7 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Clothing

By extending the life of your clothing by just nine months, you can reduce its carbon, water, and waste footprints by up to 30%.

We love small changes that make a big impact.

Fast fashion's environmental impact is increasingly clear. Extending the lifespan of our clothes can play a critical role in creating a sustainable wardrobe. While recycling and donating are great options for unwanted garments, keeping your clothes in use longer is even better for the planet.

Here, we explore practical tips to care for and cherish your wardrobe, reducing the need for constant replacements while keeping sustainability front and center.

1. Extend Clothing Life by Washing Less

Overwashing is one of the quickest ways to wear out your clothing. It fades colors, weakens bonds between fabric fibers, and also contributes to microfiber pollution.

🧡 Tips to Try

• Spot clean stains instead of washing after every wear.

• Use cold water and a gentle cycle to reduce wear and tear.

• Choose eco-friendly detergents and a mesh laundry bags to trap as many microfibers as possible.

• Air-dry delicate items and avoid overusing the dryer, which weakens elastic and causes pilling.

• A splash of white vinegar to your rinse cycle softens fabrics naturally and removes odors.

🚨 Things to Avoid

• Fabric softeners and heavy-duty detergents, which can weaken synthetic fabrics over time. (Sorry, we know they smell so good.)

• Overloading the washing machine can strain your garments.

2. Store Clothes Strategically

Proper storage can make a surprising difference in preserving your clothing's shape and longevity.

🧡 Tips to Try

• Fold heavy knits and sweaters to prevent stretching.

• Use padded hangers for delicate fabrics like silk and satin.

• Store garments in a cool, dry place to avoid mildew or moth damage.

• Using breathable garment bags for coats, suits, and dresses can help protect them while allowing air circulation.

• Add cedar blocks or lavender sachets to your storage to deter moths.

• Keep shoes in fabric dust bags to avoid scuffing.

🚨 Things to Avoid

• Hanging stretchy materials like jerseys or knits.

• Using wire hangers, which can leave unwanted marks on clothes.

3. Mend and Repair

The fashion industry has 52 microseasons a year — one a week each! — so it's no wonder why people are prone to discarding lightly worn clothes for newer options.

But discarding clothes at the first sign of damage is, obviously, not ideal. By learning how to mend our clothes, we can prolong their lifespan, and increase the return on our sartorial investment.

🧡 Tips to Try

• Invest in a basic sewing kit with needles, thread, and spare buttons.

• Sew on loose buttons or repair small holes before they worsen. (Mea culpa on this one.)

• There are tons of YouTube tutorials that can help you with simple fixes, like repairing small holes or sewing hems.

• Patch jeans or jackets with decorative stitching or fabric for a personal touch. (This is just straight up fun.)

• Take advantage of local tailors or repair cafes for more complicated fixes. Many dry cleaners also do alterations!

🚨 Things to Avoid

• Letting small damages go unattended — they can quickly worsen.

• Repairs can seem expensive, but they’re often cheaper than replacing the entire item.

4. Invest in Quality Pieces

Fast-fashion garments are oh-so tempting. They're super affordable and look cute from afar — we've totally been there. But they also wear out quickly and wear out their welcome as the trends shift.

By choosing higher-quality pieces, we can save some money in the long term and resources in the long run.

🧡 Tips to Try

• Look for natural, durable materials like cotton, wool, or linen.

• Invest in timeless styles that won’t go out of fashion.

• Pay attention to construction details like stitching and fabric weight.

🚨 Things to Avoid

• Buying trendy items that may not last more than a season.

• Assuming high price means high quality — it's always good to inspect the tags.

5. Rotate Your Wardrobe

While it's good to get the most from you pieces, wearing the same items repeatedly without giving them a break can cause excessive wear. Rotating your wardrobe of well-chosen items means that each piece gets equal love.

🧡 Tips to Try

• Organize your wardrobe seasonally, storing off-season items safely.

• Experiment with mixing and matching outfits to keep things fresh.

• Rediscover old favorites by "shopping your closet" before buying new.

• By creating a seasonal wardrobe rotation, you can reduce strain on off-season pieces by storing them properly during off months (see below).

🚨 Things to Avoid

• Leaving clothes crammed in your wardrobe, where they can wrinkle or deform.

• Neglecting items buried in the back of the closet.

6. Protect Your Clothes from Wear and Tear

There are a few extra preventative measures can keep your clothes looking chic.

🧡 Tips to Try

• Use a fabric shaver (or a disposable razor in a pinch) to remove pilling on sweaters and knits.

• Use laundry protectors like garment bags for delicate items.

• Treat stains immediately to prevent them from setting in.

• By checking care labels before washing, you can spot fabrics like wool or silk that may require hand-washing or dry cleaning.

• Use a steamer instead of an iron for delicate fabrics to avoid burns or shiny marks. (This is a personal fave, because it also means you don't need to break out the ironing board.)

  
  

🚨 Things to Avoid

• Leaving stains untreated for too long. It's easy to put off, but we swear they’ll become harder to remove later.

• Not checking garment care labels. It's a small thing, but a good thing.

7. Embrace Circular Fashion

Of course, the best way to extend your wardrobe's life is by swapping, donating, or sharing clothes with others.

🧡 Tips to Try

• Organize clothing swaps with friends or within your community.

• Resell gently used items to give them a second life.

• Borrow occasion-specific pieces instead of buying them.

• Organize a clothing drive in your building. This is great for people in apartments where people are regularly moving in and out.

🚨 Things to Avoid

• Discarding clothes when someone else might find them useful.

• Overlooking creative ways to upcycle old garments.

Small Choices Add Up

By focusing on the craftsmanship and care of our clothing, we can be both Earth-friendly and wallet-friendly. And, as always, the idea is build better habits, not be perfect!

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