One of the best things we can do to save the environment and our purses, is make what we have last longer.
Unfortunately, as a society we’re getting worse, not better at this.
Fifteen years ago people wore clothing 240 times before getting rid of it.
Nowadays that figure has halved to 120 times. One survey of UK women found that they wore their clothing an average of seven times before throwing it away.
It’s been estimated that we can reduce our carbon, water and waste footprints by 5 – 10 per cent if we extend the life of our clothing by just three months.
Here’s a list of ten things you can do to extend the life of your clothes.
1. Buy Quality items. Owning good quality clothing, and clothing made from natural fibres like cotton, linen and silk is one way to ensure your clothes will last longer. You might be thinking that you don’t want to spend a fortune on new high-quality clothing. As someone who works in a charity shop I can assure that most charity shops stock designer quality clothing made with natural fibres. Items can be picked up for as little as €1.
2. Air-dry your clothes. Tumble dryers can cause damage to your clothing by causing shrinking, stretching and pilling. It also requires electricity, which is expensive. Air dried clothing lasts longer than clothes that have been tumble dried.
3. Use environmentally-friendly washing products. These products are less harsh, are gentler on clothing, and on skin. They also help prevent fading and tearing.
4. Fold heavy items. Heavy items can get damaged on hangers, so fold or roll heavy items of clothing to avoid stretches and tears.
5.Wash clothing less. If possible, wash your clothes less often, or hang out to freshen up items rather than doing a full wash. The smell test is your friend here. If it smells dirty or looks dirty then wash it. If it doesn’t, then don’t. Each machine wash damages clothing but hand washing can extend the life of your clothes so hand wash instead where possible.
6. Use a delicates bag. Spare your lovely underwear from rips and stretching by keeping it safe in a delicates wash bag.
7. Turn the heat down. Change your setting on the washing machine and wash at a low heat. Less heat means less wear, and less cost to you.
8. Use less detergent. Ideally use an eco-friendly detergent. Most people use too much detergent, which can cause stiffness and dullness in fabrics. Reduce the amount you’re using by half and add in a little baking soda instead.
9. Keep moths at bay. Use cedarwood or lavender oil in your cupboards to keep the moths away from your clothing.
10. Ditch the fabric conditioner. Vinegar will do the same job for a fraction of the cost and is much gentler on clothing than fabric softener which often contains chemicals and can build up on fabrics over time.
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