a stain, wash your shirt immediately. Check again before ironing. If the shirt is still stained, rewash it.
It’s best to dry clean delicate materials like leather, suede, wool, and silk to keep them pristine and ensure they last.
How to Store Your Clothes for a Long Time
In order to maintain the quality of your clothes and ensure they last in storage, follow these tips on how to preserve clothing in storage:
1. Clean and Prepare Clothes
Even if you think an item is clean, washing your clothes and allowing them to dry thoroughly before storing them is best. Some stains dry clear and may give the illusion of a clean garment. When these stains are left untreated, they may cause permanent damage to a garment. Unwashed clothing can also develop mold and mildew and start to smell in storage. Residue from perfume or cologne and sweat can cause stains to appear over time. Any food stains will also attract pests.
2. Choose the Right Containers
Cardboard boxes are easy for pests to chew through and are vulnerable to water damage. They also contain acid which can discolor fabric. Using plastic containers with locks is best to protect your clothes from moisture and pests. Avoid airtight containers, as clothes need airflow that allows them to breathe.
3. Avoid Vacuuming
While you may think vacuuming your clothes will save space, it does more damage. Clothes need air circulation to ensure longevity. Removing the air will cause the fibers to deteriorate over time and create permanent creases. Lightly pack your clothes and place heavier items at the bottom so that they can breathe.
4. Store in a Cool, Dry Place
When choosing a place to store your clothes, choose a dry and dark space. It must have good air circulation and a cool temperature with no direct sunlight. If some light does enter the room, opt for opaque containers instead of transparent ones. Because your containers won’t be airtight, the air quality in the space is also important. For example, clothes stored in a musty basement will come out smelling the same.
5. Air Out Clothing Once a Year
Taking your stored clothes out once a year will allow them to breathe. Hang them out for a few hours, ensuring they don’t get dirty. When you put them away, fold them differently so that the creases don’t set and cause the fabric to deteriorate.
Trust Classic Dry Cleaners With Your Clothes
At Classic Drycleaners, we offer exceptional and professional dry cleaning and laundry services in the Greater Harrisburg Area. With experience dating back to 1970, you can trust us with your most delicate fabrics. We’re the only dry cleaner in Central PA that provides professional care for suede and leather garments. Our free pickup and delivery is a convenient service that we offer twice a week, even when you aren’t home.
Take the best care of your clothes, and contact us today to learn more about our services.