HOW TO MAKE YOUR CLOTHES LAST LONGER

Preserving your clothes will save you money in the long run. We have some tips to help you make your clothes last longer.

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STYLE YOUR HAIR BEFORE YOU GET DRESSED
Did you know that hairspray can fade your clothes? Some products contain oxidising agents that may eventually cause colour loss on fabrics. You may not notice these stains at first, because these styling products often are colourless when the solution makes contact but the discolouration is sped up by the heat of cleaning and ironing, and may become noticeable over time. So it’s best to style your hair before getting dressed to prevent getting hairspray on your clothes.

LET YOUR DEODORANT DRY FIRST
Most antiperspirants contain aluminium, which can turn your clothes yellow or make it brittle in the armpit-area. Wait until your deodorant is completely dry before you get dressed.

LEARN BASIC SEWING SKILLS
Learning how to replace a button or sew a loose thread can save your clothes – and your pocket – in the long run. If you don’t know how to do this, there are so many easy tutorials on YouTube to help you!

DYE FADED CLOTHES
So your favourite black jeans have gone grey? Don’t worry, you can save them with clothing dye! Simply add it to your sink or a bucket, add water, and follow the package directions for getting the best colour. If you’re too scared to do it yourself, you can also take it to a laundromat. Most laundromats offer it as a service and it’s not too expensive.

STORE YOUR CLOTHES CORRECTLY
The way you store your clothes can make them last longer. Follow these tips to keep your clothes looking as good as new!

• Fold your sweaters to help them maintain their shape. Heavy garments such as wool sweaters can stretch out when you hang them. 
• Zip up your jackets before hanging them in your closet, this will prevent the zip from catching on other clothes.
• Invest in good hangers if you can. Wire and plastic hangers can stretch out the shoulders of your garments, while wood hangers can help them keep their shape. 

HOW TO WASH YOUR CLOTHES
Whether you wash your family’s clothing by hand or machine, it’s important to take care when doing laundry. Before sorting your clothes, make sure you read the wash-care label on each garment to check what could damage the fabric. Some garments only have symbols on the wash-care labels, which could be hard to figure out. See the guide below to help you!



Avoid colour stains by sorting your clothes before every wash. Sort it by fabrics first and then by colour. Heavier fabrics such as denim need a longer cycle than delicate fabrics such as chiffon or lycra. Remember to separate light colours from dark colours next.

WASH CARE TIPS

• Turn garments inside-out before washing and drying them, to keep colours bright and avoid that washed out look.
• To prevent product stains, don’t put washing powder or fabric softener directly onto clothing.
• Hang clothing out to dry immediately after washing, to avoid mildew and damp odours.
• Fold clothes as soon as possible after tumble-drying to limit creasing.