Laundry & Dry Cleaning: How to Make Your Clothes Last Longer

As we embrace a greener lifestyle, we are all looking for ways to become more sustainable in fashion—the way we shop, in general. It’s great that more and more brands are adopting more ethical processes and working with materials that make the clothes we buy friendlier to the environment.

However, probably the easiest and most sensible way to make a change to your shopping habits and build a sustainable wardrobe is by making the clothes you already have last longer. Whether it’s not washing your clothing properly, not addressing stains immediately, or the sloppy way you store your clothes, sometimes, all it takes to reduce your cost per wear is giving your garments a little more love. For the same reason of extending the life of your clothes, you can also use dry cleaning services in Singapore. 

Why Is Proper Washing of Clothes Necessary?

Investing in quality clothes that are built to last is one thing—but making a conscious effort to make them endure years of wear is another. It involves the proper washing of your clothes using a quality product from The Laundress or a similar company, which benefits are three-pronged, at the least.

• It keeps your clothes clean

At least 70% of the dirt on your clothes are visible. It means there’s much more to your seemingly clean shirt than you might see.

Sweat, dirt, smoke, food stains, etc. can all soil your clothes and have to be removed, not only for proper hygiene but for maintaining your clothes as well. Otherwise, these impurities can build up over time, leaving your clothes looking dull, dingy, and stiff.

• It removes stains and bad odour.

In most cases, the dirt on your clothes are coupled with foul odours that linger deep within your fabrics. We can avoid all these issues by properly washing your clothes. How often you should wash your clothes depends on how long you wear them and what you are doing while wearing them.

For example, if you’re wearing something for a few hours and not sweating, it’s likely ok to wear it a couple of times more before throwing them into the laundry basket. But, anything that you sweat on and comes in direct contact with your skin, you should wash it after every wear. This includes your workout wear and undergarments.

• It prolongs the life of your clothes.

True—the more you wash your clothes, the quicker they wear out. But, it’s highly likely because you’re doing it the wrong way. Keep in mind the wash care labels on your garments, they are there for a reason and that’s to avoid damaging your fabrics due to carelessness.

Sometimes, laundry instructions indicate washing your clothes in cold water or using a mild detergent to help make your clothes last longer. More delicate fabrics are usually tagged as for dry cleaning only.

So, how can you extend the life cycle of your clothes without overwashing them? Read on for some expert tips to make your outfits last as long as possible.

7 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Favourite Clothes

1. Follow Wash Care Instructions

As said above, when you do wash your clothes, pay attention to how they should be washed. While care label instructions may err on the side of caution, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you’re just not sure how to handle your clothes and afraid you might ruin them, you can stay on the safe side by using self service laundry.

2. Wash Clothes Only When Necessary

While you want to keep your clothes clean, you don’t want to overwash them either because they can wear their fabrics out faster. Aside from your undergarments, most of your clothes can last more than just one wear before they have to be washed. Some brands even suggest you should never wash your jeans at all.

3. Skip the Hot Water

Hot water doesn’t necessarily get your clothes any cleaner. Instead, it potentially breaks down the fibres of your fabrics, causing them to shrink, stretch, or become brittle. Stains? Hot water can set them in permanently on your clothes. Opt for cold or warm washes instead. They tend to be less abrasive and as a bonus, they can help you save money on your bills. Save your hot water for your whites and towels.

4. Treat Stains Immediately

Red wine, coffee, food grease, etc. You’ll have the best chance to remove stains if you spot treat them immediately. Tossing your stained garment into the basket and waiting for the weekend to deal with it would only allow the stain to set into the fabric, making it harder to remove.

5. Hand Wash Your Delicates

They are called delicates for a reason. Handle things like bras, underwear, and any other delicate pieces of clothing with care—hand wash them if possible. But, if you don’t have the energy to do so, at least place them in a mesh bag for laundry so nothing would get caught in the machine. Wool sweaters and other delicate fabrics, on the other hand, are recommended to be dry cleaned.

6. Store Clothes Properly

By storing your clothes properly—neatly folded, hanged properly, and away from moisture and direct sunlight—you’re likely to extend their years of wear. Identify which garments are better hanging or folded because many people don’t realise that hanging certain types of clothes can distort their shapes and silhouettes. Dry cleaning professionals in Singapore advise investing in storage solutions such as different types of hangers, suit bags, etc.

7. Leave it to the Professionals

It’s not the chemicals in dry cleaning that wears out your clothes but the ground-in dirt, soil, and dust that act as an abrasive and damage the fibres on your clothing. If anything, dry cleaning doesn’t damage clothes, it preserves them by effectively removing stains and all the little particles that break down your clothes. It’s gentler on clothes, particularly on delicate items than a conventional machine wash.

Takeaway

It’s not the chemicals in dry cleaning that wears out your clothes but the ground-in dirt, soil, and dust that act as an abrasive and damage the fibres on your clothing. If anything, dry cleaning doesn’t damage clothes, it preserves them by effectively removing stains and all the little particles that break down your clothes. It’s gentler on clothes, particularly on delicate items than a conventional machine wash.

Got questions about dry cleaning? Clean Care is a laundry and dry cleaning company in Singapore you can trust. Visit their website to inquire.