Throwing away clothes

[AmberItsACertainty]

I have an internal dilemma.

My head says Think of the environment! When there's more holes than fabric then you can throw it away. Ok I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get the picture.

My heart says Hell no! I'm not walking around looking like a tramp, if it's faded, stained, lost its shape or become excessively bobbly then out it goes.

So, where do you draw the line?

Put into the clothing recycling bin? Wear it around the house?

I dont feel comfortable putting fabric into the bin, unless it's something small like some pants I normally put it aside in a bag until there is enough to go to the recycling bin

I think if it has loads of holes, stains etc, use it for cleaning. The thing is, recycling of textiles is pretty new. Many clothing banks will sell what they can then bulk up and send it to a developing country.

When it's no good for cleaning anymore in the bin it goes. You can't do any more with it.

By the bin, I meant the recycling bin.

I don't have wearing around the house clothes. I don't often go out. I don't dress for other people I dress for myself so there's no difference between what I wear on a going out day or a stay at home day.

I've tried using old clothes for cleaning but I don't find the fabric effective. Perhaps it would work for bucket of water and a cloth type cleaning, but I'm either using a scouring sponge or a cleaning spray and need cloths with some absorbency and substance to the fabric.

Maybe I haven't explained my original post very well. I was wondering at what point people discard their clothes. Not looking for tips on what to do with discarded clothes.

There's no shame in recycling worn out clothes when you have used everything possible for gardening/DIY/rags/dog basket.

The problem of today is most people have too many clothes they get tired of before
they are worn out, shrink them to oblivion tumble drying, or they are cheap and rubbish in the first place and soon deteriorate. That's the big waste.

Also depending on the item, repairs may be an option.

I use stained or slightly holey t-shirts for exercise or as extra pyjama tops. Long sleeved tops are used for cleaning or gardening. Socks get used for cleaning shoes. If jeans get ripped at the knee but are still decent enough at the bum area, I chop off & make shorts, & save any decent bit of the denim for patches (my DH is absolute hell on trousers!) We were glad of a bag of rags when we moved house last year (12 years of dirt behind cupboards - grim).

Anything DD has outgrown but is still in good condition, charity shop.

Ahh l see.

Clothing is about howletts present myself and my self esteem. I don't wear clothes with obvious staining in the house. A little hole that no one would notice is ok. Bobbles around the arm pit is ok, on the front, not. Like you l don't think it matters that you don't go out much. I wouldn't want to feel like a tramp.

How l not howletts 🙄

Sorry I sound grumpy today, I don't mean to! I am grateful for all your replies .

Yeh I don't repair either unless it's a favourite, because I buy fast fashion so what's the point in repairing it? I got a new heel on some favourite boots that were still quite new (6mths) and not worn out at all. The repair cost more than double the price of new boots. But I liked these ones a lot. Most things needing repair get binned.

Too many clothes, oh yes I'm a total shopaholic! That's what got me thinking about it. Because I'm trying unsuccessfully to have a clear out. I don't want to get rid of anything! It's not that I buy things and regret it, I like it all and I have plenty that's unworn. I just have too much stuff. I say oh no don't open the new stuff when you've so much old stuff left to wear. I still like the old stuff. Until it gets to the trampy stage, but then I feel guilty about ditching it!

Maybe my problem is I have too much unnecessary guilt? I've banned myself from buying anything else in 2021. I don't know. I can imagine dying an old woman and people clearing out my closet being mystified because it's half full of raggedy trampy things and half full of brand new with tags attached. Maybe this was a pointless thread.

Ok this thread isn't pointless I'm learning new stuff.

So the shrinkage thing is definitely the fault of the tumble dryer? I had wondered which machine was the culprit. These are the only clothes I'm ok getting rid of, because I can donate them to charity, because there's nothing wrong with them. These clothes which get mysteriously and minutely smaller and smaller each month until they're just too small. I get on the scales and nope, it's not me. I always line dry in summer to save energy but in winter it's not really possible except the odd day.

@LegoCaltrops I'm interested in how to clean shoes using socks. Do you mean instead of a sponge or is there some technique I don't know about? (Everything is clean but I am not a domestic goddess)

Maybe I'm too high maintenance? I don't spend hours in the bathroom and it takes me all of 5min to put on my makeup. But I can't even use worn out things for exercise or sleep. My pyjamas have to be cute even if nobody sees them. @LadyTiredWinterBottom2 has it right about self expression. I haven't thought about it being connected to self esteem. I did get nothing but hand me downs as a child though, so it could be.

Re: socks to clean shoes. Use them to clean the mud or winter grit off, with water. Grit will damage leather if left on, so needs cleaning off ASAP. Also, there's 2 types of polish - the thick wax type in a tin that you use with a pair of brushes, & the soft cream type in a tube that you apply with a sponge & then use a cloth to buff up. We have some of the soft stuff for DD's school shoes, I use dead socks for those. (Also we live rurally & she regularly comes home with her shoes in a disgraceful state.)

I don't buy fast fashion so maybe my clothes last longer. I don't buy many clothes. I do repair clothes unless it's absolutely worn out, very badly damaged, or I no longer like it. Used to be rather higher maintenance than I am now (close to zero TBH).

Maybe you don't want to let things go because there was a lot of re-use when you were a child?

But it is madness to wear worn out things when you have new in your wardrobe. Chuck it out. I expect it will feel quite cathartic.

Summer thoughts: If it's something I love, and/or I spent a bit of money on it, then I'll repair and wear till it's completely done. I try to buy decent quality fabrics so things don't wear out too quickly. If a wool jumper gets bobbly, I remove the bobbles and it's good as new. Some things look good 'worn' eg faded jeans or a linen or cotton shirt that's softened over time.

Some thoughts...not summer thoughts!!

Ok I'd imagined from the OP a frugal wardrobe of well worn classic clothes, sturdy patched corduroy trousers etc.

Sounds like you have an issue of shopping! Buying fast fashion is far worse for the environment than what you do with an ancient T shirt.

So the shrinkage thing is definitely the fault of the tumble dryer?
The tumble dryer is really hard on your clothes. It's better to let them hang dry.
A shopping ban sounds like a great idea, to detox from addictive fast fashion shopping. Don't feel bad about getting rid of old clothes, just make sure to buy less and better quality in the future.

I use a heated airer rather than the tumble dryer, which is for fast emergency and clearing a backlog only. I have an allotment, which I wear older clothes too, and a decorating set of clothes. I do not have too many clothes in each classification, despite the temptations to downgrade too much stuff. If there's wear in it, either charity shop, or their own rag man, having established they do have access to them. Quite happy to wear t shirts as pyjama tops, being too hot in bed in normal bottoms and often buying pyjama shorts as separates. As stuff wears out, I often don't replace stuff that I actually have far too much of.

I do need to change all my habits. I don't want to buy fast fashion any more. But having bought the current stuff it seems like a worse fault to throw it out unnecessarily. Seems like my definition of ready to throw out is different to other people's though, which I suspected it might be. It could be because of my childhood and my stingy parents yes. I had few luxuries growing up and I'm very anti waste now. Buying better quality and repairing as necessary seems like the way to go.

@LegoCaltrops thanks I'd not heard of the soft polish before. I'll try that.

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants thanks for the tip about the heated airer. I saw one for sale recently but wasn't sure if it would be any good.

@NotMeNoNo I'm usually frugal but clothes are my failing!

Op this is the problem though, fast fashion is so available and affordable that the huge majority of people just buy ‘stuff’ because they can. What we all need to do is stop worrying about the environment at the end point and start worrying about it at the point of purchase... is what I’m buying made ethically? Is what I’m buying made out of quality materials that will last and not need replacing in 6 months with more tat? Do I really need this? Do that and change your habits

Look up Justine Leconte on YouTube, she says buy clothes with intention of lasting at least 50 washes. That's a lot!

Clarks sell the shoe polish in tubes. It has a little sponge applicator thing at the end. TBH you can't buy a pair in there without them trying to sell you some. I'm sure the supermarket have similar too.

I don't buy fast fashion because it's almost all acrylic & polyester rubbish. It doesn't last as long to start with (often thinner fabrics), is far more difficult to mend, releases microplastics, makes you sweat more. Often the seams & general finish are poorer. I'd rather buy one decent, thick cotton t-shirt than half a dozen primark ones. I don't buy knitwear at all, any more, I make my own, from proper wool. When my jumpers are absolutely done & past any possibility of mending, I boil wash them, cut them up, roughly sew the edges & use them for cleaning/dishcloths.

@NotMeNoNo - I think Justine Leconte is fantastic. Funny, practical, lots of good advice.

I definitely think I'm keeping things too long then if 50 washes is considered a lot. If something was worn weekly that's not even a year. I've got stuff that's 10yrs old. I've spent the last month looking at a pair of slightly saggy at the knee, faded at the waistband joggers, trying to decide if they're sufficiently threadbare (about 30%) to bin them. Reading this thread I'm thinking it's a yes.

Sustainable fashion is what I want to get into. I've been reading about it and it makes sense. But over lockdown I've been worse than usual buying, this that and everything, feeling like we're in an apocalypse and the world has no future. Until I calmed down about that. So now I have far too much clothing versus wardrobe space.

I am actually feeling quite overwhelmed by my own clothes this year as I got out my winter clothes, big jumpers and thicker trousers etc. but so far it was not that cold to stop wearing thinner things. so I have had both sets hanging around taking up space. Also I am very prone to not being able to get rid of stuff, have also got pairs of worn , out, holey, bleach-stained jogging trousers over 20 years old and used for house work, not exercise. This week have actually bought a thicker smarter pair in the sales (also bigger size to fit properly) thinking I could actually wear them outside to exercise but have not even tried them on yet. I think my attitude stems from having few clothes but keeping things back for 'best', eg Christmas but not actually liking the clothes I wear everyday. Also hanging onto everything for dear life, I often look at younger people and think 'I've got shopping bags older than you'. And I have. Can I ask here if anyone else's guilty pleasure is the programme Dress To Impress? Are ripped jeans still in?

Also thanks for the inspiration, I have just offered a wearable pair of trainers on Freegle after hanging on for years in hopes my feet woul magically unbiggen themselves.

if it's faded, stained, lost its shape or become excessively bobbly

This is where you draw the line. Just recycle it, and buy as good a quality as you can so clothes last as long as they can

Sorry if someone had already posted. H and m offer a recycling programme. Unwearable clothes are recycled.even things not from them

hmgroup.com/sustainability/circular-and-climate-positive/recycling.html