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5 Ways to Make Your Clothes Last Longer

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Kristina ByasGuest Blogger
June 16, 2016 · 2.6k Views

There are a lot of things that people do for fun, and shopping is one of them. Every year, people spend hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars on clothes. They shop online, go into stores, and even pick up a few things from local rummage or yard sales. With so much being spent every year, it is surprising how careless people can be with their clothes. But if people realized just how much not knowing how to properly care for their clothes was costing them, they may think twice about the way they treat these items.

The next time you shop, shop quality items and remember these tips to make your clothes last longer. Find coupons and deals at some of our favorite retailers so you can get the most value for your wardrobe.

 

1. Wash jeans inside out.

Source: Bre Pea

Everyone has that one pair of jeans that they absolutely love to wear any chance they get. Sure, they make your butt look good, but all of this wear can be damaging to the appearance because you will have to wash this specific pair more frequently than the others you own. By now, everyone should know that washing your jeans too much can lead to fading. Washing them inside out is a great way to get your pants clean, prevent fading and allows you to enjoy your jeans a bit longer.

2. Switch out hangers.

Source: Something We Know

With all of the clothes you have purchased, they will need to be stored somewhere. Some of your clothes will go into a drawer, while others will be hung in the closet. Depending on how long the clothes are sitting in your closet, the type of hangers they are placed on, and the quality of these hangers, by the time you decide to throw on that blouse or sweater you haven't thought about in six months, you'll find that indentations from the hangers have been left in your clothes. Purchasing hangers that are strong and more appropriate for the specific item you are hanging can prevent hanger bumps.

3. Treat stains immediately.

Source: Samsung

Everyone has dropped a blob of sauce on their shirt, rubbed up against something wet or spilt coffee, juice, soda or tea on themselves at some point in their lives. Stains are going to happen, no matter how hard you try to avoid them. Although some may be quick to chuck their shirt into the garbage because of a spaghetti stain, this isn't something that they have to do. Should they tend to the stain and treat it immediately, they may be able to save their shirt and avoid spending money to purchase a new one.

4. Wear all of your clothes an equal amount.

Source: She Finds

One mistake that people make that has caused their clothes to last only a few months is that they are wearing certain items far too often. Whether it is a shirt, pair of pants, or just some socks, it needs to stop if you want to make your clothes last longer and go shopping less. If possible, try to wear all of the clothes in your wardrobe before washing them. This will allow you to keep your clothes in a better condition because they won't fade or be damaged by too much washing and drying.

5. Consider air drying.

Source: Huffington Post

Over time, clothes will fade and shrink as a result of all of the washing and drying that has been done. You may not be able to avoid washing your clothes, but you can avoid throwing them into the dryer. Air drying decreases the amount of fade and shrinkage that occurs when clothes are dried in a dryer, so this option is ideal when you are looking to make your clothes last a bit longer.

 

Shopping is exciting, and it is always nice to get new clothes, but if you're going to spend money on clothes, you might as well get as much wear as possible out of them before throwing them away or donating them. Even if you have the money to purchase all of the clothes you want from any retailer you choose, you could save significantly if you put in the work to properly care for them. No one wants to buy the same black tee shirt five times in one year, and with a little attention being paid to the way they care for their clothes, they won't have to.


 

kristinabyas profile picture
Kristina Byas is a Milwaukee native who has written for Female Intel, Shepherd Express, Scandalous Women and more. She suffers from a severe case of wanderlust and has difficulty purchasing items at full price. You can learn more about her by following her on Twitter: @KristinaByas