There‘s a lot you can do yourself to help us close the T-Shirt‘s loop. Here are a few tips you can follow to make your tee last longer.
1) In general: Wear more, wash less
You don’t need to wash your clothes as often as you think. Unless they are visibly dirty or smell, your clothes are still good to wear.
2) If you wash, know how to do it right
Close zippers before throwing your clothes in the machine. Open zippers can get entangled with and damage other fabrics.
Wash garments inside-out; that prevents colour loss.
Use a delicates bag (an old pillow case does the same job) to protect delicate fabrics.
Don’t overload: Your clothes will get damaged by rubbing against each other. Yet wasting water by washing small loads only is unnecessary. Try to fill your machine 2/3 to 3/4 full.
Wash at lower temperatures; that prevents fading and saves energy.
Don’t use detergent. It harms the environment and it can make your clothes stiffer.
Wash similar fabrics together (that goes for both colours and materials).
3) Skip the dryer
Dryers are energy-consuming, and they run the risk of shrinking your clothes through overheating. Use a drying rack or clothesline and air dry instead. It’s gentler on your garments and the environment.
Try flat drying. It prevents your clothes from losing their shape because they won’t be stretched down by water weight.
The no-plastic policy also holds true for hangers: They easily stretch out the shoulders of your clothes. Use wooden hangers instead.
4) Learn how to fix garments
Get yourself a sewing kit and learn how to fix holes and sew on buttons. A little practice is worthwhile: Fixing your own clothes brings a lot of satisfaction, promised.
