I have had some great dresses over the years that did not hold up for long. I have also had some other clothing pieces that deteriorated much faster than anticipated. For instance, my bras would start looking old just after a few wears and my leggings and tops would have material pilling all over. I found myself constantly needing to replace clothes, which was not good for my budget. Over the years I have found some great tactics that have helped my clothes stay intact and look new even after multiple washes.

I will share with you how to preserve different clothing pieces and how to make them look new even after they have been worn a lot. Fowling the washing instructions on the label of your clothing piece should help but sometimes that can be a hit or miss. I recall washing a pullover that stated that I should tumble dry it, which was not in the best interest of the poor pullover. After just one drying session it started to have material pilling all over. Also, it is recommended to handwash your bras, but who has time for that? There are ways to wash your bras in the washer. Please read on as I share my clothes preservation methods.

Dresses

I will start by mentioning that some brands will only recommend dresses to be dry cleaned, which usually includes any items made from silk or cashmere materials. So, you will always want to check the washing instructions on the label. However, just because the washing instructions tell you that you should tumble dry your dresses, it does not mean that you should take them up on that recommendation. Actually, you would be best washing your dresses on the delicate cycle (cold water) and then hanging them to dry. I follow this method with dresses that are made from rayon, spandex, polyester, and cotton. I wash my dresses on the delicate cycle and then I hang them on hangers or lay them flat to dry.

Bras

I do not handwash my bras because with my busy schedule I would run out of my bras by the time I would be able to hand wash them. Therefore, I wash all my bras on delicate cycle in laundry mesh bags. You will want to use the circular type that is recommended for bras. Then after the bras are washed, I take them out of the mesh bags and lay them flat to dry.

Cardigans and Sweaters

I do wash my sweaters and cardigans, but I do place them in a laundry mesh bag prior to placing them in the washer. This ensures that they do not get snags and that they do not stretch out. All my sweaters and cardigans are washed on delicate cycle regardless of the washing instructions on the label. I do avoid wearing cashmere sweaters as those would need to be dry cleaned or hand washed. After the sweaters and cardigans are washed, I lay them flat to dry. Another tip with cardigans and sweaters is that you should prevent hanging them on hangers because they do stretch out and start to lose their shape. Instead, fold them and put them in a drawer or on a shelf.

Hats

I will start by saying that you should never place your hats in the dryer. Not only will your hats loose shape, but they will fade and fall apart. Now, I am only talking about athletic hats here. Most other hats you will only be able to wipe clean, such as straw hats. When it comes to washing your athletic hats, you can do so by hand or in the washer by placing your hat in a little mesh bag.

Workout Gear

Most of your workout clothes are made of spandex or polyester, only some may have a cotton content. With that being said, in order to prevent shrinking of your workout clothes, you will want to wash your gear on a cold cycle. You will also want to hang those clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. Often, I see complaints in the reviews about material pilling. For instance my favorite leggings Align by Lululemon can start pilling if placed in the dryer. Therefore, skip the dryer if you want to make your workout clothes last.

Suits & Business Attire

Suits are expensive and not easy to find at the fit that you like. So, it goes without saying that to make your suit stay intact and last, take it to the dry cleaners. I washed my husband’s suit in the washer once and it never looked the same again.

Conclusion

Making your clothes last will not only save you money, but it will also ensure that your favorite clothes last you a long time. Ever since I started being more careful with how I care for my clothes, my clothes have been looking great. Moreover, I have learned that by using certain detergents such as the Woolite Darks Defense Liquid Detergent that my clothes have remained more vibrant.

Overall, you will want to purchase better quality detergents and softness, as they will preserve your clothes. I used cheaper laundry detergents for years and noticed that my clothes were getting ruined. Subsequently, leading to replacing my clothes more frequently. Now, I stick with Tide, Woolite, and Downy Unstopables Laundry Scent Booster. Other than that, I try to be more mindful when washing my clothes. Paying attention and not rushing the laundry process has proven to be very beneficial. As I find out more secrets to preserving clothes, I will come back and add the information to my article. So, be sure to come back soon.

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