What are your tips for keeping clothes in top condition for longer?

[Wavyheaded]

I'm trying to avoid fast fashion but can't afford to go very high end. So I want the clothes I have to last as long as possible. I've recently invested in a clothes steamer and a fabric shaver - both are great! - but wonder what else I can do?

(Some people always manage to look crisp and well cared for, whereas I tend towards the 'shabby' end )

I hand wash anything special in soap liquid or similar.. Bio detergent can be very damaging.

I find viscose always goes a bit limp whereas cotton holds its shape.

And don’t be tempted to wear things that are half a size too small because it puts stress on the seams & linings

I know exactly what you mean...

• Wash clothes on a cool quick wash.
• If tops have a zip wash inside out.
• Wash heavy clothes like jeans together never with lighter delicate load
• iron clothes inside out

Was cheap jumpers which say they can go in at 30C or 40C, on a wool wash. Treat them like they're expensive.

Basically lots of companies don't properly test the fabric. It can go in a normal wash and not shrink or change colour, but the fibres degrade quicker.

And don't leave them in the washing machine when it's done, get them out ASAP and dry flat if possible, if not, then over something wide so there's no line across the centre. and make sure there's no creases in the fabric as they're drying.

I don't tumble dry my clothes, or at least my favourite ones . Put on Airer instead.

Don't wash them too often
Don't tumble dry
Use net bags for delicates
Close fastenings before washing

Agree with snog, tumble dryers especially are the devil.
Also, check over and fix any wee repairs regularly.
Store carefully, don't cram stuff together if possible.

I wash lots of things (especially knitwear) on a delicates cycle, with an occasional hotter/more vigorous cycle every five or six washes to keep them properly fresh.

Don't wash them too often
Don't tumble dry
Use net bags for delicates
Close fastenings before washing

All of this. ^^

Also: respect care labels.
Spot clean if you can rather than washing the whole garment (e.g. if you splash a bit of tea on a clean top, just spot clean the mark don't put the whole top in the wash).
Wash on 30 where possible.
If you do need to tumble dry, tumble on the cool setting.
Use delicates wash for delicates.
Separate whites, darks and lights religiously.
Polish leather shoes regularly. It protects the leather as well as making the shoes look better.
Protect natural fibres from moths.
Hang delicate clothes (e.g. silk or cashmere) inside those bags you get from the dry cleaners to protect them against pulls in the wardrobe.
If black clothes fade, refresh them with Dylon machine dye.
Iron your clothes unless they really, really don't need it. Crumpled is not a good look.
Sew on any loose buttons etc quickly, before they come off and get lost.
Buy good quality second hand instead of poor quality new where possible.

Whilst I agree with the washing things on a delicate wash, recent research has shown that a delicate wash releases more micro plastics into the water. Maybe hand wash these items instead?

Wash things as infrequently as possible.

How does that happen @Nyon?

Sorry, when I said "delicates wash" I actually meant "delicates soap". I saw that report too! Here, @woodhill: Report

when taking off items that are not going to be washed/ cleaned often, eg heavy coat, jacket, do not put them immediately in a closet.
hang them, perhaps inside out, in an airy space, maybe near from door.
give time for any moisture to evaporate fully, before stashing away loosely, with cedar balls to deter moths.

Thanks

Whilst I agree with the washing things on a delicate wash, recent research has shown that a delicate wash releases more micro plastics into the water. Maybe hand wash these items instead?

I saw that report - and the photos: they were really shocking. It only applies to clothes with a plastic content, though, like polyester. (It's the greater volume of water in a delicates wash that's the culprit, apparently.)

My tips for making clothes last longer are already above - hand wash clothes that you care about; don't wash things any more often than you have to; refresh faded black clothes by re-dyeing them.

I tend to buy natural content fabrics where possible but it is difficult

Buy the most expensive clothes you can and have lots of them, you'll wear them less and so they will seem to last longer.

I'm only partially joking, DH only ever has 1 pair of trainers on the go for work at a time, he destroys them in a few months. Whereas I never wear shoes 2 days running, even when I was a penniless student I'd have at least 2 pairs on the go and alternate them. Leather shoes need time to breath and recover from being worn and last much longer if you give them rest days.

The other thing is to buy robust fabrics to begin with, e.g. with the best will in the world silk won't last as long as tweed. Get non-stretch jeans, thick cotton tshirts etc.

In relation to the release of tiny plastic particles from synthetic fabrics you can buy a bag called a GuppyFriend which apparently reduces it.

I would support everything already said... apart from undies and workout wear clothes don’t need to be washed after one wear ( unless you have the eating habits of a 2 year old). I get changed out of work clothes and air them near a window before returning to the drawers / wardrobe.( you can make a DIY frebreeze with bicarb, distilled water and essential oils but I’ve not tried it personally ) I have bought quite a lot of clothes second hand on eBay / Depop. I go for quality brands for tailoring and heavier weight trousers etc and spend less on summer clothes. I use a seamstress to ensure the fit is good even if the cost of the tailoring is greater than the cost of the item. I line dry wherever possible and iron clothes. My husband presses his suits using a pressing cloth to avoid shine. I use shoe polish which seems to have gone out of favour .... I’ve had a great deal of success in finding new shoes and boots in charity shops but I did completely transform a pair of oxblood boots with some polish. Get shoes reheeled / re-soled even though it’s a ball ache.

OP. I’m interested in your steamer.... is it good? Does it save time and is it a pain to store ?

Wow these are great tips, thanks. Love the idea of buying good second hand, rather than cheap new. Never really did the whole second hand thing, because I was brought up not to, but I'm gonna look into Depop.

I did not know that polyester contained plastic, seriously how ignorant am I.

Divebar: the steamer is a small inexpensive handheld one (www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07JFVWD88/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8 Similar size to an iron. So far, so good. It really does get creases out in seconds. I've used it on my coats and it's good for refreshing/deoderising clothes between washes. It've very easy to use, and much more gentle on fabrics than an iron is. You don't get that horrible shine. Apparently you can use it on any fabric too, though I'd be careful with silk etc.

Apparently you can also use it to clean tiles!

Always wash clothes inside out.

I hand wash a lot of clothes. I aim for a low spin on the washing machine. I never use a tumble dryer. Store jumpers inside out. Put clothes away after they are completely dry and ironed (if they need ironing). Some items needs a very quick iron just before putting them on because they still crease whilst in the wardrobe. I gravitate towards good quality fabrics.
Some of the above must work because Half of my clothes are 10-25 years old and still look like new.

If I want a shirt to look really good I use spray starch on the collar - it helps it to look sharper for longer. Otherwise, I do most of the things listed above and try to buy natural fibres, make small repairs when necessary etc.

I don't wash clothes to often.
When I do, always inside out.
Light clothes (tops, shirts ect) together, heavy clothes (jeans, jumpers ect) together.
I don't do long washes and no more than 40c in temperature.
I also don't use any fabric conditioners on my clothes.

Interesting about fabric conditioner. I never use it, don't like the feeling and my clothes tend to last pretty well. I also do a lot of the things mentioned already.