Buying clothes can be expensive. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average American family spends around $1,700 annually. More so if they follow rapidly changing fashion trends or buy from expensive apparel brands.
Moreover, the fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world. About 15 million tons of used textile waste is generated in the United States alone every year.
If you want to save money or reduce your carbon footprint, taking better care of your clothes so you can wear them over and over again should be a priority. Here are some tips that can help prolong the lifespan of your clothes:
Trust the Professionals
If you want to preserve the quality or appearance of any item, you handle it with care. However, for most of us, there is barely any time to throw the laundry into the washing machine in between a full-time job and taking care of the kids.
Instead of doing everything on your own, turn to professionals for help. In Indianapolis, dry cleaners will take good care of your laundry and make sure that each piece will be washed and dried carefully. They will take care of stubborn stains and remove unwanted odors. When they are finished, your clothes will look as perfect as the day you have bought.
This way, not only will you be able to save some time to rest or pamper yourself, but you also can be assured that your clothes are being cleaned properly by experts.
Be Gentle
If you are doing your laundry on your own, your clothes will thank you if you use the least-harsh speed of your washing machine. Whether you are washing your cotton pajama or a fancy dress, a gentle cycle will reduce the wear and tear of your clothes. More durable textiles like your denim jeans can probably endure the normal setting without any problem.
When in doubt, read the label attached to your clothes. Most will indicate washing instructions such as use only cold water or hand wash only.
Turn Clothes Inside Out Before Throwing it into the Washer
One commonly overlooked tip is to turn your clothes inside out. This way, in case your clothes acquire little damages from the washing machine, it will be in the underside where it will not be visible. This simple but effective trick will let you wear your clothes over and over again.
Air Dry
Do not throw everything into the dryer. If you have the space, go old fashioned and let the sun dry your clothes. Using your dryer, which deploys warm air to remove moisture, may shrink some of your clothes.
Moreover, if you let your clothes dry outside, it will smell fresh and amazing. Tie a clothesline from your house to a nearby tree or buy yourself a collapsible drying rack.
Learn How to Sew
When you find a hole in a shirt or a sock, what do you do? In most cases, clothes that have been torn or has a hole can still be mended.
The best you can do to your finances and the environment is to learn how to sew. You do not need a sewing machine to be able to patch together a rip or a hole. All you need is a needle, a thread, and patience to make your clothes wearable again. Sewing will also be a useful skill when you want to resize an item of clothing to make it fit your body better.
Your clothes do not have to be new every year. You can save a lot of money and contribute to the fight against climate change by taking good care of your clothes.
