Environmentally friendly manufactured products are important for a conscious approach to our planet. However, it is not the only thing that counts: If we talk about sustainability, the aspect of longevity is particularly significant. Only if we use our products for a long time can they be sustainable at all.
But for a garment to stay beautiful for a long time, we have to take care of it. Particularly when it comes to washing, our habits have a big influence on how long our clothes last, since every 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 less clothing, but choose it for quality and make it last.") But that doesn't mean we should now throw away that polyester sweater. Polyester is not an environmentally friendly fiber, but the sweater has already been produced - if you wear it now for a long time, it is still more sustainable than the organic cotton top that is only worn twice. But when buying new, look for high-quality, eco-friendly materials that will last.
- The laundry is prepared, honey!
Before the laundry goes into the drum, it should be properly sorted. Open bra or zippers can hook into other fabrics, causing rips. Buttons, on the other hand, are open so they don't rip off during the vigorous movements in the machine. With each wash cycle, some color will come out of the fibers; for a strong luminosity, turn colored garments inside out. This is especially true for solid fabrics like jeans, dark garments or bedding. To avoid accidents, it makes sense to sort your clothes by color.
- Not all washing is the same
Basically, we wash our clothes far too often these days. When washing, the fibers in the clothing are subjected to enormous stress and thus fall apart more quickly. You can reduce this stress 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 bit more care than a cotton fabric. Sheep's wool, for example, will develop small nodules in the fabric after a while - this has nothing to do with low quality, but happens because of friction. The nodules look unsightly and make the garment look older. With a pilling shaver, you can easily remove the lint and your wool sweater will look like new again. Cheaper, but a little more time-consuming is the removal with a conventional razor. It's important that you don't tear off the pilling, as this will only make the problem worse.
- Dryer as a punishment
The tumbler dries clothes significantly faster and less complicated than the sun does. However, the heat and spinning motions put a lot of strain on the fabric. If you can't (or don't want to) do without the dryer, reduce this problem with Washo Dryer Balls. The balls made of sheep's wool shorten the drying time and replace the fabric softener at the same time. (Learn 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 perfectly smooth garments, you can skip ironing to preserve the fabric. Otherwise, a steam iron should be used, as the moisture makes ironing easier. As an inexpensive alternative, a water sprayer will simply do the trick. And: Before ironing, be sure to check the label - not every fabric tolerates the iron.
- 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's better to fold it loosely. Silk, on the other hand, should always be hung on a hanger to prevent the delicate material from wrinkling. Shirts, blazers and the like keep their shape if they hang on somewhat thicker hangers.