For the past three years I’ve had receipts for clothes stored on my phone. Some of this was to try to be stricter with spending on clothing, others were curiosity – does all that advice you hear about how to make clothes last stand up to scrutiny?
Yes – but not necessarily in ways you’d expect. Some of the biggest gains I made came from simple changes that didn’t cost anything or take much time. Others forced me to question habits I’d never really thought about before.
Clothing waste statistics are eye opening. Clothing utilisation rates are 36% lower than they were 15 years ago (SESYNC), meaning we wear things fewer times before disposal or replacement. Plus research shows 80% of items hanging in your wardrobe are worn just 20% of the time (University of Strathclyde). Think about that.
So much money tied up in garments that basically serve as decoration, not actual clothing you wear. So much resource and environmental impact for stuff that serves such a small purpose in our wardrobe overall.
But it turns out making your clothes last longer isn’t that difficult. It just requires you paying a bit more attention to stuff we normally do without thinking twice. And yeah – you save money, faster than I expected. You will also help with environmental sustainability – some changes dramatically reduce environmental impact.
The Science Behind Making Clothes Last Longer
A big part of learning how to make clothes last longer comes down to understanding why they wear out in the first place. The majority of wear actually occurs while clothes are being washed, dried and stored.
Heat damage causes fibres to break down more quickly, garments to shrink and colours to fade. Washing at lower temperatures can reduce energy usage by as much as two thirds (Toms Guide) and extend the life of your garments significantly. One study showed washing fabrics at 25C for half an hour significantly lowered dye transfer by as much as 74% (Toms Guide) when compared to garments washed at higher temperatures.
Mechanical damage from washing machine agitation and tumble drying slowly breaks down fibres. Synthetic fabrics are especially prone to this kind of damage which is why those polyester shirts you love end up with tiny fibres all over them…and why the IUCN estimates 35% of microplastic pollution in the ocean comes from washing synthetic textiles (Greenpeace). These microfibres are literally fibres you’ve lost from your garments.
Chemical damage is perhaps less intuitive but happens over time as detergents, fabric conditioners and bleach slowly break down fabric. Synthetic fabrics tend to hold up better to chemical wear, while natural fabrics can be more susceptible to pH imbalances and certain harsher ingredients.
Thankfully changing how you wash clothes can help mitigate all these sources of damage and dramatically improve clothing longevity. People who buy second hand clothing keep items for an average of 1.5 years longer than new clothes (Fashion Slowdown). This correlation between attachment to clothing and length of ownership tells us that when we care about our clothes more, or have less initial investment in them, we go to more lengths to ensure they last.
Washing Tips That Will Make Your Clothes Last
I started washing things less frequently about 18 months ago and the difference it makes to how long things last is quite noticeable.
Turn down the temperature. Now I wash almost everything at 30C, with delicates moving down to 25C. The exceptions are bedding, towels, and things that were actually dirty not just worn. Reducing the temperature on my washing machine made my clothes fade less, shrink less, and generally just looked new far longer. Bonus – my electricity bill is about £15 less every quarter too.
Load size and sorting matters more than you might realise. Washing machines work best when they’re roughly 75% full. Overpacking the drum means your clothes don’t have room to move around. This increases friction between items which over time will cause wear. Furthermore, I sort delicates from heavy items. Jeans and towels on one cycle, t-shirts and underwear on another. You don’t want to be tossing your jeans around with your delicates.
Less detergent is better. Gone are the days I shoveled tubfuls of washing detergent into my laundry. I use about half of the recommended amount on average and haven’t noticed a difference in cleanliness. Clothes actually feel softer and colours pop more when I use less detergent. Excess detergent left on clothing actually attracts dirt, making them become dirtier quicker.
Use a low spin speed if you can. I now aim for 800rpm on most loads. High speed spinning puts more stress on clothing and creates more creasing. More creasing means more ironing, and who really enjoys that? But more importantly it means more damaging heat and pressure on your clothes. The little extra dryer time is worth it.
Say goodbye to fabric conditioner. I stopped using this stuff a while ago. Fabric conditioner coats fibres, which actually makes them more likely to retain stains and odours as you wear them. If you want soft clothes… add white vinegar to the fabric conditioner compartment every few washes. It leaves no smell and helps get rid of detergent build up.
Best Ways To Dry Clothes And Reduce Wear
Dry cleaning aside, the most damaging process is tumble drying. Heat plus mechanical action equals fibres breaking down at a faster rate than probably any other aspect of clothing care outside of wear itself.
Air dry inside. Whenever possible I air dry clothes inside on a clothes horse in our spare bedroom. It does take longer, but my clothing feels and lasts so much better since making the switch. Shirts and jumpers that would have maybe made it through two years now are in year four and still look great. I do still tumble dry bedding and towels though, as they take ages to dry naturally and I value the convenience.
There are some exceptions. When I do tumble dry I always use the lowest heat possible and take everything out while it’s still slightly damp. Removing items from the dryer in the last 10% of cycle time decreases drying time by the most and causes the least damage. Hanging these items up finishes the drying process.
Shake and reshape garment before hanging. It might sound silly, but properly reshaping clothing before you hang dry prevents creases setting and reduces need for ironing later. With knitwear I take it off the dryer and lay flat on a drying rack to help it keep its shape.
If you can dry clothes outside, do it. During summer our laundry dries inside 2 hours. Whenever possible I move drying rack closer to radiator in the winter, but not so close it’s directly next to it. Gentle heat helps speed up drying time without mechanical trauma of tumble drying.
Clothing Care Mistakes To Avoid
Don’t wash everything after one wear.
You can generally get away with wearing things multiple times before washing. Unless something is dirty or smelling, it can go in your laundry pile to wait until you’ve got a full load. I wear jeans 5-7 times, jumpers 3-4 times, shirts 1-2 times depending on temperature. Doing this alone has probably doubled the life of my casual wardrobe and decreased my washing by about 40%.
Stop ignoring care labels completely.
I know, they’re boring. But seriously, some people threw anything they owned in the same 40C wash when I was growing up. Reading labels and washingdelicatesdelicately has made all the difference to clothes that used to shrink or felt after one wash. Wool specifically seems to hold up a lot better when washed in accordance with care instructions.
Your drawers & wardrobe aren’t overstuffed.
Did you know clothes that aren’t hung up or have space around them actually last longer? I went through and properly edited my wardrobe about 6 months ago. Threw away about 30% of what I owned. Why? Because the stuff I kept looked better because it had space, and I ended up wearing more as I could see what I had.
Stop buying based on price-per-item.
I used to buy t-shirts from anywhere that sold them because they were cheap. But realizing how quickly they wore out & looking at price-per-wear changed my mentality. Now when I buy clothes I think about how long they’ll last. Those cheap shirts I mentioned? Lasted me 6 months. Buying better means I spend about 3x what I used to, but my clothes last 5x as long. Math.
Warm water is not your stain friend.
You know how people always tell you to soak blood stains in cold water? It’s because hot water sets protein stains (aka sweat and blood). Cold water, and treating stains properly will always be more effective and less damaging to clothing. I always keep a stain removal kit and treat stains as they happen instead of trying to rely on wash cycles to get rid of them.
Stop hanging heavy knitwear.
Hanging heavy cotton and wool knitwear distorts their shape over time. I don’t hang jumpers or thick cotton t-shirts anymore. Everything is folded and kept in drawers or on shelves. Proper storage will save you clothes in the long run.
Clothing Longevity Research
A number of studies show how clothing utilisation is improving when compared to buying new. Non padded coats/jackets were the first items kept longest with over six years in the wardrobe now (Fashion Slowdown), while dresses and jeans now last retailers report UK consumers over four years. However closet dwell time doesn’t appear to correlate with wearing clothes more, we’re just keeping them longer.
What we do with garments after purchase has major impacts on sustainability. Reusing just 1kg of clothing can save 25kg of CO2 emissions in the environment(Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya). So while putting effort into making clothes last won’t solve all issues with the fashion industry, the carbon payoff is huge.
Reduce washing temperature and frequency also helps with microfibres. One study showed that 34.8% of microplastics found in the ocean came from synthetic textiles(Ocean Conservancy). Washing less and at lower temperatures reduces those numbers as well as garment damage.
Adaptations For Making Things Last Longer When…
Renting and not able to dry outside: Air drying indoors can work really well if you have the space and decent ventilation. If drying takes too long or you live in a damp house get a dehumidifier.Opens a new window Putting your clothes horse near a window helps with airflow.
Live in a flat with shared laundry facilities/launderette: If you don’t own your washing machine, bring your own gentle detergent. Opt for cooler temperatures when possible. Try going at off-peak times to avoid feeling rushed or pressured into using faster cycles.
Limited living space/storage: Focus on buying wardrobe staples you can mix and match for multiple occasions. It’s better to have less items that everything goes with than loads of single use items you only wear once. Buyvacuum storage bagsfor seasonal clothes to save space without damaging clothes.
On a very tight budget: Focus on care methods that don’t cost anything. Washing less and air drying saves you money on energy bills and makes the biggest difference to longevity.
Don’t have access to your own washing machine: Hand washing delicates like underwear and shirts between launderette trips can help you stretch time between machine washes. Use cool water with gentle soap.
Benefits of Making Your Clothes Last Longer
Saves you money. Now I spend about 60% less on clothes than I used to. Between buying less and things lasting longer my wardrobe got way cheaper. That £30 shirt I mentioned? If it lasts me 4 years that’s £7.50 per year. Lasts me 2 years it’s £15 per year. Spend more, but think about longevity and price-per-wear.
Shaving hours off your clothes shopping trips. When your clothes last longer you don’t need to replace them as frequently. I used too spend 5+ hours every couple of months buying myself new basics. Now maybe 2 hours a year for tops and shirts. And that’s it. Jeans and jackets don’t need replacing quite as often.
Clothes that fit/look better longer. Solid coloured clothes that don’t fade or stretch weirdly go with more things and last such a long time you barely need replacements. Because everything matches my wardrobe feels put together more.
Helps the environment. Wait for it….less. When you make clothes last longer you’re buying less new stuff. Fewer purchases means less packaging, less transport emissions, and less ending up in land fills. Not to mention carbon savings from reusing clothes are enormous compared to making them.
Makes daily life nicer. Clothes that fit properly, retain their colour/shape longer are actually easier and more pleasant to dress in day to day. You notice the difference between something that’s been cared for versus something made fragile by aggressive washing.
Teaches you about caring for different materials. Understanding how cotton reacts differently to wool to synthetics when washed will help you better care for other items around the home.
Tips for getting started with a schedule:
Step 1: Sorting and Taking Inventory – Week 1
Go through your wardrobe now and sort clothes into different categories. I sort by material type then care requirements after that. Read all your laundry labels. Be realistic about what you wear regularly.
Step 2: Changing Simple Day-To-Day Habits – Weeks 2 – 4
Start wearing clothes more than once. Reduce washing temperatures to 30c where possible. Begin line drying delicates or clothes that dry quickly. You can still machine dry heavier items.
Step 3: Storage – Month 2
Proper clothes storage is life changing. Invest in some good hangers if needed. Fold knitwear instead of hanging. Store stuff where you can see everything so you actually wear what you own.
Step 4: Advanced Tips – Month 3
This is where you up your stain game, start using less detergent. Wash heavy items separately from delicates. Try different wash cycles for different items. You start to see where you can really make a difference.
Step 5: Maintain and Experiment – Month 4 onwards
By now your whole laundry game has probably changed. But use that knowledge to figure out what works for you and your living situation. Everyone will have different tips based on where and how they live. At this point it should also become second nature and not feel like a hassle.
Budgeting For Long-Lasting Clothing
Clothes horse/drying rack – £15-40 One off purchase. Essential if you want to air dry indoors.
Proper clothes hangers – £10-25 Another one off purchase. Replace thin metal/holey plastic ones.
Stain removal stuff – £8-15 Basic kit lasts months. Mine didn’t because I used it so much.
Mesh laundry bags – £5-10 For delicates. Don’t necessarily need these but I found them useful.
Total – £40-90
Depending on what you already have at home your clothing longevity changes will pay for themselves in 2-3 months. And the best parts about making your clothes last? Things like washing at lower temperatures and line drying don’t cost a penny and help immediately.
