Clothing Care and Making Your Clothes Last Longer

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Importance of making your clothes last longer
There are plenty of reasons why it’s essential to help your clothes last as long as possible, as well as many benefits too. Sustainability: Used, old clothing often ends up in a landfill, which can cause harm to the environment. When your clothes last a long time, you’re keeping them out of the landfill and instead in your closet. Wearing your favorite items for a long time also reduces the need and desire to buy new clothing, which can be an easy way to practice sustainability.

Saving money: Not only is making your clothes last good for the environment, but it’s good for your wallet, too. Quality clothing isn’t cheap, and if it wears out too quickly, you’ll end up shelling out your hard-earned cash to buy more. Wear your clothes as long as possible to help you save money on new items needing replacement every month or every season.

Space-saving: The more clothes you buy, the more room they will take up in your closet. Keeping your clothing limited to a few key pieces will free up space for other things like shoes, linens, and handbags." Whether it’s your favorite wool coat or a pair of slacks, taking good care of your clothes will help them last longer. Quality clothing is an investment, so it’s essential to care for it properly to wear for a long time to come. This guide shows you how to care for a variety of different types of clothing. You’ll also learn a few laundry tips and tricks for ironing clothing correctly, washing machine cycles, hand washing tips, and how to care for delicate items. Drying, folding, and stain removal tips are also included, so you can practice good clothing care that will keep your favorite outfits fresh and in excellent condition well into the future. Importance of making your clothes last longer

Clothing is made from a wide variety of different materials. Here are some examples of the most commonly used materials to make your favorite clothes:

Cotton: Made from the cotton plant, this is one of the most popular clothing materials of all time. Cotton is soft to the touch, easy to clean, and highly breathable. Wear cotton clothing in the summer to keep you cool or alternately to add a layer of insulation in the winter.

Wool: This extremely thick, warm material comes from the fleece of sheep, alpaca, goats, and other animals. It’s often used to make winter clothing like gloves, hats, and sweaters. Aide from your favorite sweater, wool is also used to make area rugs, piano dampers, and other items.

Silk: This is considered one of the most luxurious clothing materials available; silk originates from Ancient China and comes from the cocoon of the mulberry silkworm. This thin, ultra-smooth, and semi-shiny material can be dyed any color and often make blouses and scarves.

Leather: Nothing says edgy like an excellent leather jacket. This material typically comes from cowhide but can come from a wide range of other animal species too. The supple feel of leather is pleasing to touch and is often used to make everything from pants and jackets to shoes and handbags.

Synthetic: The term synthetic refers to any clothing that comes from a manufacturer or factory. Synthetic material can range from any stretch fabric, spandex and rayon to nylon and polyester.

Denim: Your favorite pair of jeans are likely made from denim. This durable fabric comes from cotton made utilizing a twill weave to create diagonal ribbing. This ribbing is what separates denim from other materials like canvas.

Satin: Similar to silk in terms of looks, satin is a smooth, lustrous fabric that comes in a rainbow of brilliant colors. This unique material is made of fibers like nylon and polyester and often has a shiny front and a flat, matte back.

Cashmere: This luxurious and soft wool that is produced from the fine undercoat of the Cashmere goat is one of the is softest materials; cashmere has ultra-fine insulating hairs. Wash it with special care to avoid unwanted issues; with proper maintenance and care, the color, texture, and quality of the cashmere will last for more than a decade.

Here are some helpful laundry tips, so you can care for your favorite clothing the right way to help it last longer.

Laundry symbols: Also called clothing care symbols, these small pictures indicate the clothing maker’s suggestions for caring for the item correctly. These important symbols show you how to wash, dry, dry-clean, and iron all of your clothing per the unique recommendations. Understanding the meaning of these symbols makes it easier to ensure that you’re cleaning your clothes the correct way to extend their lifespan.

Reading labels and laundry symbols meaning: All clothing tags should include some laundry symbol or symbols to serve as a handy quick care guide. The washing symbol indicates whether the item should be machine or hand washed. It may also show whether the item should be dry cleaned or if dry cleaning should be avoided. Washing temperature symbols indicate whether the clothing should be washed between 65F and 85F, at temperatures of 105F max, or a hot cycle of 120F max.

Other symbols: Aside from the washing symbols on your clothing tags, there should also be symbols indicating the proper way to dry and iron the clothing. The symbols will indicate whether to dry the item and at what temperature. Another symbol indicating whether or not bleach should be used will be included, too. Finally, look for the ironing symbol that will show you if the article of clothing requires a clothes iron and, if so, at what temperature. Detergent and fabric softener

Using detergent and fabric softener the right way can extend the life of your clothing, too. Here are some washing machine tips and some dos and don’ts when using your laundry detergent and fabric softener.

Do

Fill the washing machine with water and detergent before you add your clothes. This will help the detergent and fabric softener dissolve properly.

Use detergents without added fragrance or colors if you have sensitive skin.

Choose wool dryer balls to soften your clothes without fragrance or a liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets for a subtle scent if you prefer.

Make sure you use the appropriate type of detergent for the clothing you wash. Some detergents are too harsh for delicates, like lingerie and undergarments.

Avoid using too much detergent to prevent leaving residue on your clothes.

Don’t

Use bleach on certain fabrics, particularly dark colors, unless you dilute it first.

Add too much detergent or fabric softener as it may weaken fibers or leave a film on your clothes.

Put liquid softener directly on top of your clothes, or it may damage them.

Leave your wet clothing in the washer for too long. Doing so may cause mold and mildew to build on your clothes and inside the machine.