Have you ever acquired a new garment and you’re not sure how to wash it? Or even treat it? I’ve been there too.
We might have garments that were passed down to us or that we bought secondhand, or even we’ve removed the tag just because it’s itchy. But then, when it’s washing time, we don’t know how to proceed.
We created an easy guide to help you with those moments of uncertainty. This will help you take care of your clothes, no matter where they come from, and to make them last for years and years!
The best way to have a sustainable wardrobe is to use what you already have. Tons of garments are thrown away every season just because they are in bad condition. This can be solved if we take good care of our clothing, if we do, we’ll reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill.
Therefore washing, drying, and ironing correctly is key to making a piece of clothing look brand new so that you can keep wearing it many, many times.
We made another post on 8 Ways to Make Your Clothes Look Brand New, in there you will find a care label symbol guide. If you have any questions about the meaning of any symbol go check it out!
Here’s how to make your clothes to last you more than 3 wears:
LYCRA / SPANDEX
- Cares: Handwashing for swimwear and intimates. Machine wash in a gentle cycle, turn them inside out, use cold water. Iron with low heat. Air-drying is best. To remove odor, presoak the item for 30 minutes in cool water mixed with ¼ cup of Scented Vinegar.
- Best fibers: recycled spandex/elastane, sometimes is blended with organic cotton, Tencel, and recycled polyester or PET.
- Perfect in: underwear, swimwear, and athleisure. Blends: Long-sleeve t-shirts & socks.
Where can I find sustainable Lycra:
JERSEY KNIT
- Cares: Machine wash with cold water, tumble dry low heat or lay flat to dry, iron low heat.
- Best fibers: Tencel, organic cotton, wool, hemp.
- Perfect in: sweatpants, t-shirts, dresses, loungewear, pajamas, leggings, tops.
Where can I find sustainable Jersey garments:
RIB KNIT
- Cares: hand or machine wash cold in a gentle cycle, wash with similar colors, hang to dry or some Ribs fabrics might need to lay flat to dry, iron at low temperature, do not bleach.
- Best fibers: organic cotton, bamboo.
- Perfect in: cardigans, sweaters, tops, loungewear.
Where can to find these sustainable garments:
NYLON
- Cares: Wash separately, machine wash in a gentle cycle, use cold water, do not use bleach. Air-dry, hang to dry. No iron
- Best fibers: recycled nylon; mixed with elastane or hemp.
- Perfect in: tights, activewear, swimsuits, jackets.
Where can I find sustainable Nylon garments:
DENIM
- Cares: wash less, remove stains first with a damp cloth and mild soap, turn it inside out before washing it, use cold water, and gentle spin. Avoid harsher soaps. Line dry, hang them inside out, and avoid direct sunlight.
- Best fibers: recycled cotton, organic cotton, Tencel. 100% cotton jeans are 100% recyclable, which is good but if it is regular cotton, it isn’t sustainable.
- Perfect in: jeans, skirts, jackets, dresses.
Where can I find these sustainable garments:
- Vintage or thrift stores
Or brands like:
- Reformation
- Outerknown
- Boyish
- Nudie jeans
- Levi’s (WellThread collection)
FLANNEL / TARTAN / PLAID
- Cares: dry clean or hand wash cold water. Do not iron, and do not use bleach. Some garments might handle the washing machine in delicate settings.
- Best fibers: wool, mohair, Tencel, hemp; mixed with recycled polyester or organic cotton.
- Perfect in: shirts, jackets, skirts, blazers, coats.
Where can I find these sustainable garments:
LINEN
- Cares: wash with cold water and gentle cycle. Do not bleach, do not tumble dry, iron medium, or dry clean.
- Best fibers: 100% linen and organic linen.
- Perfect in: shirts, dresses, pants, skirts, jumpsuits, blouses, shorts.
Where can I find sustainable Linen garments:
CORDUROY
- Cares: Turn it inside out to wash and use cold water, hang to dry. It might not need to be ironed but if it does, turn it inside out and use medium heat.
- Best fibers: organic cotton, Tencel, 100% cotton.
- Perfect in: pants, jackets, skirts, jumpsuits.
Where can I find sustainable Corduroy garments:
CREPE
- Cares: Machine wash gentle cycle, cold water or hand wash, do not bleach, do not tumble dry, iron at low heat, hang dry.
- Best fibers: 100% Viscose, Lenzing Ecovero (wood) replaces viscose, Tencel.
- Perfect in: dresses, tops, blouses, shirts, skirts.
Where can I find sustainable Corduroy garments:
- Vetta Capsule
- OFFON clothing
- Christy Dawn
TWILL
- Cares: Wash & dry inside-out, use cold water. No bleach. No tumble dry. Dry in the shade. (similar to denim)
- Best fibers: Tencel, organic cotton, 100% cotton.
- Perfect in: jackets, pants, coats, shirts, skirts, jumpsuits, blazers.
Where can I find these sustainable garments:
SATIN
- Cares: Machine wash gentle cycle, cold water or hand wash, do not bleach, do not tumble dry, iron at low heat, hang dry.
- Best fibers: Tencel, 100% Silk, upcycled rayon, milk fiber.
- Perfect in: dresses, tops, blouses, shirts, skirts, loungewear, pajamas.
Where can I find sustainable Satin garments:
*We will always recommend air dry everything, it’s the most sustainable of doing it. We know that this option is not an option for everyone, if you can’t air dry, just make sure to search how to make your drying process more eco-friendly. Like with Wool Dryer Balls that help your laundry dry faster and make your clothes feel soft.
We even made a short DOWNLOADABLE version of this!
You can consult it whenever you need it.
Subscribe if you want to download the portable guide. It’s really simple and free!
*If you’re already an insider, just sign in to your account and go to the freebie section.
This guide helps you to know how you can treat your garments in general. It might not apply to every garment, always check the care label first, if it still has it on. Some brands make their clothing with special treatments, that’s why it may vary.
Remember we want to make our garments last, that’s the goal! The less we dispose of the best.
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[…] this is a whole other subject we made two blog posts about it. One with a guide on how to master the art of washing your clothes and another one on how to repair your clothes so they look brand […]