How to launder your clothes so they last
I’m
sure you’ve experienced clothes getting worn out, fading or losing
its shape over time. How fast clothes wear out largely depends on how
they are cared for. Every item of clothing requires different kind of
wash care and caring for clothes is often overlooked.
Here
are a few points on how to launder your clothes so they last for a
long time.
Hand
wash: This is the best way to preserve your clothes as it is
gentle on the clothes and it prevents fading. It is specially
recommended that you hand wash delicate clothing. It’s generally
best to knead the garment and avoid twisting and wringing of the
garment.
Wash
in cold water: One of the best things you can do for your clothes
is to wash them in cold water and air-dry them. Just like heat
damages your hair overtime, it can wear out your clothes and make
them fade a lot quicker. It can also make your clothes shrink,
especially if they have elastic or spandex fibres that can be damaged
by heat and cause the garment to lose its shape. Washing in cold
water is also more environmentally friendly than washing in warm
water.
Separate
dark and light colours: Separating dark and light colours
prevents bleeding and retains the quality and brightness of your
clothing.
Separate
heavy and light weight garments: Washing heavy weight garments
like jeans and jackets along with light weight garments in one
machine load can cause the light weight garments to abrade and wear
out quickly.
Use
less detergent: Using too much detergent not only is a waste of
money, but can ruin your machine overtime and is definitely bad for
the environment. Too much detergent can also leave a residue that
isn’t good for your clothes. Most of the cleaning of the clothes is
done by the water and 40 to 70% of the recommended amount of
detergent is good enough depending on how dirty the clothes are.
Also, liquid detergents are easier on the clothes compared to
powders.
Avoid
fabric softeners: Fabric softeners tend to coat the fabric with
chemicals that make it feel softer and smell good. However, the
chemicals used are pretty harmful to breathe in and wear against your
skin. Fabric softeners also leave a residue on the garment that can
cause discolouration and make the fabric less absorbent and harder to
clean.
Avoid
bleaches: Bleaches are harmful to the environment and your
clothes. Chlorine bleach can cause discolouration in whites over time
and weaken the fabric. The best way to naturally bleach white clothes
is to dry them in direct sunlight. For stain removal, try natural and
biodegradable options like white vinegar, lemon juice or baking soda.
Don’t
fill your machine too full: The clothes need space to move around
in the water to get clean.
Wash
dark colours inside out: Washing dark coloured clothes inside out
help prevent them from fading.
Clean
your machine regularly: Cleaning your machine from time to time
prevents it from transferring dirt or dye onto the clothes from
previous loads which can make the clothes appear duller.
Air
dry: Air drying your clothes is not only more environmentally
friendly, but also allows your clothes to last longer. Dry dark
coloured clothes inside out to prevent fading. Avoid drying your
clothes in direct sunlight.
Roll
drying: Delicate garments such as silks and woollens should be
roll dried in a towel and laid flat to dry.
Dry cleaning: It is always best to follow a manufacturer’s
instructions on how to care for your clothes. Many a times, garments
that are marked as ‘Dry Clean Only’ can be hand washed. However,
it is best to first spot test the fabric in an inconspicuous part of
the garment to make sure it doesn’t damage the fabric. Avoid dry
cleaning your garment too often. After getting your clothes home from
the dry cleaner, make sure you remove it from the plastic bag to
allow the fabric to breathe and avoid discolouration and
deterioration.
Wash
only when needed: It is not necessary that you wash every item of
clothing every time you wear it. Wash clothes only when they need to
be washed. Of course, items like underwear or clothes that you sweat
in need to be washed after every wear. However, a lot of clothes can
be worn multiple times before washing them; especially if it’s
clothing that is not directly touching your skin. Items like scarves
and jackets can be worn multiple times before you wash it.
Spot
wash: Spot wash dirty areas or any stains instead of washing the
entire garment.
In
between washes: Garments that have been worn and are in between
washes should be hung and aired out. Hanging of garments allows air
flow and prevents wrinkles.
Until
next time, stay stylish!
(Ninoshka
Alvares-Delaney is a Fashion Designer and is available at
www.ninoshka.co.in and on instagram / facebook as ninoshkaindia)
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