How to Take Care of Your Clothes So They Last Longer

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Did you know that you can save hundreds of dollars a year by caring for your clothes properly? Not just that, but it also reduces your carbon footprint. By extending the lifespan of your clothes, you save money while reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry and the amount of textile waste sent to landfills.

Question is, how do you take care of your clothes so they last longer? Caring for your clothes to extend their lifespan all comes down to simple habits: wash less often, use cold water, wash the right way to avoid fabric damage, avoid spot cleaning, air dry instead of heat drying, do not overdry, store in a dry place, and most importantly, choose quality fabrics.

Come, let’s show you how all of that helps.

13 Tips to Care for Your Clothes So They Last Longer

1. Wash Less Frequently

One of the best care tips to make your clothes last longer is to wash them less frequently. That’s because frequent washing breaks down fibers, fades colors, and shortens a garment’s life. While skin-hugging pieces like t-shirts, tank tops, and camisoles should be washed after each wear as recommended by the American Cleaning Institute, jeans, sweaters, and jackets last much longer if washed after several wears instead of after every use.

And the truth is, these garments don’t need to be washed after every wear unless they're sweaty or stained.

Washing less frequently is also better for the environment. Studies show that 25% of a garment’s carbon footprint comes from how we wash and dry it at home.

To know how often to wash different types of clothes, read this guide.

Pro tip: No matter how careful you get, a weak, low-quality fabric will likely still degrade after a few washes. For your peace of mind, consider investing in durable, sustainable clothing rather than fast fashion. Check here to find sustainable women’s clothing.

2. Wash the Right Way

Another reason our clothes wear out fast is that we wash under the wrong settings. To care for your clothes so they last longer, wash with cold water in a gentle cycle, and turn the clothes inside out. Cold water is gentler on fabrics and reduces energy use by up to 90% compared to hot washes. Turning clothes inside out helps preserve color and prevents surface damage.

And if your washing machine has a gentle cycle, this is what you should be using, especially for light fabrics that aren’t stained or greasy with sweat.

3. Group items

Wash heavy items separately from lightweight ones. This way, you can use standard wash on the heavy fabrics and gentle cycle on the lightweight ones, which helps preserve the fabric's integrity. You also want to group whites together to avoid color bleeding into them.

4. Use Non-Toxic Detergents

Conventional detergents are loaded with harsh chemicals that strip both quality and dirt from the fabric. Opt for biodegradable, plant-based detergents. Beyond being better for clothes, eco-friendly detergents don’t pollute waterways through runoff, and they’re safer for your skin.

Check out this review of the best eco-friendly detergents to find what works for you.

5. Avoid Spot Cleaning

Spot cleaning often does more harm than good, as it usually leaves a faded patch and weaker fiber due to the aggressive scrubbing you did. To remove stains without ruining your garment, apply a small amount of dish soap or baking soda to the affected area, soak the garment for an hour, and then wash normally according to the care label.

For stubborn stains, pretreat with a gentle stain remover before washing.

White vinegar or baking soda paste works well too on sweat and food stains. Plus they’re natural. Just avoid scrubbing too hard.

6. Don’t Leave Clothes Too Long in Sunlight

One of the best ways to make clothes last longer is to avoid leaving them too long under direct sunlight. Sunlight contains UV rays that fade fabric over time. UV rays are the biggest contributor to fabric fading. So remember to take your clothes indoors as soon as they are dry.

If possible, find a shaded spot where you can air-dry your clothes away from direct sunlight. Trust me, you'll find that your clothes stay vibrant and strong for longer.

7. Do Not Overdry

Overdrying not only shrinks clothes but also makes fibers brittle. To care for your clothes and extend their lifespan, remove them from the dryer while still slightly damp. Then complete the drying on a hanger or air-dry outside.

Generally, high heat from the dryer can cause damage and wrinkles to fabric. This necessitates the next point…

8. Hang or Lay Flat to Air Dry

Air drying is one of the easiest ways to extend clothing life because the heat from the machine dryer weakens the fiber. Hang shirts, pants, and dresses. For heavy or knitted clothing, hanging may cause the fabric to stretch undesirably. So consider drying this type of clothing flat.

Ultimately, avoid the dryer when possible. It’s the fastest way to destroy clothing.

9. Avoid Fabric Softeners

Fabric softeners might make clothes feel fluffy short-term, but they coat fibers with a thin film that reduces absorbency and traps odors. Towels, sportswear, and natural fabrics suffer the most from this. To ensure your fabric remains breathable just as when new, avoid fabric softeners.

10. Avoid Dry Cleaning or Choose Eco-Friendly Options

Traditional dry cleaning uses perchloroethylene, a chemical linked to air and groundwater pollution. So if you're eco-conscious, you want to think twice before dry cleaning. If you must dry clean, look for eco-friendly services or products that use liquid CO₂.

In my experience, it’s safer to hand-wash wool, silk, or cashmere at home, as these garments are delicate. Hand washing is also cheaper.

11. Repurpose Old Clothes

This tip will not make your clothes vibrant for longer, but it sure can extend their lifespan. How? Imagine cutting your old pair of jeans to shorts. Or converting that old scarf into a kitchen rag. This will cut down the amount of textiles you're sending to landfills, thereby reducing your environmental footprint. Plus, it saves you money on new shorts and rags as the case may be.

With textile waste hitting 92 million tons globally every year, repurposing old clothes is a sustainable lifestyle practice we all should consider adopting.

12. Buy Quality Over Quantity

I get that cheap clothing is tempting. But did you know that you end up spending more in the long run? Fast fashion rarely lasts, so you get to spend regularly on replacements. On the other hand, a high-quality sustainable piece can survive from season to season.

Beyond the cost savings, investing in durable and sustainable clothing is better for the environment, as there’s less waste going to landfill. A 2023 WRAP report found that extending the average life of clothing by just nine months reduces its carbon, water, and waste footprint by 20–30%.

13. Store Clothes Properly

How you store your clothes can impact their lifespan. Keep garments in a cool, dry place to avoid mold. Use padded hangers for delicate fabrics and fold knitwear and heavy coats to prevent stretching.

And don’t stuff your closet too tight. When it gets too stuffy and humid, mold can grow on your clothes. That’s neither good for the fabric nor your skin. So allow proper ventilation and prevent humidity.

How to Care for Leather Clothing

Leather can last decades. But if you don’t care for it properly, it cracks and stiffens. The key to caring for leather clothing is moisture balance.

Here’s how to do it:

• Wipe leather garments gently with a damp cloth after use to remove dirt and sweat.
• Condition them every 6–12 months with a natural leather balm. This prevents drying out.
• Avoid plastic storage bags since they trap moisture and cause mildew. Instead, store leather in breathable garment bags.
• Never leave leather under direct sunlight or near heaters. Otherwise, it becomes dry and brittle.
• If your leather garment gets wet, dry it naturally at room temperature, never with heat.

Basically, leather clothing shouldn’t be subjected to high heat or left in a damp environment for too long. Your leather garments will last longer without cracks this way.

How to Care for Natural Fabrics

Natural fabrics like linen, silk, and cotton are highly durable and comfortable, but it all comes down to proper care, too.

Cotton Dresses: The best way to care for cotton fabrics is by washing in cold water with mild detergent, gentle cycle, and air drying away from direct sunlight. Doing so prevents wrinkles and color fading and maintains the overall fabric integrity. Cotton shrinks in high heat, so avoid dryers and overdrying under intense sunlight.

Silk Clothing: Silk is delicate and prefers handwashing in cool water with a gentle detergent. Never wring silk. Instead, press water out gently with a towel and dry flat. Hanging silk can cause stretching, so it’s best to dry flat on a drying rack.

Linen Clothing: To care for linen clothing, wash in cold or lukewarm water on a gentle cycle. Air dry flat to maintain shape. Iron while damp.

The care instructions for linen and cotton are very similar. However, linen is considered higher maintenance because it wrinkles more easily and more delicate handling and washing techniques.

How to Care for Rayon Clothing

Always wash rayon in cold water. I prefer hand-washing, but gentle cycle also works. Never twist or wring it. Doing so can damage the fibers. It's also best to dry flat, as hanging may cause stretching. Yes, rayon is a weak fabric, especially when wet.

If you must iron, use a low-heat iron and always place a cloth between the iron and garment to prevent scorching.

How to Care for Polyester Clothing

I don’t recommend buying polyester since it sheds microplastics that harm oceans and wildlife. The environmental impact of polyester is humongous. In fact, it is the main driver of fast fashion.

But it’s alright if you have some. If you already own polyester clothing, proper care can help it last longer, thereby reducing waste and production pressure.

Wash polyester clothes in a microfiber-catching laundry bag to prevent fibers from entering waterways. Avoid dryers, since heat breaks down polyester faster. Instead, air dry. And because polyester traps odors, you don’t need to wash after each use, unless necessary. Instead, air garments out between uses.

Globally, about 200,000–500,000 tons of microplastics from textiles (aka polyester fibers) enter the oceans each year. You can cut this down by up to 80% by using laundry bags or simply going for natural fabrics instead.

How to Care for Naturally Dyed Fabrics

Naturally dyed fabrics are typically a combination of both natural fabrics and natural dyes using natural dyeing techniques, so the color may bleed a little in the first wash. To preserve these eco-friendly garments, wash in cold water with mild detergent, avoid bleach, and air dry in the shade. Drying away from direct sunlight helps keep the color vibrance for longer. You also want to wash separately in the first few washes, as the color may bleed a little.

Read more on how to care for plant-dyed fabrics.

What Type of Clothing Lasts the Most?

Clothing made of natural fibers like silk, hemp, and linen generally have the longest durability. However, you can make your clothes last longer or at least optimize their durability by proper care, washing, and drying techniques.

Where to Buy Durable Natural Clothing

You can find durable clothing made of natural fibers at Ichcha. We often combine materials like silk and cotton to give you the best of both worlds. What’s more, we use plant-based dyes in all our block print dresses so everything is completely eco-friendly, from fiber to print.

And from experience, washing them by hand or on a gentle cycle and drying in the shade keeps them looking vibrant for years.

If you’re a fan of sustainable clothing, we welcome you to visit our shop. Best part is, we use the hand block-printing method, so every piece you get is unique, one-of-a-kind.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the best way to make clothes last longer?

The best way to make clothes last longer is to wash less frequently, use gentle detergents, avoid dryers, and avoid overdrying in the sun. These are simple laundry habits, but they can add years to the life of your garments.

2. How do I wash clothes without damaging them?

The heat from hot water and dryers is damaging your garments. Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot, separate colors, use gentle cycles, and avoid frequent heat-drying. Air drying is the safest method. Do not wring silk. You also want to avoid harsh detergents and fabric softeners.

3. Can I use vinegar or baking soda to care for clothes?

Yes. White vinegar helps remove odors and softens clothes naturally. Baking soda can brighten whites. Both are gentler than commercial fabric softeners.

4. Should I wash clothes at 30 or 40?

Washing at 30°C is usually better for everyday laundry because it’s gentler on fabrics and saves energy. It also helps colors stay bright for longer. You can wash heavily soiled items, towels, or bedding at 40°C since the higher temperature cleans a bit deeper. However, for regular clothes, 30°C is sufficient while keeping them in better shape, as high heat can damage the fabric.

5. How long should clothes last with proper care?

Quality garments can last anywhere from 5 to 10 years with proper care, and sometimes even longer. Fast fashion items, by contrast, often wear out in 1–2 years.

6. How does clothing care affect the environment?

Caring properly for your clothes helps reduce textile waste and lowers demand for more clothing, as each piece lasts longer. Avoiding harsh detergents reduces pollution. Washing less often also minimizes microplastic pollution and energy use. In fact, extending a garment’s life by just nine months reduces its environmental footprint by up to 30%.