Caring for clothes can be a tricky job, especially when it comes to our favorite outfits and expensive ones. We certainly take efforts to ensure our clothes stay in great condition, especially when it comes to getting them cleaned/ washed. We sincerely follow washing instructions and even get most new outfits dry-cleaned at a good laundry whenever needed. While we do everything to make our clothes look new, caring for every type of clothing is not the same. If we are not aware of the correct procedures, there’s always a chance of something going wrong. If you’ve experienced the heartbreak of seeing a great outfit get ruined since you were not aware of the correct procedure of washing/ cleaning it, here’s how you can prevent a similar disaster in the future. Take a look at five tips that’ll help you make your favorite clothes last really long:
- Wash Less!
Washing less is the most effective trick to make clothes last for ages. Although most garments eventually wear off and lose their sheen, washing clothes frequently hasten the decline in their quality. Experts recommend washing clothes infrequently and exploring alternative ways such as brushing dust off some fabrics like wool with a clothing brush. They also recommend hanging worn clothes in air instead of opting for tumble drying for fabrics like cotton, silk, linen, etc.
And when you do wash clothes, make sure you:
- use low heat and gentle fabric cleaners while washing
- avoid wrenching clothes excessively
- do not dry clothes in harsh sunlight
2. Invest in Good Quality Clothes
Purchasing well-made quality garments are very important to use them for a long time. However, it’s erroneous to assume that expensive clothes are always the best in quality. You need to check clothes carefully for quality before buying. If you notice that an outfit has excessively thin material, has loose threads, buttons, or snags, treat them as indicators of inferior quality do not buy it. On the flip side, wearing clothes several times may get monotonous and repetitive if you choose high-quality clothes. In that case, consider adding a few cheaper, trendier outfits that are in fad and don’t cost a fortune. It’ll be a great balancing act that’ll add variety to your wardrobe.
3. Get Premium Clothes Dry-cleaned from a Good Laundry
You can make your designer wear last longer by getting them dry-cleaned instead of washing them at home. Exposure to water can wreak havoc on the texture, color, or quality of the material. It’s better to get your best clothes cleaned in a good laundry like 24:Klen, the best laundry in Pune which is well-known for doing fabulous dry-cleaning jobs. Since we normally do not wear designer clothes very often, getting the services of a reputed laundry is highly recommended.
4. Minimize Contact of Clothes with Skin
Wearing a slip under your outfits lessens touching the latter with your skin. That means you wash or dry-clean them less as they remain fresher and do not gather sweat from the body. All you have to do is hang them in the air after changing and keep them away later.
- Learn Basic Mending Skills
If you really care for your clothes, you must learn to fix basic issues related to clothing all by yourself. Simple mending skills like stitching/ sewing, fixing buttons, replacing loose threads, trimming et al. should be known to you. Keep handy a simple sewing kit consisting of threads, needles, buttons, hooks, and pins which are a staple in any household. In case you’re not familiar with mending techniques, learn them from elders or on the Internet. That way you’ll be saving the money you pay to the tailor and also feel relaxed that you’re tending to them yourself.
Other simple hacks to make your clothes last long include:
Always reading up fabric care instructions on labels
Using water temperature as per the fabric
Using a mesh laundry bag when needed
Prevent moth damage by storing clothes in good cotton suit bags
Implement these hacks for your good clothes right away and see the difference!