Have you ever wondered how to extend the lifespan of your clothes? Extending the longevity of your clothing is inherently sustainable but not everyone knows how. Learning how to sustainably maintain of our clothing through the way we care for them, how frequently we wash them, and how we store each item away can be a fresh take on caring for the planet.
Wash Cold
For tip number one, we recommend washing your clothes cold. One of the main reasons garments get damaged by frequent washing is because of the high temperatures. Hotter water is much rougher on fabric materials, triggering fading, shrinkage, and the loss of microfibers. Further still, heating water uses an incredibly high percentage of the energy required to run a washing machine. So, washing your garments in cold water can protect the fabrics and save energy.
Look Carefully At The Care Instructions
To care for and maintain your garments efficiently, you need to know what fabrics you are dealing with. Remember, different materials have different care instructions, so you must look at your clothing labels before you purchase and wash them. This good habit can make you more mindful of what you are consuming, leading you to buy high-quality items instead of harmful fast fashion products. This method will also make sure that your garments are not shrunk or damaged by improper care.
Wash Less Frequently
One of the most vital tips for washing your clothes sustainably is to wash less frequently. Washing often washes your clothes out over time, causing people to throw their clothes away quickly. Many individuals only wear an item once before putting it in the washing basket, but you may want to reconsider the number of times you wear your clothes before washing them.
With the obvious exceptions of underwear and sweaty gym clothes, you might want to wear your clothes several times before putting them through a wash cycle. This will protect garment colors and fibers in the long run, making materials last longer.
Utilize Eco-Friendly Detergents
It’s time to purchase eco-friendly detergents to protect your skin, the oceans, and clothes. Traditional detergents contain harmful microplastics and other toxins that flow through washing machines directly into our oceans. This endangers marine wildlife. Furthermore, you may want to avoid using harmful fabric softeners. These trap odors in garments and have toxic chemicals that irritate our skin. So, you may want to consider purchasing natural, eco-friendly soaps instead.
Air Dry Your Garments
Air drying is better for both your garments and the environment. You can save yourself lots of energy that the dryer would have used up and keep your clothes from getting damaged at high temperatures.
In Conclusion
It’s evident that simple approaches have the power to positively or negatively impact our environment. Even a practice such as caring for your clothes correctly impacts our world. Taking a little extra time can not only expand the longevity of your clothing, but can reduce our negative footprint on the environment.
As buyers in this modern age, we don’t only have to be responsible for what garments we purchase in shops but also for how we approach caring for them afterward. Indeed, we have a colossal influence over the maintenance of our clothing through the way we care for them, how frequently we wash them, and how we store each item away.
Wash cold
For tip number one, we recommend washing your clothes cold. One of the main reasons garments get damaged by frequent washing is because of the high temperatures. Hotter water is much rougher on fabric materials, triggering fading, shrinkage, and the loss of microfibers. Further still, heating water uses an incredibly high percentage of the energy required to run a washing machine. So, washing your garments in cold water can protect the fabrics and save energy.
Look carefully at the care instructions
To care for and maintain your garments efficiently, you need to know what fabrics you are dealing with. Remember, different materials have different care instructions, so you must look at your clothing labels before you purchase and wash them. This good habit can make you more mindful of what you are consuming, leading you to buy high-quality items instead of harmful fast fashion products. This method will also make sure that your garments are not shrunk or damaged by improper care.
Wash less frequently
One of the most vital tips for washing your clothes sustainably is to wash less frequently. Washing often washes your clothes out over time, causing people to throw their clothes away quickly. Many individuals only wear an item once before putting it in the washing basket, but you may want to reconsider the number of times you wear your clothes before washing them.
With the obvious exceptions of underwear and sweaty gym clothes, you might want to wear your clothes several times before putting them through a wash cycle. This will protect garment colors and fibers in the long run, making materials last longer.
Utilize eco-friendly detergents
It’s time to purchase eco-friendly detergents to protect your skin, the oceans, and clothes. Traditional detergents contain harmful microplastics and other toxins that flow through washing machines directly into our oceans. This endangers marine wildlife. Furthermore, you may want to avoid using harmful fabric softeners. These trap odors in garments and have toxic chemicals that irritate our skin. So, you may want to consider purchasing natural, eco-friendly soaps instead.
Air dry your garments
Air drying is better for both your garments and the environment. You can save yourself lots of energy that the dryer would have used up and keep your clothes from getting damaged at high temperatures.
Key Takeaways
Firstly, it’s evident that simple approaches have the power to positively or negatively impact our environment. Even a practice such as caring for your clothes correctly impacts our world.
Secondly, businesses may benefit from promoting sustainable care practices. Consumers are constantly looking to better themselves sustainably, so companies could create a lot of profit by offering sustainable alternatives.
Finally, every individual can make a difference in our world. By taking on a fresh perspective of your laundry practices, you can make the planet a better place today!