Textile care: how to keep your clothes looking good for a long time
For a conscious approach to our planet, environmentally friendly products are important. However, it is not the only thing that counts: When we talk about sustainability, the aspect of longevity is particularly important. Our products can only be sustainable if we use them for a long time.
But for a garment to stay beautiful for a long time, we have to take care of it. Especially when it comes to washing, our habits have a major influence on how long our clothes last, as each wash cycle puts a strain on the fibers.
- Less shopping, more quality
Longevity starts with shopping. Or to put it in the words of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood: "Buy less. Choose well. Make it last." (Loosely translated "Buy fewer clothes, but choose them for quality and make sure they last a long time.) But that doesn't mean we should throw away the polyester sweater. Polyester is not 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 the organic cotton top, which is only worn twice. When buying new ones, however, you should look for high-quality, environmentally friendly materials that will last a long time.
- The laundry is ready, darling!
Before the laundry goes into the drum, it should be sorted correctly. Open bra or zipper fasteners can hook into other fabrics and cause tears. Buttons, on the other hand, are open so that they do not tear off during vigorous movements in the machine. With every wash, some of the dye will come out of the fibers. For a strong brightness, turn colored garments inside out. This applies in particular to firm fabrics such as jeans, dark clothing or bed linen. To avoid accidents, it makes sense to sort clothes by color.
- Washing is not the same as washing
Basically, we wash our clothes far too often these days. During washing, the fibers in the clothing are subjected to enormous stress and therefore fall apart more quickly. You can reduce this load with the right settings on the machine. Avoid high spin cycles and temperatures to protect the fibers.
- Care for your treasures
High-quality fibers are more delicate and therefore require a little more care than a cotton fabric. With sheep's wool, for example, small nodules appear in the fabric after a while - this has nothing to do with low quality, but happens because of friction. The pilling looks unattractive and makes the garment look older. You can easily remove the fluff with a pilling shaver and your wool sweater will look like new again. Removal with a conventional razor is cheaper but somewhat more time-consuming. It is important that you do not tear off the pilling, as this will only make the problem worse.
- Dryer as a strain
The tumble dryer dries clothes significantly faster and more easily than the sun does. However, the heat and spinning movements are very hard on the fabric. If you can't (or don't want to) do without the dryer, the Washo Dryer Balls reduce this problem. The sheep's wool balls shorten the drying time and replace the fabric softener at the same time. (You can find out more about the Washo Dryer Balls here: https://www.washo.ch/blogs/washo-blog/schneller-trocken-dank-der-washo-dryer-balls)
- Be gentle when ironing
High temperatures are also used when ironing. If you don't need perfectly smooth garments, you can skip ironing to protect the fabric. Otherwise, a steam iron should be used, as the moisture makes ironing easier. As an inexpensive alternative, a water atomizer provides a simple remedy. And: You should definitely check the label before ironing - not every fabric can withstand the iron.
- Wellness in the wardrobe
In addition to washing, drying and ironing, storage also plays an important role. Heavy knitwear, for example, loses its shape if it is hung up in the closet - it is better to fold it loosely. Silk, on the other hand, should always be hung on a hanger so that the delicate material does not crease. Shirts, blazers and co. retain their shape when hanging on slightly thicker hangers.