http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-ways-to-make-your-clothing-last.html
8 Ways to Make Your Clothing Last
By Josh Peterson, Planet Green
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.
More from Megan, selected from Planet Green (42 articles available)
related stories
-
(7 comments)
-
(18 comments)
-
(2 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
42 comments
add your comment »useful info :-)
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Well, I think it is preferable to wash on low-temperatures to save energy, and to eat healthy to improve your imune system. I do this way. After all, we cant get read of all resistant bacterias around us just by washing cloths even if the temperature is very high. The only green measure is to strengh ourselves. Very hot water is good when the cloths were weared in very dirty or infectious environments.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Well, I think it is preferable to wash on low-temperatures to save energy, and to eat healthy to improve your imune system. I do this way. After all, we cant get read of all resistant bacterias around us just by washing cloths even if the temperature is very high. The only green measure is to strengh ourselves. Very hot water is good when the cloths were weared in very dirty or infectious environments.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
There were news today here in Sweden that in order for resistant bacterias to go away from your dirty laundry you need to wash at at least 60 degrees Celsius and then have them in a dryer for at least 10 minutes.
The advice is very confusing: first it's to wash on low temperatures to save energy - then it's to wash on high temperatures to get rid of resistant bacterias.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I did not mentioned that for washing I dont use water from the central distribution. I am lucky to have a natural spring in my garden. Sorry for my english, I am not sure that spring is the right word because is not at surface, but is brought from depths by an electrical engine. I use only the electric power I need to get the water. The good think is I dont have to warm the watter because it comes warmed allready by the earth itself. And this is great in autumn. On summer, instead, the watter is cold wich is refreshing and it is warmed by sun rapidly. The water is not safe to dreank but is great for washing and for the garden.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I do most of the things described here. Except for the zipper tip I did not know. I handwash, so the zipper problem is not a real problem to me. I live at house, so I hang dry in open air and when it rains, I move clothes under a shelter. When cold weather will no longer permit that, I shall hang dry in the bathroom or in the attic. I sometimes finish the dry by puting the clothes close to chimney. This way I am sure they are not wet, but just cold.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I have ordered the Laundry Magnets! My friends use them. Love 'em.
go to this site to order or read the info!
http://tinyurl.com/yadfxts
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
You can get more tips on saving money on your laundry here:
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Resources/Features/Features-archive/Save-money-on-your-laundry
The feature looks at cutting the cost of your washing machine and using your tumble dryer more efficiently.
Clare
Energy Saving Trust
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I also zip zippers, etc., and another tip I read of long ago and have used ever since is that washing most clothes wrong side out works like a charm to extend the life (and good looks) of one's clothing. I also dry them inside out. Reduces pilling, cracked appliques on T's, and fading or streaks on dark clothes.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Forgot to mention that we actually even hang dry a lot of our clothing. We have a hanging rack in the hallway by the laundry room. I NEVER dry my pants because it makes them shrink, and I generally only dry polyester blend items, not cotton, silk etc. Air drying what you can not only saves your clothing, but also your budget.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: