Everyone needs clothes, but you don’t have to spend a fortune when buying them. If you feel like your attire is wearing out prematurely, the way you’re caring for your clothes could be the issue. Some people enjoy investing in high-quality pieces, while others prefer to buy more budget-friendly items. Regardless, it never feels good to have to get rid of an item before you feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth from it.
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Thankfully, a few small changes could majorly extend the life of your clothing. Keep reading for six tips from fashion experts to help your clothes and shoes last longer.
Follow Care Instructions
“The best way to extend the life of your clothing is by adhering to the care instructions on the tag,” said Nguyen Tran, founder and CEO of Le Réussi.
“These tags contain vital information about the fabric composition and how to properly wash, dry and care for the item,” she said. “For example, delicate fabrics like silk or wool often require dry cleaning, while cotton can typically handle machine washing.”
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Don’t Wash Items Too Frequently
You might think clothing items need to be washed after every use, but Tran said that isn’t the case.
“Over-washing can wear down fibers faster,” she said. “For items like jeans or outerwear, washing after every wear isn’t necessary, unless they’re visibly dirty.”
Instead, she recommended spot cleaning items and airing them out between wears to help preserve their quality.
Choose Cold-Water Cycles
If you typically wash clothes on warm- or hot-water cycles, you could be lowering their shelf life.
“Washing clothes in cold water not only saves energy but also helps prevent shrinkage and color fading,” Tran said. “Cold water is gentler on fibers, making it ideal for most fabrics.”
Air-Dry When Possible
Throwing clothes in the dryer is quick and easy, but it’s not necessarily the best for long-term garment care.
“The heat from dryers can be damaging, causing fabrics to shrink or lose their shape over time,” Tran said. “Air-drying, especially for delicate items, helps maintain their fit and longevity.”
Store Items Properly
“Storing clothing properly is essential for longevity,” Tran said. “Use padded hangers for delicate fabrics to avoid stretching, fold heavy sweaters to prevent sagging and keep garments in breathable fabric bags to protect them from dust and moths.”
Leah Wise, a personal stylist and Instagram fashion influencer @crashgal, said she always stores her boots in the box they came in.
“It’s convenient, but in general, you want to keep them in a cool, dry place, somewhere that’s well ventilated,” she said. “You don’t want them in direct sunlight, because the sunlight can fade the color and the leather.”
To help her boots maintain their shape, she said she also saves the cardboard inserts that come in them and continues to use them.
“When I store my boots, I don’t store them standing up, because I don’t want gravity to get to them and then they start slouching,” she said. “I put the cardboard inserts in them, and then I put them in the box, and I store them laying flat so that they’re not losing their shape.”
Be Proactive
Rather than taking a reactive approach to caring for your clothes and shoes, Wise advised taking preventive measures to safeguard these items.
“For example, consider a spray leather protectant to make your leather goods more water-resistant,” Wise said. “If you’re out and get caught in the rain, you want to already have a protectant on the leather so that you can preserve the items for longer.”
This will require a little extra time and energy, but it can quite literally pay off by allowing you to keep items in good shape for much longer.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Expert Ways To Avoid Wasting Money on Clothes & Make Them Last
