- Before purchasing a garment – I always read the care label and I try to avoid items that need to be dry cleaned. I also look to see how good the quality/density of weave of a fabric or knit is and how well it is made. If I don’t think it’s going to wear well, I don’t buy it!
- Keep a small selection of needles and threads handy when dealing with laundry – then if you spot a small hole you can give it a quick stitch.
- Only wash a garment when you really have to – the more you wash, the faster it will fade/stretch/shrink. Quite often with items such as woollies or coats, they can be aired and/or spot-cleaned instead.
- Some garments that say ‘dry clean only’ are in fact ok to wash carefully by hand and dry flat. Try a patch test in an inconspicuous area first. This saves using lots of chemicals and saves a lot of money too!
- Give items such as towels an extra spin when they have finished washing – this gets rid of a lot of excess moisture and makes them quicker to dry.
- Don’t tumble dry clothes – it wears them out quickly and costs a lot more than letting them air dry.
Love Your Clothes is delighted to be supported by Ariel for our Know Your Care Labels #InsideOut challenge.