8 Eco-Friendly Laundry Tips for Longer Lasting Clothes

Making clothes last longer is the first step towards a responsible and sustainable wardrobe, for eco-conscious fashion lovers. It saves us time and money and reduces our consumption, which helps to limit our carbon footprint. There are a lot of things we can do to keep our precious designer pieces looking new and fresh. Use  these great tips in our ultimate guide to make your clothes last longer. 

Opt for Quality Pieces

If you had to choose between a $300 jacket to last you several seasons and 5 new $100 jackets per season, which option would you go for? Higher quality items are not only better for the planet, animals & people,  they will last longer thanks to superior materials and construction.

Follow Instructions When Washing

Putting a wash on without a complete load will waste water, while cramming the whole closet in and overfilling the cycle isn't ideal for your clothing; your items will not wash well, and they're likely to brush against each other, causing fading and damage. Washing on cold is one way to avoid fading. Another trick to avoid fade is to wash in the rain.

Use A Bag for Your Delicates

There's no need to learn this the hard way. Invest in a few delicates bags that will help maintain the lifespan of your intimates and prevent having your delicate garments or  underwear rip in the washing machine. 

Use a Drying Rack or Clothesline 

The sun does a much better job drying your clothes than your energy-consuming dryer, if it’s not drizzling outside. Apart from being kinder on your energy bill, using a drying rack or clothesline will prevent overheating and the ability to shrink clothes in the dryer.

Limit the Amount of Detergent

Apart from being detrimental to the climate, a large quantity of detergent will potentially render the clothing more stiff and dull. Instead, using 1⁄2 of the recommended volume of detergent and 1⁄2 cup of baking soda, which serves as a detergent booster. This should render your laundry as clean as normal detergents and help you reduce your home footprint as well!

Fold Up & Store Heavy Sweaters

This sounds very straightforward, and it can actually make a huge difference. If you hang heavy sweaters, the fabric will tend to stretch and you'll be faced with a miserable, droopy jacket that you won't want to wear. A lovely extra tip: store your sweaters with lavender, bay leaves or cedar wood scraps in summer to prevent mole holes by the time Winter arrives!

Store in a Dry and Cool Environment

Clothes are much like us— they don't like to be locked in small spaces and are susceptible to over-exposure to light. Avoid keeping your clothing in areas like your bathroom or a moldy attic where bacteria will develop and damage them.

By allowing them some breathing space in your closet, you'll also prevent wrinkles and colour fading away from dress brushing against each other.