Top tips to make your clothes last longer and to save money

Cheselle Brierton. I am a sustainable stylist working in television, film and the commercial world, who sells vintage clothing and co-owns a sustainable hair salon. I have adopted various ways of being sustainable within all of the industries I am a part of as well as at home, which it where my blog @the_sustainable_stylist20 came from.

With social media and micro trends that last no longer than 2 months it’s hard to know what to buy, from mob wife to tomato girl to costal grandma, the trends are ever changing and it’s hard to keep up. But here’s a thought, maybe it’s time to change your buying tactics…buy less, buy higher quality and if you treat your clothes right you will make them last longer, meaning less spending and a more sustainable wardrobe.

1. Dark Clothing Always ALWAYS wash black or dark clothing inside out. Natural fibres in particular as they lose the colour quickly. However, the beauty of natural fibres are that they are dyeable. Buying polyester isn’t the quick fix way of life, the plastic fibres are not built to last, whereas cotton and flax (linen) are.

 2. Knitwear Another hand wash must, even machine washable knits, they lose their shape quickly. However, if you don’t have time to hand wash, then make sure you lie them flat and reshape them when you do. There are loads of techniques out there on how to wring out your clothes after hand washing but this is my favourite. Once dried, I lie my clothes on a towel flat as this keeps the seams straight.

TOP TIP: after you have hand washed your knitwear (or anything for the matter) DO NOT wring out the garment. Instead, firmly press the item against the bowl or sink (or even bath) to press out the water. Then get two bath towels, lay one on the floor and one on top of the garment, and roll the sandwiched garment from the bottom up adding more pressure each time to squeeze out the water. I usually lay a waterproof sheet on the floor first too to save having to then wash the towels, I just line dry them and put them back in the washing cupboard.

3. Denim Unless it is filthy, do not wash it. The history of denim is just fascinating, check out this blog to learn more.

4. Wash Less Most people are used to throwing their clothes in the washing machine after one wear, however spot cleaning and freshening them up with some vodka spray (50% water 50% cheap vodka is a great way to get rid of smells) and even a quick steam is often all that is needed. Washing machines are a great invention but they do take a toll on those fibres and your wallet.

TOP TIP: To use less water when handwashing the odd item or spot cleaning, I have 2 bowls of water, one that has detergent in and one for rinsing. I always start with white or lighter colours first, then I work through the colour spectrum (again choosing colours like yellow or lilacs first working to reds and blues after) then to much darker colours like navy and blacks. Meaning only 2 bowls of water.

 5. Eco Washing Using ecological washing detergent, in particular ones that are ocean friendly means there are less chemicals. You don’t need all of those nasties to clean your wares, they aren’t good for your clothes, your skin, our waterways or marine life, so switch up to some of these more sustainable brands. Also, 30 degrees is more than enough, the hotter the wash, the more strain it is on the fibres.

6. Line Dry This top 10 tips is really washing related, but this is where we tend to go wrong with our clothes and end up shipping them off to landfill. I learnt recently when dropping grease on my dress that heat is what draws out those non removable stains. Also line drying is a more sustainable and money conscious way to clean dry your clothes.

7. Stain Removal The sooner you tackle that stain the better. There are loads of sites that show you the best way to remove stains; everything from washing up liquid to remove grease (baking soda + white vinegar if you have washed it before treating), there’s rose water to remove permeant marker and biro, shaving cream to remove make up to your own saliva to remove small amount of your own blood. There are so many, but the key is treating it before you are stuck with a forever stain.

 8. Repair Learning how to fix a dropped hem on some trousers or a skirt or sew on a button means you’re less likely going to throw it out. It can actually be quite enjoyable as well, instead of doom scrolling, have a pile of mini mends nearby, busy hands make light work. Also, a basic sewing kit doesn’t have to cost the earth and can take you far (a pack of easy threading needles, black, white and blue threads, small scissors and some pins really will help fix your wardrobe.

 9. Quality We know how tempting those 75% off sale notifications and emails are but most of the time what they are trying to sell you is polyester which is basically you pare paying over the odds for a plastic bag (literally). Quality classics pieces last much longer, especially if you store and clean them properly. It’s inevitable you want to buy the odd statement piece or on trend item, but knowing your quality basic there is a start to a more sustainable wardrobe. By potentially introducing these nine factors into your everyday life and considerations when buying, you could not only have a more sustainable wardrobe but also a money savvy one.