If your clothes are wearing out fast, you’re probably doing this wrong…
Ever pulled your favourite hoodie out of the wash, only to find it looking like it’s aged ten years overnight? Or noticed tiny holes appearing out of nowhere on your favourite jeans? It’s frustrating, right?
But here’s the thing, it’s not bad luck or just wear and tear. There’s a good chance you’re unknowingly making some laundry mistakes that are speeding up the destruction of your clothes.
Stick with us, and we’ll uncover the sneaky culprits behind your wardrobe woes. Trust me, you’ll want to know this.
Why Do Your Clothes Wear Out So Fast?
There are loads of reasons why your clothes might be wearing out so fast. We’ve all been guilty of at least some of these, take a look and see where you’re going wrong;
Ignoring The Wash Care Label
You know that little tag inside your shirt? The one you probably cut off because it’s itchy? Yeah, that one. Turns out, it’s not just there to annoy you. It’s got all the secrets to keeping your clothes looking fresh.
Ignoring it is a big mistake. You’ll end up shrinking, stretching, or completely ruining your gear. Always check the care label before washing your laundry.
Overloading The Machine
Look, we get it. You want to get all your washing done in one go. But shoving everything into the drum like you’re playing laundry Tetris is only going to wreck your clothes AND your machine.
Half of your stuff won’t even get cleaned, and the other half will come out looking like it’s been dragged through a hedge backward. Be kind to your laundry and your washing machine and give your clothes some room to breathe.
Washing Clothes Too Often
Not every outfit needs to go straight in the wash. If you’ve only worn that shirt for a couple of hours and didn’t spill your tea down it, it’s probably fine to wear again.
Overwashing is a fast track ticket to faded colours and worn out fabrics. Before chucking your clothes in the laundry bin, give them the sniff test. If they smell alright and don’t have stains, you can wear them again.
Mixing Fabrics
Throwing jeans and delicates in the same load? Bold move, but it’s not going to end well. Those rough materials will rub your delicate clothes to bits.
Always remember silk and denim don’t mix. Well, not in the washer anyway. If you absolutely must mix fabrics, grab a mesh laundry bag to protect your dainty pieces. Your silk shirts will thank you.
Forgetting To Zip It
Here’s one that’ll have you facepalming: leaving zips, buttons, and clasps undone. These bad boys will catch on everything else in the wash, leaving you with ripped clothes and a broken heart.
If the clasp of one item gets caught on something else and they get pulled in different directions during the rough and tumble, you’re likely to get a ripped top or busted jeans.
It only takes two seconds to zip up, button up, and do whatever else needs doing before putting them in the machine.
Mixing The Colours
If you don’t want a wardrobe disaster, you need to separate your whites from your brightly coloured or dark clothes. Darker coloured items are likely to bleed colour onto your lighter coloured or white clothes in the wash.
We all know this can make light clothes change colour (we all know about the one red sock in with the white T-shirts right?) But did you know it can also make darker clothes fade faster?
Always wash light clothes with other light clothes and dark clothes with other dark clothes and keep whites away from all other colours.
Using Too Much Detergent (Less Is More)
We’ve all been guilty of thinking, “A bit more detergent will make it extra clean, right?” Wrong. It makes your clothes look faded and sad. And if you’re dealing with a stubborn stain?
Forget piling on the detergent. Check the instructions on your detergent and only use the specified amount. If the stain is really stubborn, you might need expert advice to remove it, talk to the dry cleaners. They are skilled in this type of thing without causing damage to the fabric.
Using The Wrong Detergent
Powder detergents are so last decade. They don’t dissolve properly in cooler washes, which means they’ll just sit there, eating away at your clothes.
Get with it and stick with liquid detergents or capsules, they work better in modern machines. Plus using cheap budget detergents can also cause problems. They’re often too abrasive and can cause damage to your fabrics over time.
Going Wild With Stain Removers
Got a stain? Sure, use a stain remover, but don’t get carried away. Leaving it on too long is basically giving your clothes a one way ticket to hole city. Always follow the instructions, and don’t leave the stain remover on for too long.
Using Neat Bleach
Yes, bleach can work wonders on your whites, but undiluted bleach? That’s asking for trouble. It’s like kryptonite for your fabrics. Dilute it, or risk turning your clothes into Swiss cheese.
Undiluted bleach can burn straight through some fabrics quicker than you can say “water it down”.
Cranking Up The Spin Speed
Not all clothes are built to handle that tornado spin cycle. Check your labels (if they’re still intact) and match the spin speed to the fabric. If your label has gone, here’s a brief spin speed guide for most common fabrics;
| Type Of Fabric | Spin Speed |
|---|---|
| Silk | 400 rpm |
| Shirts | 600 rpm |
| Delicates | 600 rpm |
| Denim | 900 rpm |
| Synthetics | 1000 rpm |
| Minimum Iron | 1200 rpm |
| Woollens | 1200 rpm |
| Cottons | 1400 rpm |
For more detailed info on the correct spin speed and wash cycle for your washer, check the user manual or contact the manufacturer.
Washing At The Wrong Temperature
Washing everything on hot is a bad mistake. Warm water breaks down fibres, making colours fade faster. Cold water is your friend, it’s gentler on fabrics, helps prevent colour runs and keeps colours vibrant.
If you do use the cool wash cycle, make sure you’re also using a detergent designed to be used at low temperatures as well.
Using The Wrong Setting
And it’s not just the temperature, the wrong setting can cause its own problems. Each setting on your washer is there to make sure that your laundry gets the right level of washing power.
If you use the wrong setting, you can damage your clothes. If your clothes are not that dirty, don’t use the heavy wash setting. All you’ll be doing is subjecting them to extra wear and tear for no reason.
The result? Faded or damaged clothes.
Washing Clothes The Right Way Round
To prevent your clothes from fading in the wash, you should always wash them inside out. That way it’s the inner fibres that get worn during the washing and spin drying process and not the side that’s seen when you wear them.
Any fading happens on the inside and not on the side you wear outside.
Leaving Random Objects In Pockets
Coins, keys, old receipts, whatever’s in your pockets will destroy your clothes and possibly your washing machine. Metal objects can damage your clothes and the internal parts of the washer.
Once the machine is damaged, you run the risk of ripped clothes with every wash! Alway double check the pockets before you hit the start button.
Using A Damaged Washer Or Dryer
It’s often the case that the drum or paddles on the washer or dryer can snag on clothes and cause them to tear. This puts a whole new meaning on wear and tear.
Check the inside of the drum by rolling a pair of old tights around one hand and turning the drum. Move the tights around the drum and if they snag on anything, get it sorted before you do your next load.
Using The Tumble Dryer Instead Of Air Drying
We all love the convenience of a tumble dryer, but it’s a fabric killer. The heat and rough and tumble action can damage your clothes.
If you can, hang your clothes on a line or airer. It’s slower, sure, but your clothes will last way longer.
Dehumidifiers
If you’re air drying indoors a dehumidifier is a great way to speed things up. They work by removing moisture from the air which allows the clothes to release more moisture at a faster rate.
Buying Cheap Clothes
We all love a bargain, but cheap clothes are often made with cheap materials. They won’t last, so don’t be surprised when they fall apart after a couple of washes.
Ways You Can Prevent Your Clothes From Wearing Out Too Soon
Now that we’ve worked out the villains of this saga, let’s look at ways we can help to prevent excessive wear and tear. They include;
Using Fabric Conditioner
Fabric conditioner actually lubricates the fabrics as they move around the drum during the wash. Think of it like oil in the engine of a car, it helps prevent friction.
Less friction = less wear and tear.
Using White Vinegar
If you don’t like using fabric conditioner, you can use white vinegar instead. Simply add ½ a cup (118 ml) in with your washing to remove unwanted smells, soften the fabric and prevent fading.
Don’t worry, your clothes won’t end up smelling like old chip paper because all of the vinegar will wash away in the final rinse. It has to be white vinegar though, because regular vinegar can cause stains.
Using Salt
If you’re washing a new item of clothing and you’re not sure whether the colour will run or not, try adding salt to the wash. Just ½ a cup (118 ml) of salt added to the wash will help to lock the colour in the fabric and prevent colour bleeds or fading.
What Did We Miss?
Have you got a laundry disaster story or a killer tip to keep clothes looking fresh? Drop it in the comments, we’d love to hear it!
And next time your washing machine eats your socks or turns your whites into greys, you’ll know exactly what NOT to do.
SEE ALSO: Throw Away Your Iron! This Tumble Dryer Trick Will Change Your Life
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