Introduction | How to make your clothes last longer

What’s a simple thing anyone can do to make their clothes last longer?

Before tossing your clothes into the wash, dissolve powder detergent in water. Detergent actually protects clothes from the damaging effects of water. Mixing well and making sure the detergent is emulsified helps shield the fibers from distress. For top-loading machines, run on empty for a moment and then toss in the detergent, letting that go for 2 or 3 minutes. For drum-style machines, use a plastic bottle to mix the detergent and water in a 1:1 ratio before pouring into the detergent tray.

Step one is to reduce the number of laundry loads.To freshen them up, you could hang them in the shade or use a steamer to deodorize and sanitize.
 

• 　　　

  Wool / Knit items

  　　　

  To minimize damage, it’s best to wash them for a short time only. We recommend washing as follows:
  1. Add a neutral detergent to lukewarm water and stir well.
  2. Immerse the knits, turned inside out, and handwash for 3 minutes.
  3. Place inside a net bag and run on spin cycle for 1 minute.
  4. Remove from net and rinse for 3 minutes.
  5. Return to net bag and spin for 1 minute. Spread out the item and dry flat. A light spin cycle helps knits shed dirty water and detergent.
  
  Should knits be washed after each use?
  
  As long as they’re worn over innerwear and don’t touch skin, you only need to wash them a few times a season. Brush after each use to knock off any surface dust. Using a steamer gets rid of smells and kills bacteria. You can also just wash parts that are prone to absorbing sweat and oils, like the neck and cuffs.
  
  Do I really need a net bag?
  
  Knits lose shape easily. It’s good to use a net bag for anything that’s prone to wrinkles. Bags protect the fibers from damage and entanglement, for handsome results. To keep folded items from jostling around, you can use a slightly smaller bag or tie back excess material.
  
  Should I use fabric softener?
  
  There’s no need to use it every time. Totally optional. Just use it when you want a softer feel. Softeners are like hair treatments, in that they add a layer of film to the surface of the fibers, which can make them less absorbent. It’s not recommended to use softeners with innerwear or towels.
   

  　　　

Are your knits shrunken, stretched, or stained?
Essential for the fall and winter months, knits require special care.
A little bit of elbow grease can put these items back into rotation.

*No guarantees are made as to the results or efficacy of methods featured in this article. Different materials, dyes, degrees of soiling, and washing conditions may lead to fading, shrinking, loss of shape, and damage. Be sure to check the washing and care labels and proceed at your own risk.

• 　　　

  Stretching

  　　　

  It depends a bit on the design and thickness of the yarn, but Mogi says that “most stretching can be reversed by washing. Use the technique described above and wash gently by hand. Fibers contract during the spin cycle, returning items to their original shape. Over time, knits will conform to the body of the person wearing them. Using a steamer after each wear will also help to prevent stretching.

  　　　
  　　　
• 　　　

  Shrinking
   

  　　　

  As a last course of action against shrunken knits, try soaking in fabric softener or hair rinse.
  1. Fill a wash basin with lukewarm water and add about 4 squirts of rinse or 10 ml of fabric softener per 10 liters of water. Dissolve well.
  2. Soak the knits for 4 hours.
  3. Lightly rinse and slosh around by hand. Drain.
  4. Spread out the item and dry flat.” If this doesn’t fix the shrinkage, consider recycling.

  　　　
  　　　
• 　　　

  Stains
   

  　　　

  Different stains call for different measures, but for now let’s focus on mysterious stains that have been there for some time. If you’re not sure what caused it, take an approach that works on water-based and oil-based stains alike.
  1. Using a spray bottle, mix neutral detergent and water in a 1:1 ratio and spray onto the stain.
  2. Scrub the stain using a toothbrush.
  3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for about 10 minutes before washing by hand. Use the remaining solution within a week.