Textile care: how to keep your clothes looking good for a long time
Environmentally friendly products are important for treating our planet with care. However, this is not the only thing that matters: when we talk about sustainability, the aspect of durability is particularly important. Our products can only be sustainable if we use them for a long time.
But to ensure that a garment remains beautiful for a long time, we must take care of it. When it comes to washing, our habits have a major impact on how long our clothes last, as every wash cycle puts strain on the fibers.
- Less shopping, more quality
Durability starts with shopping. Or, in the words of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood: "Buy less. Choose well. Make it last."" (Freely translated: "Buy fewer clothes, but choose them for their quality and make sure they last a long time.") However, this does not mean that we should now throw away our polyester sweaters. Polyester may not be an environmentally friendly fiber, but the sweater has already been produced—if you wear it for a long time, it is still more sustainable than a top made of organic cotton that is only worn twice. When buying new items, however, you should look for high-quality, environmentally friendly materials that will last a long time.
- The laundry is ready, honey!
Before putting the laundry in the drum, it should be sorted properly. Open bra hooks or zippers can snag on other fabrics and cause tears. Buttons, on the other hand, should be undone so that they don't come off during the vigorous movements in the machine. With every wash cycle, some color is released from the fibers. To maintain vibrant colors, turn colored garments inside out, so that the inside is on the outside. This is especially important for sturdy fabrics such as jeans, dark garments, or bedding. To avoid accidents, it makes sense to sort clothes by color.
- Not all washing is the same
Basically, we wash our clothes far too often these days. Washing puts enormous strain on the fibers in clothing, causing them to fall apart more quickly. You can reduce this strain by using the right settings on your washing machine. Avoid high spin cycles and temperatures to protect the fibers.
- Take care of your treasures
High-quality fibers are more delicate and therefore require a little more care than cotton fabric. With sheep's wool, for example, small knots form in the fabric after a while—this has nothing to do with low quality, but happens because of friction. The knots look unsightly and make the garment look older. You can easily remove the lint with a pilling razor and your wool sweater will look like new again. Removal with a conventional razor is cheaper but a little more time-consuming. It is important that you do not tear off the pilling, as this will only make the problem worse.
- Dryers as a strain
Tumble dryers dry clothes much faster and more easily than the sun does. However, the heat and spinning movements put a lot of strain on the fabric. If you can't (or don't want to) do without a dryer, you can reduce this problem with Washo Dryer Balls. These balls made of sheep's wool shorten the drying time and also replace fabric softener. (You can find out more about Washo Dryer Balls here: https://www.washo.ch/blogs/washo-blog/schneller-trocken-dank-der-washo-dryer-balls)
- Be gentle when ironing
Ironing also involves high temperatures. If you don't need your clothes to be perfectly smooth, you can skip ironing to protect the fabric. Otherwise, a steam iron should be used, as the moisture makes ironing easier. A water spray bottle is a cheap alternative. And: Before ironing, be sure to check the label—not all fabrics can withstand ironing.
- Wellness in the closet
In addition to washing, drying, and ironing, storage is also important. Heavy knitwear, for example, loses its shape when hung in the closet—it is better to fold it loosely. Silk, on the other hand, should always be hung on a hanger to prevent the delicate material from creasing. Shirts, blazers, and similar items retain their shape when hung on slightly thicker hangers.
