8 Ways to Make Your Clothing Last

If you are practical, eco-savvy and smart, then you’ll find ways to make your clothing last. Here are eight tips to help you along:

1. Dry your clothes on low. Not only will this save energy, but it also extends the life of your clothing.

2. Sew up holes ASAP. A little hole isn’t such a big deal, but a little hole will become a big hole. Sewing up a hole as soon as you see it will make your clothing last longer.

3. Save your buttons. Save every single button that you find. If your shirt comes with an extra button, save it. Also, if some clothes are so ragged that they cannot be reused, snag the button(s). This way, if you lose a button, there is a good chance that you’ll have a matching button on hand.

4. Wash clothes in cold water. This also saves energy. Most clothes wash just fine in cold water. Fabrics hold up better this way.

5. Zip up your zippers before washing. You know how chickens eat gravel to digest food in their gizzards? Well, washing an unzipped zipper is kind of like gravel in a chicken’s gizzard. Those zippers will flap around the washer and dryer, tearing at your other clothes.

6. Wash your clothes less often. You don’t need to wash your clothes just because you wore it once. Give it a sniff test and wear it again. It’s not gross. It’s smart.

7. Cut out tags. Don’t tear. I hate those little labels in shirts, when they tickle my neck. But resist the urge to pull them out. Gently cut it out with scissors, instead. You can cause a hole if you yank.

8. Use a front-loading washing machine. Front loaders are gentler, and more energy-efficient, than top loaders.

Do you have any other tips to add to make your clothing last longer?

Planet Green is the multi-platform media destination devoted to the environment and dedicated to helping people understand how humans impact the planet and how to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle. Its two robust websites, planetgreen.com and TreeHugger.com, offer original, inspiring, and entertaining content related to how we can evolve to live a better, brighter future. Planet Green is a division of Discovery Communications.

By Josh Peterson, Planet Green

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Shanti S.

2:51AM PDT on Apr 5, 2013

Thank you.

April 5
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Marie W.

8:34PM PST on Dec 9, 2012

Air dry if possible and turn really nice stuff inside out.

December 9
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LMj S.

8:30PM PST on Dec 9, 2012

Thank you, great tips! Use all except not always #8, along with turning clothes inside out.

8:29PM PST on Dec 9, 2012

Angie V.

10:34AM PDT on Jul 8, 2012

Thank You!

July 8
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Kathryn H.

10:41PM PDT on Jul 6, 2012

Forget the dryer completely...though it does come in handy for quick fluffing. Air dry your clothes - inside or outside...or both! You`ll save even more - clothes will smell great and last longer. Stumped for ideas on how? Check out www.hangittodry.com for inspiration or possible solutions.

July 6
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g d c.

10:07AM PDT on Jul 4, 2012

July 4
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Marcia M.

2:33AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

I do all of these tips.
Instead of using a dryer we line dry our clothes. It's better for the clothes and the planet.

June 9
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Robert T.

6:52PM PDT on Apr 23, 2011

Wow, thanks for the heads up about the zippers.

April 23
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Catherine S.

8:45AM PST on Feb 25, 2011

Thanks for adding #6. I wear my clothes more than once if they don't smell or have spots/stains on them. I think the media is partly responsible for this craze that you can only wear clothes one before washing them. On TV you always see people putting clothes they just wore once in the clothes hamper.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only "re-wearer".