9 ways to extend the life of your clothes
We’re not ones to pass up an opportunity to save a little money, so if we can do anything to make our favourite items of clothing last as long as possible, we’ll do it. If you want to get the most out of your wardrobe, why not give one of these clever tricks a try?
1. Wash them less – Not sure if your shirt or pants really warrants a wash? Before you put it under any unnecessary wear and tear, hang it up inside-out in an open space. This should air out any lingering unpleasant odours.
2. Loosen a stuck zipper – Zipper won’t budge? All you need to do is rub a crayon, candle, bar of soap or anything else with a waxy texture on the zipper and it should start moving again.
3. Avoid the dryer – If you’ve just done a wash but can’t hang your clothes due to poor weather, hang them on an indoor airing rack or wait for the skies to clear. This way, you’ll avoid any damage that might occur to the garment in the dryer.
4. Keep costume jewellery gleaming – The only real downside of costume jewellery is when it begins to tarnish, making it look cheap and tacky. To avoid this, coat it in clear nail polish or spray paint before wearing it for the first time.
5. De-scuff suede – Suede shoes look fantastic when they’re new, but they can easily become scuffed. Get them looking great again by rubbing away scuff marks with a nail file.
6. Never hang knitwear – Resist the urge to hang your jumpers and cardigans – doing so can quickly stretch them out of shape. Simply fold them instead.
7. Keep darks dark – Blacks, navies and other dark hues can fade easily after a few rounds in the washing machine. To keep them looking darker longer, simply wash them inside out and with like colours.
8. Fix a falling fly – If the zipper on your jeans or pants seems to creep down, just thread a keyring through the hole in the zipper tab. When you zip up, all you have to do is pop the keyring over the button before doing it up. It’ll keep your fly done-up and your little secret hidden.
9. Educate yourself – Don’t know how to sew? It’s time to learn! Knowing how to stitch up holes, rips or fallen hems could save your favourite item of clothing. Here’s a simple, quick tutorial to get started.
What else would you add to the list? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below.