Excessive laundering can be tough on clothing. To make clothing last longer, doing just a few things differently in the laundry room can make a big difference. You can make clothing last longer by using the gentle cycle or hand-washing items, turning garments inside out before washing, using a non-bleaching detergent and removing stains immediately.
A stain removing product should be worked gently into any spills on clothing as soon as possible. Usually the stain remover should be left to sit for up to an hour before laundering. It’s important not to place the washed garment in the dryer unless you’re absolutely sure the stain is totally gone because the heat of the dryer could set any stain remaining and make it permanent. The best idea after washing the garment is to let it air dry. Then, if the stain remains, you still have a chance at using the stain remover again, or trying another stain removing product.
Many detergents remove dye along with dirt, so be careful not to use too much soap on clothing you want to last longer. Turning garments inside out before washing may help fading and does help logo printed clothing last longer. Try to use a milder detergent when possible, especially on delicate items.
Delicate items are usually hand-washed or washed in the gentle cycle of the washing machine, but you can do that with any item of clothing that you want to extend the life of. Gentle washing can reduce the pilling, or small fabric balls that form on some textiles after they’re exposed to a lot of machine washing. If you want your clothing to last longer, you should buy the best quality that you can afford.
Dark denim jeans are a popular item of clothing that many people want to last longer. Detergent and rigorous machine washing in hot water can fade dark jeans before their time. If you have dark denim pieces such as jeans, shirts or jackets, you can make this clothing last longer by turning the items inside out and washing them in cold water on the gentle setting. Rather than putting them in the dryer, turn the dark denim items right-side out and hang to dry. To make children’s jeans and pants last longer, sew patches inside the knees at the first sign that the fabric is starting to wear out.