HOW TO MAKE YOUR CLOTHES LAST LONGER

After spending our hard earned money on an item I think it’s true that we would all like it to last for as long as possible and make sure that it looks its best for as many wears as possible. I also like to think that we are all becoming more environmentally conscious of the need to rework and rewear our wardrobes. I am going to share some ways to keep your clothes looking as good as the day you bought them. Some of you reading this may think that some of the tips are obvious and that probably means that you are already doing a great job of caring for your wardrobe! I don’t want to appear to be teaching grandmother to suck eggs, I simply want to share some tricks and great products that I have found over the years.

HOW TO USE THE RIGHT HANGERS TO MAKE YOUR CLOTHES LAST LONGER

A great place to start is to look at the type of hangers that you are using. It’s not easy for me to disguise a look of horror when I see wire coat hangers in a client’s wardrobe. If you want your clothes to keep their shape then you need to ditch the wire coat hangers. Wire coat hangers are simply too light and thin to hold jackets and coats and will leave items looking misshapen. Delicate items can be left damaged and clothing is more likely to slip off this type of hanger, leaving your wardrobe untidy. There are two types of hanger that I would recommend wooden and knitwear. Wooden ones are great for heavier items like coats and jackets and pieces that you want to ensure keep their structure. Wooden hangers are strong and durable so once you have made the investment they should not need replacing for a long time. Knitwear hangers as the name would suggest are perfect for jumpers and cardigans and also delicate items as they have sloping shoulders to prevent the kind of stretched fabric marks you often find being created by wire and plastic hangers. If you are short of space the multi trouser hangers below are a great idea, whilst the clip hangers are perfect for skirts.

If you are ready to upgrade your hangers you can purchase the recommended products by clicking the images below.

Wooden hangers great for coats, jackets, shirts and dresses with straps.

Knitwear hangers great for cardigans, jumpers, delicate tops and dresses.

Great for space saving trouser hangers for multiple jeans and trousers.

Soft Clip hangers for skirts and trousers.

HOW TO PROTECT FABRICS FROM DUST AND MOTHS TO HELP MAKE YOUR CLOTHES LAST LONGER

Most of us have items in our wardrobe that we don’t wear day to day for example special occasion dresses or smart coats and jackets if our daily looks are more casual. Storing these items in the wardrobe so that they are accessible is a good idea but if they are not often moved then they can be prone to collecting dust on the shoulders. A shoulder cover is an easy solution and a great way to protect garments. Moths are a real menace if they find their way into your wardrobe and unfortunately seem to be attracted to the most expensive fabrics so it’s a good idea to attempt to put them off to stop holes appearing in your favourite cashmere jumper or silk blouse. There are a number of products on the market and I have linked a couple below. If you want a totally natural and free solution conkers are also said to repel moths.

Short Shoulder Cover.

Longer Shoulder Cover.

Lavender Scented Moth Killer.

Natural Cedar Rings Moth Repellent.

HOW TO LAUNDER DELICATE FABRICS TO MAKE YOUR CLOTHES LAST LONGER

The detergents that we want to do the usual jobs of removing muddy stains out of PE kits and food spillages can sometimes be too harsh for wool and silk fibres so it is a good idea to use a specialist detergent to care for these delicate fabrics and ensure that they maintain their look and feel. Once items have been washed the simple task of pegging the washing out and how we do it is very important in making clothes last longer. Using soft grip pegs avoids harsh marks and a trick I learnt a long time ago from my mum was to hang items like tops over the line and peg them at the underarms. This avoids peg marks at the more visible point at the hem and also prevents stretch points at the sides of a t shirt for example. Purchasing a steamer a couple of years ago was a revelation to me. A steamer is great for delicate fabrics and avoids the shiny marks that an iron can sometimes leave. All of my recommendations for caring for your fabrics to make them last longer are linked below.

Specialist detergent for delicate fabrics.

Soft grip pegs.

Portable Clothes Steamer.

HOW TO BRING ITEMS BACK TO LIFE TO MAKE YOUR CLOTHES LAST LONGER

There are a couple of products that I have come across in the last few years that I’m not sure how I lived without in terms of reviving things that I might have previously thought were past their best. We bought my middle daughter some new trainers last year and normally I am never convinced by the up selling at the point of purchase but the sales girl showed us a product that was so incredible that I had to buy it. She demonstrated the trainer cleaner below by cleaning one of my eldest daughter’s 2 year old Vans and after about 5 minutes it looked like a new shoe. In the past I have put trainers in the washing machine with mixed results including the disintegration of the glue holding a pair of converse together! I won’t use anything other than Crep now. The final thing I would recommend purchasing especially coming into Winter is a fabric shaver for removing bobbling on woollens. Favourite jumpers I have considered getting rid off have been revived using one of these.

Trainer Cleaner and Reviver.

Fabric Shaver /Debobbler.

Thank you for reading, if you would like any more information please message me or comment below. Allison. x

I have not been paid to recommend these products, they are all products that I have purchased myself in the past and that I am providing my honest opinions about. However, this post does contain affiliate links and should you choose to click to make a purchase, there will be no additional cost to you but I will receive a small commission.

One Reply to “HOW TO MAKE YOUR CLOTHES LAST LONGER”

Antonia says:

September 9, 2020 at 9:04 pm

Top tips Thanku Allison, I love the shoulder covers and definitely need some better hangers for all my lovely occasion dresses….. goodness knows how long they will be wardrobe bound!

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