24 Ways to Make Your Clothes Last Longer
We’ve all experienced it: you see a hole starting on your favorite sweater or a thread hanging from your favorite shirt and you wonder how much longer it will last. You love your clothes, and you want to avoid the time and expense of replacing them. Fortunately, those favorite clothes of yours and mine can last a little longer with some love and care. Here are 24 ways to make your clothes last longer.
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1 | Buy well-made clothing
Buy well-made clothes with the idea that they’ll last a long time and the plan that you’ll take good care of them. High-quality clothes may cost more than other brands to purchase, but you can save money in the long run because you don’t have to replace them as frequently. You’ll be saving money and reducing material waste and consumption.
Some signs of high-quality clothing:
The material is not sheer or see-through.
Loose stitching and loose seams. Pull at a seam to see if it comes apart. Tighter stitching is better.
Material and patterns match at the seams.
Hems are finished versus raw (a common style nowadays)
Covered zippers and buttons.
Buttons are securely sewn on. They’re not loose needing reinforcement.
Lining in the inside of jackets, skirts, dresses, and pants.
Fabric content. Many people prefer natural fibers such as silk, wool, and cotton versus synthetic fibers such as polyester. This can be a matter of personal preference.
A few brands that areknown for high-quality items:
L.L.Bean
Lands’ End
Patagonia
Pendleton
Frye
Eileen Fisher
If high-quality items are too expensive for your budget, think ahead to what you might need for the next few seasons and wait for a sale to come along. Most companies have sales around major holidays. Even companies that don’t typically have sales or large discounts will have a Black Friday special.
You can also save money by investing in classic pieces that suit you and will remain in fashion year after year. Capsule wardrobes are popular in part for this reason.
So next time you shop, skip fast fashion brands like Forever 21, H&M, ASOS, and Zara, and explore other brands that will give you high-quality lasting clothing.
2 | Rotate your clothing
Rotating your clothing means switching them out whether by day, month, or season. You’re not wearing the same clothes too frequently. This allows them to rest between wears.
It sounds silly that clothes should need to rest. But being worn exposes clothes to dirt, body oils, friction, and other wear.
This is hard if you’re like me and have some favorite items you want to wear every day. How do you implement this?
Set a certain number of days between wearing the same item or allow only 1-2 wears of an item per week.
When you wash the clothing, newly washed clothes go to the back of the clothes or the bottom of a drawer. You then wear what’s in front of the closet or the top of the drawer.
Plan your outfits so you know don’t overly rely on one piece of clothing.
Buy two of the same item that you like so one can rest while the other is worn.
Having multiples of items can cost more upfront but will keep both items lasting longer. This is very helpful for shoes, which benefit from airing out between wears.
3 | Change out of your outside clothing when you get home
Do you wear a dress shirt and pants for work? Take them off when you get home and take care of them right away.
Treat any items that got dirty or stained. Hang up items that are still clean. Change into home clothes that you don’t mind getting worn like loungewear.
I wear scrubs to work. I change out of them when I get home for sanitary reasons and because some of my scrubs are expensive. I change out of dresses after a dinner out and even take off a pretty top or sweater when I’ve returned home from an outing to keep it clean.
I don’t want to cook dinner, walk the dog, clean the house, and go back and forth from standing to sitting with those clothes on.
At the same time, make sure to pick the right clothing for each activity. If you’re gardening, you’ll want to wear clothes you can sweat in and get dirt on. Don’t make my mistake and wear a new white shirt to the dog park where my dog then jumped on me!
4 | Store your clothes with care
Storing your clothes properly will help them last longer too.
Some clothes do best folded. Sweaters and knitwear get shoulder bumps and stretch out over time when stored on hangers.
The weight of the fabric pulls the sweater downward, which leaves it misshapen. Fold sweaters neatly and store them on a shelf or in a drawer to help them maintain their shape.
Seasonal clothing
If you’re storing seasonal clothing away for several months, ensure the clothes are laundered first to get rid of any unwanted dirt, body oils, and sweat. They may not be visible to the naked eye on an item, but they will become discolorations and stains after sitting for months in storage.
Make sure the clothes are completely dry. Wet clothes will grow mold.
Use breathable garment bags to store nice clothing like dresses, jackets, and suits. Plastic bags from the dry cleaners don’t hold up as well.
Skip the cardboard boxes, which provide little protection. Store clothes in plastic storage containers with lids. If you live in a place with high humidity, you may have to get tight-fitting lids that block out moisture or place desiccants in the containers.
I like clear storage containers so I can easily see and locate what I want inside them. I would choose darker bins if I know my items will be exposed to sunlight.
As for how to best organize your clothes, the Mari Kondo method promotes decluttering and storing your belongings in a way that is most beneficial to you.
5 | Use wooden hangers
Use the correct size and type of hanger for your items. Many people favor wooden hangers because they’re stronger and wider than plastic and wire hangers.
They are sturdy enough to hold bulky and heavy items like jackets and suits. They can be to better preserve the shape of your clothes.
The problem with wooden hangers is that they’re relatively heavy and take up a lot of space in a closet. I use these space-saving non-slip hangers for storing my clothes as well.
6 | Handwash & line dry
Handwashing clothes is great for items such as delicate sweaters and items with beading or fancy embellishments. Check the care tag before attempting to handwash an item.
Some will say to handwash the item and reshape it to dry. If the item is too delicate to wring dry, I’ll gently roll it up in a big towel to remove excess water and then lay it flat to dry.
A simple drying rack like this one works well for drying handwashed clothes. It doesn’t take up much space and folds up neatly for storage.
I’ve found over time that some clothes say “dry clean only” but can withstand light handwashing. If I don’t want to soak an item, I’ll steam clean it or put it in the dryer with Dryel.
This saves on the cost of dry cleaning and avoids exposure to chemicals used in dry cleaning that can damage the fabric. Wash only when necessary (after several wears if possible) to keep the fabric intact.
If you decide to use the dryer, know that it can shorten the life of your clothes. The hot air weakens, fades, and shrinks materials. This is especially true for elastic.
Bras and underwear will look worn and stretch out much faster when placed in the dryer versus being lined dried. I’ve found that line drying athletic clothes helps them last much longer and reduces pilling as well.
7 | Wash clothes less often
Have you ever washed a new shirt for the first time only to have it come out looking worn? I had a new sweater pill on the first wash before it was ever worn! Even one wash starts to wear out your clothes.
The lint catcher in your dryer is evidence of this too. While there may be actual lint and pet hair in it, there are also fibers that have come off your clothing.
Most outer clothing such as pants and shirts don’t get very dirty from one wear unless you’re sweating in them. Try wearing them a few times before throwing them in the wash.
8 | Freshen up your clothing between wears
You can make your clothes last longer by freshening them up between wears:
Hang your clothes to air them out
Wipe down or dab at items to remove dirt and debris
Spray with vodka or white vinegar and water to get smells out
Steam your clothes to get out the wrinkles
If you decide to stray your clothes, try the spray out on a small area to ensure it doesn’t damage or discolor your clothing.
9 | Treat stains right away
Try to treat stains right away to prevent them from setting. I like to carry a Tide To Go stain remover pen and dab it on the stain followed by gentle rubbing if I know the material can tolerate it.
Gentle dish soap like Dawn works well if you don’t have a Tide Pen or Shout stain remover available.
Another common way to get out stains is to use a combination of white vinegar and baking soda. This is a common tactic against old stains that may have already set in.
If you put the item in the washing machine, check that the stain came out. Keep treating the stain and washing the item until the stain comes out.
Don’t put the item in the dryer because heat can cause the stain to set.
10 | Pre-treat your clothing
Pre-treat your clothing to remove stains, dirt, and odors and address any other issues before you put it in the wash. While it may take extra time and effort, this will keep you from having to wash your clothes multiple times, which could ruin your clothing.
11 | Take extra care of workout clothes
Workout clothes need extra care because they’re often made with different materials than everyday wear and you sweat heavily in them.
Wet clothes can lead to odors and mold growth. If you have a few days between working out and doing laundry, let the clothes air dry. Don’t let them sit wet in a bag or hamper.
Have you ever washed workout clothes and they still came out smelling bad? Next time soak the clothes in a mix of white vinegar and water before washing them.
Don’t use fabric softener, which can damage the material and reduce the absorbency.
Then air dry your clothes whenever possible If you have to use the dryer, use the lowest heat setting. Workwear will thin out and lose its elasticity with too much time exposed to high dryer heat.
12 | Wash delicates in mesh bags or pillowcases
An easy way to wash delicates such as lingerie and thin liner socks is to put them in mesh laundry bags or pillowcases. This saves time (no handwashing!) and keeps odds and ends from getting tangled with other items in the wash.
Those mesh bags are not just for delicate and small items. I wash sweaters and long-sleeve shirts in them too. This gets them clean while keeping their shape intact.
13 | Wash items inside out
Turn clothes such as jeans and sweatshirts inside out for washing. Clothes rub against other clothes in the washing machine.
Turning them inside out allows the inside of the clothing to take the brunt of the friction and wear. Zippers, buttons, sequins, and other embellishments are kept from rubbing on other items too.
Don’t forget to unrolled cuff jeans and other cuffed items and unbutton shirts before putting them in the wash. Otherwise cuff marks will become permanent and buttonholes may become stressed and stretched.
14 | Use cold water in the washing machine
Believe it or not, cold water gets clothes just as clean as hot water. The idea that you have to wash clothes in hot water is from the old days when laundry detergents needed hot water to activate them. That’s no longer the case.
My washing machine automatically picks warm or hot water on some cycles, so I change it to cold water every time I run it. Another benefit of using cold water is avoiding clothes shrinkage.
15 | Use the gentlest cycle available
Use the gentle cycle of the washing machine whenever you can. This is the shortest cycle with minimal spinning and agitation similar to hand-washing your clothes. This is meant for delicate garments but can be used for any item.
If you’re not sweating heavily and dirtying your everyday clothes, try the gentle cycle to reduce the wear on your clothes from washing.
16 | Skip dry cleaning
Dry cleaning uses chemicals that can wear out your clothes faster. Skip it when you can or opt for an alternative like Dryel.
I’ve found that some clothes that are recommended to dry clean only can be washed in water. I’ll handwash them and lay them flat to dry or put them in a mesh laundry bag before putting them in the washing machine.
Another option for lightly dirty clothes is to hang the clothes in the bathroom during a shower to steam them clean. Add a light spritz of freshener or let the item air out to ensure a nice scent.
17 | Use dust bags and filling for purses
Dust bags are great for keeping purses free of dust and dirt. If your purse doesn’t come with one, try using these bags or a large cotton pillowcase to keep the bag breathable. Stuffing the purse with tissue paper will help it keep its shape as well.
18 | Use shoe fresheners and shapers
After wearing your shoes for a day in hot weather, they’re probably stinky and wet with sweat. The best way to take care of your shoes is to dry them out.
These all-natural deodorizers are my favorite item to get rid of shoe moisture and odors. You can also stuff newspaper into the shoes and let them dry in an area with good air circulation.
Other than that, rotating shoes regularly allow them time to dry and deodorize, thereby helping them last longer.
19 | Keep the closet dry
Keep your closets dry to prevent moisture and mold from growing in them.
Ensure your clothes are fully dry before putting them away.
Leave space between clothes to let air circulate. Don’t pack clothes too tightly together.
Leave closet doors open for better air circulation.
Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to get the moisture out of the air.
I like using charcoal bags in the closet and a small dehumidifier in the bathroom. It’s helped get the towels dryer, particularly in the winter when it’s not warm enough for towels to air dry well.
20 | Use protectants on your shoes
Shoes take more of a beating than any other item you wear. You can protect them by spraying them with special water and stain protectors like this one and this one.
This causes dirt and water to sit on top of the item, where they can be wiped away. Some protectants can be used on clothing too.
21 | Mend holes, seams, and pulls
A stitch in time saves nine, so mend your clothes sooner rather than later to keep them wearable. Use thread that matches the color of your item and sew up holes following any seam that is already present.
It may take a few tries to look good if you’re new to sewing, but the stitching likely won’t be noticeable if it’s a small hole in a less noticeable spot like the armpit.
You can often reattach sequins and other embellishments with a few stitches, making an item presentable again.
If you have a pull in your clothes, a small repairing tool can is handy to fix it. This is a lifesaver when you find your clothes getting caught on things all the time!
22 | Try to remain the same size
If it’s right for you, try to maintain your size so that you can keep wearing your clothes until they wear out.
If your weight fluctuates, get to know a tailor who can alter clothes for you so you can continue to wear your favorite items despite changing sizes.
23 | Repurpose your clothing
Old clothes can be put to new uses by repurposing them. Items with small stains or light wear can become pajamas, loungewear, gardening clothing, or clothes for deep cleaning the house.
A few other unique ways to repurpose clothing:
Cut jeans making them into shorts
Turn old socks into heating pads or scented sachets for drawers
Make a quilt out of old sweatshirts
Make clothing, jeans, and ties into small pouches
Create a braided dog toy out of old t-shirts
24 | Be creative!
Be creative with what you can do with your clothes. My friend once had a stain on the front of her shirt. She’s artistic, so she drew a scene on the shirt and kept wearing it! I wouldn’t have even known there was a stain except that she told me when admiring her drawing.
Tie-dying is a popular trend with clothing right now. Tie-dying can also hide discolorations and fading on old clothing. And now you’re in fashion again!
With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, it’s easy to shop for new clothes and outfits. But take a look at those old favorite clothes. They may last longer and still look great by following the tips above. Save your wallet for bigger and better things!
Do you have any favorite clothes and accessories you wish would last forever? What do you do to make them last longer?
