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.

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.

send a green star

Robert T.

6:52PM PDT on Apr 23, 2011

Wow, thanks for the heads up about the zippers.

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".

Krista R.

8:57PM PST on Jan 21, 2011

I do all of these except the zipper thing. I never thought of that. Thanks!

Karyn A.

7:21AM PST on Jan 15, 2011

My mom always had us kids turn our clothes inside out to send them through the wash. That way, all the fading takes place on the inside, helping the outside retain its color longer. I still do this as an adult....

Nancy C.

5:52AM PST on Dec 15, 2010

One additional thing that I do is to let things soak rather than agitating. A 30-second agitation, then turn off the machine. I leave them for hours, sometimes overnight. This wouldn't work if you have to use a laundromat, or if you wash a lot of loads, but does fine for one or two people. Saves soap, electricity, wear and tear on the washer and on the clothes.

Terri A.

11:38AM PDT on Oct 5, 2010

I have clothes that are 15+ years old due to following the tips above!

Katherine C.

1:12AM PDT on Sep 22, 2010

I do most of the things except the zippers-thanks for the heads up!

Michele C.

9:40PM PDT on Sep 21, 2010

Great tips! I already do a couple of them.

Concerned C.

4:11PM PDT on Sep 20, 2010

These are great suggestions, thank you. Also, hammy-downs are a great way to divert clothing from a landfill. Clothing that you don't feel comfortable wearing in public can be worn around the house for housework, lounging, gardenwork, or as nightclothes.