Perhaps you are washing or storing your clothes incorrectly.Here’s what you should do instead
Written by Emily Mee, Money Team
It’s certainly frustrating to find a hole in your favorite pair of jeans or a tear in your old jumper, but that doesn’t mean those items end up in the bin.
In fact, ethical fashion activists say that’s the last place your pieces should go. There’s usually a lot you can do to repair them or avoid damage in the first place. That way, you can keep your favorite pieces in your wardrobe for years to come.
Katrina Caspelich of Fair Fashion Campaign Remake shows you what you can do with her money blog…
Store your clothes better
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Please clean before storing. Always make sure your clothes are clean before storing them. Wash or dry clean according to the care instructions on the label. Stains and dirt can attract insects and cause the fabric to deteriorate over time.
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Use a ventilated storage container. Choose breathable storage containers such as cotton canvas bags or boxes instead of plastic boxes. This allows air circulation and prevents moisture build-up that can lead to mold.
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Avoid direct sunlight: Store clothing in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. Sunlight can cause fading and weaken the fabric’s fibers over time.
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Hang clothes properly: Invest in high-quality hangers that properly support your clothes. Use padded or wooden hangers for delicate items such as suits, dresses, and knits. Avoid using wire hangers as this may cause the clothes to lose their shape. Do not hang wet clothes on hangers. It may stretch.
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Use a garment bag. When storing formal or seasonal clothing for long periods of time, consider using garment bags to protect your items from dust, bugs, and moisture.
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Rotate your clothes: Rotate your wardrobe seasonally to avoid leaving clothes unused for long periods of time. This prevents the fabric from deteriorating and ensures that all items can be worn regularly.
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Avoid overcrowding: Don’t stuff your clothes in storage containers or closets. Overcrowding can cause fabric fibers to wrinkle, stretch, and warp. Leave some space between your clothes to allow air to circulate.
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Store your leather products properly. Store leather products in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Use padded hangers to maintain shape and avoid folding, as wrinkles can be permanent.
Does the way you wash your clothes make a difference?
Why is delicate washing gentle? For delicate fabrics, be sure to use cold to lukewarm water. (You don’t need boiling water unless you’re worried about germs or illnesses like COVID-19).
Pro tip: Be careful when wringing wet clothes. This can significantly change the shape of the garment.
Other options
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Let’s wash less dishes. The only clothes that should be washed once worn are underwear and sweaty clothes. Most regularly worn clothing can be worn 2-3 times before washing. Experts say that unless your denim has a bad habit of stretching, you can wash it after three or four wears and it will age better. You can also put it in the freezer to kill bacteria.
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Spot clean your clothes. To clean the spot, first remove any excess spill and blot as much moisture as possible with a paper towel or hand towel. Do not rub. Use stain remover or mild detergent only on soiled areas. Let it dry naturally or use cold air to speed up the process.
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Air dry. Hang your clothes outside to dry, Italian style. For heavy items that may stretch when hung, lay them flat on a surface to dry.
When should I dry clean?
Please read the care tag! Do not immediately comply with dry clean only tags on all clothing. Dry-cleaned wool, cotton, and polyester contain many chemicals. Moreover, many brands give such tags if they are not confident in their ability to properly and gently wash their clothes.
If they’re made of wool, linen, silk, cotton, or cashmere (which likely makes up a large part of your closet), these fabrics should be pre-treated with stains and left alone, just like laundry. As long as you wash it with a gentle hand wash, it can be used with gentle hand washing. Divided into groups determined by manufacture and color.
If you’re not 100% sure of the exact material of your garment, you can test a small spot under water in the sink to see if it causes a lot of fading, warping, or shrinking before you do everything .
If your clothing has fancy decorations, flocking, or glued-on beads, it’s best to take it to a dry cleaner instead of just spot cleaning it.
Pro tip: When you go to the dry cleaners, try asking for the following: Alternative proposal As opposed to perc, like liquid carbon dioxide cleaning, it uses pressurized carbon dioxide mixed with other gentle cleaning fluids. Another option is Wet cleaning methodsimilar to a regular washing machine, but uses special soaps and conditioners for a very gentle wash.
How do I know when a broken item can be repaired or when it can no longer be used?
It is important to constantly assess the extent of the damage. Small tears, missing buttons, frayed hems, or small stains can usually be repaired with basic sewing skills or by taking it to a tailor.
It is also important to consider the condition of the fabric. For example, if the fabric is in good condition apart from the damaged area, it may be worth repairing.
However, if the fabric is severely worn or faded in multiple places, it may not be possible to repair it. Additionally, some types of damage, such as large holes, extensive fraying, and irreparable stains, can render the garment unusable or make repairs less cost-effective.
Finally, it’s important to consider the emotional value of the item. If the piece has sentimental value or is of high quality, you may want to keep it and invest in repairing it.
If an item is no longer usable, it can be upcycled or reused. Get creative and turn items into something new. Ideas include turning old jeans into shorts, using fabric scraps for quilting and crafts, and turning his old T-shirts into rags.
Donating is also an option. If your clothing is still in decent condition despite the damage, consider donating it to a local charity or thrift store. Some organizations accept damaged clothing for recycling or reuse.
Finally, look for textile recycling programs in your area. Many communities have textile recycling centers or programs that accept old clothing, even if it’s damaged, and can recycle it into new textiles and other products.
What about shoes?
Just like clothing, shoes require proper care and maintenance to last a long time. Some ideas include rotating different shoes each day to allow each shoe to air out and recover its shape between wears.
Clean your shoes regularly to remove dust, dirt, and grime.
We also recommend applying a waterproof spray to protect your shoes from water, dirt, snow, and other environmental damage. As with clothing, it’s important to address signs of damage and wear as soon as possible, replacing worn soles, repairing loose stitching, and fixing damaged heels to prevent further deterioration. Be sure to consider taking your shoes to a professional shoe store for these routine repairs.
