7 Ways to Make Your Clothes Last Longer

Keeping the clothes you have looking good is the best way to save on clothes. Here are 7 ways to make your clothes last longer.

There’s nothing worse than finding your favorite clothing items are on their last leg. You wonder what you could have done to save them or make them last longer in the first place. We spend hundreds of dollars a year on clothing so it stands to reason that making them last as long as possible is a goal we should all have in mind. If you want to keep your garments in the best shape ever, here are 6 ways to make your clothes last longer.

7 Ways to Make Your Clothes Last Longer

Follow the wash instructions exactly – Most of us don’t really read the washing instructions, but we should. Following the instructions will not only keep your clothes looking nice but also make them last longer. If it says ‘tumble dry low’, you really shouldn’t dry on heat or the fibers break down easier.

Learn to do some of your own repairs – Mending clothes is almost a lost art. However, it is an important skill that allows you to get more mileage out of your clothing. You don’t need amazing sewing skills to mend holes or replace buttons. Doing so can make a clothing item last a lot longer, though!

Turn clothing inside out and close zippers when washing – An open zipper in an invitation to ripped clothes because of the motion of the washer as it agitates. Additionally, turning clothes inside out reduces pilling on the visible side and keeps them looking nice.

Wash black clothing altogether– I try to wash all my dark clothing together to help with not experiencing fading. Dark clothes tend to have dye that comes out in wash water if they are new, too, so keeping them together helps your other clothes from picking up that dye.

Skip commercial fabric softeners – Fabric softeners can make our clothing seem softer and smell great, but they can also be incredibly damaging to clothing. Most fabric softeners leave a buildup on your clothing that doesn't allow them to breathe or get truly clean when you wash them.

Hang up items with the right hangers – Many of us just shove our clothing on hangers when in a hurry. This can be damaging them, especially if you are using those cheap plastic hangers. Instead, go for wood or velvet covered hangers that allow the fabric to hang naturally rather than stretching the necks, shoulders, and collars out.

Always sort laundry – Just like washing darks together is important, washing clothing that is similar is important. It allows you to keep them at their proper wash cycles and keep colors from becoming dull or faded.