Sure, most of making your wardrobe last is buying high-quality pieces, but the other part is how well you look after them. Even the finest of fabrics will end up leaving you eventually if they’re not cared for properly.
But first things first, your floorobe has got to go.
Your clothes deserve better than to be thrown on the floor and trampled on. Now that we’ve agreed on that, here’s how you can spoil your clothes and get them to stick around for the long haul while saving some hard-earned cash.
Wash less
You don’t need to wash your clothes as much as you think you do. Most items of clothing can be worn 2-3 times before they need a wash, except for intimates (because yuck). Some even more than that, like jeans and jumpers, which can be pushed to 4-5 wears.
Turn your clothes inside out
The outside of your clothes are more prone to wear and tear, especially when in the washing machine. Turning them inside out when washing helps to protect the visible side from direct contact with detergent and rubbing against other garments, causing fading, pilling, and damage over time.
Plus, the inner side of clothes collects more sweat, body oils, and dirt. By turning them inside out they’ll get a more efficient clean, so you can wear your wardrobe staples for longer without odours lingering.
Treat wardrobe stains ASAP
The quicker you act, the more of a chance you’ll have at getting stains out. But notice how we said to treat them, you don’t have to wash the entire piece of clothing to get a stain out. Spot treating will do the trick.
In fact, it’s actually better to target the area directly instead of diluting a stain remover in the wash and hoping it’ll find it. You want a sure thing when it comes to stains, not leave it up to how tightly you cross your fingers. Try a natural stain remover like salt for wine spills, or a mixture of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda – test on an inconspicuous area first to ensure the fabric won’t be damaged or discoloured.
Zip up zips
Wondering where those sneaky snags come from? Unzipped zips, probably. As soon as they appear the countdown is on before we have to part ways with some of our most beloved clothes as they begin catching on every. Single. Thing. Save yourself the heartache and zip up those zips before you put them in the wash. This also helps to protect your zips from damage so you don’t have to get jiggy with your jeans.
Air dry when possible
Tumble drying always comes with a risk of shrinkage, no matter how well you think you know your tumble dryer. You never quite know how new clothes are going to react to that much heat, unless they tell you not to tumble dry, then definitely listen to the wise white label. Instead, air dry your clothes, keeping colours out of direct sunlight to avoid fading.
Steam instead of iron
Steaming your favourite wardrobe clothes to remove wrinkles is a much gentler way than ironing and reduces the risk of scorching and/or damaging delicate fabrics. If you don’t fancy splashing out on a steamer right now, try hanging them in the bathroom as you take a hot shower to soften wrinkles naturally.
Freeze your tights
Seriously. Soaking them in a bowl of water and then placing them in the freezer prevents them from laddering by contracting the fibres, making them stronger. Afterwards, let them thaw and see how much longer they last.
Protect your suedes
Suede items, such as shoes, bags, and jackets, are usually the first to go as they easily show signs of wear, even if you haven’t actually worn them that much or get caught in the rain just once. Toughen them up with a suede protectant spray.
Say bye to bobbles
You can still breathe life back into your bobbly clothes – don’t give up on them just yet! Grab a shaver and gently shave the bobbles off until it’s as good as new.
You can go to town on non-fragile fabrics, like wool and cotton, but for ones that aren’t so tough, such as cashmere, you’ll want to invest in a fabric shaver so you don’t do more harm than good.
