Making Clothes Last

As the Editor-in-Chief of a Beauty and Fashion magazine, I recognize that clothes make the person. They have the ability to give your a confidence that you normally wouldn’t have. And let’s face it your wardrobe is a major investment. You spent time, energy and hard-earned money to select just the right pieces. You’ve got your favorites, but you like everything in your closet. Protect your investment by following these tips on making clothes last.

 

Proper Fit and Not Tossing Prematurely

We’ve all had those articles of clothes that we toss because they just don’t look right on us or they rip because they were too small for our frame. When buying jeans, keep in mind that the sizes truly fluctuate from brand to brand, so don’t feel committed to what you think “your size is” when, in actually, you should be wearing a larger pair of that particular make. Additionally, steer clear of any sort of “distressed” design, as this obviously makes them more susceptible to tearing. Another common culprit of turning on us is our footwear; buy your shoes at night when your foot is the largest, as this part of our body swells throughout the day. If you find that a pair of shoes are uncomfortable after a few hours of wearing them, don’t be so quick to toss them. For instance, you can place a bag of water in your shoes and place them in the freezer, allowing the amplified shape to stretch the fit. Often, we’ll wear a shoe to the point where it is rundown. If this is the case, go to a talented shoe repairmen or do at-home steps like get a rubber heel cap to protect the tip of the heel. If the inside of the sole is ripped, it’s easy to switch it; Naot at Footwear Etc. provides replacement footbeds that even provide essential arch support to make the pair perhaps even more comfortable than before.

 

There are everyday activities you can do as well to routinely breathe life into your favorite outfits.

 

Washing

•Reading the labels on your clothes could be the easiest way to make your clothes last longer. Those directions are there for a reason.

•Sort your dirty clothes. Sure, you sort into whites, gentle and darks; take it a step farther. Separate your loads by type of garment. Your heavy jeans could wreak havoc on your favorite dress shirt and the zipper on your hoodie could snag your favorite tee shirt. Wash denim with sturdier items such as sweatshirts and wash tee shirts with less sturdy articles such as dress shirts.

•Zip your zippers and unbutton your buttons. Unzipped zippers can cause snagging. Buttons that are done up can cause stress on the button and the buttonhole.

•Turn your clothes inside out for washing and for ironing. This will prevent pilling, keep your tee’s graphic vibrant and keep the color in your jeans and dress shirts.

•Use cold water. Most detergents are designed to work in all temperatures and you’ll save a lot of wear and tear on your fabrics – not to mention prevent shrinking – if you wash all your loads in cold water. It’s easier on the environment and on your clothing.

•Line dry. If you don’t have a clothesline, use a drying rack or hangers. Skipping the dry cycle not only saves energy, it saves your clothes.

•Don’t wash it if it’s not dirty. Unless visibly dirty, only wash your jeans after every 3-4 wears. Sweatshirts worn over tee shirts can be worn more than once. Pajamas probably don’t need washed after every wear.

 

Rotating

Do your favorite pieces get worn every week while other items hang in the back of your closet? Understandably, more wear equals more wear. A great method of rotating clothes is to add newly cleaned items to the back of the closet and choose your outfit from the front. An alternative is to make sure all of your hangers face the same direction. Once you wear and wash something, put the hanger around the back of the rod. Then, when all of the hangers are around the back of the rod, start at the front again.

 

Storage

The most important thing to remember when storing clothing is that insects will find any oil, dirt or food residue left on clothes.  Make sure your clothes are clean before storing. Choose a cool, dark place for storing your off-season clothing. Sunlight and extreme temperatures can cause fading and can destroy the fibers of fabric. Skip the dry cleaner plastic. The plastic doesn’t breathe and traps moisture, which can lead to mildew, odors and color changes. Instead, use cotton sheets or canvas garment bags, found at Casa.

 

Extra Tips

• Resist the impulse to spritz perfume or hairspray after you’re dressed. The alcohol in these liquids can stain or take the color out of fabric.

• Remember to take all pieces of a set to the dry cleaner every time. Even though the jacket might not need cleaning, extra wear could cause the pants to fade and you’d be left with a mismatched set.

•For an inexpensive fabric softener, try adding ½ – ¾ cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle. Don’t worry – it leaves no residue or scent.

•To bring back the color for your favorite black sweater or little black dress, try adding a cup of strong coffee or tea to the rinse cycle. It provides a great pick-me-up for your faded black garments.

•Wash undergarments in a pillow case to prevent tearing of lace or delicate fabrics, and to prevent straps from stretching.