The way you take care of clothes not only can contribute to reducing waste, but it can also impact how long your garments will last. Around 80% of your clothes’ life cycle is determined by how you wash and dry them[1], so being more conscious of how you are taking care of your clothes can help keep favorites around for longer and save a big buck – and the environment will thank you too! Here are some tips to take greener care of your clothing items.
- Wash with cold water: Using cold water is great for everyday loads, including delicates! It also prevents shrinking, color fading and the weakening of fabrics that hot water can cause[2], making your garments look like new for longer.
- Use eco-friendly detergents: Some commercial detergents can have chemicals that affect your immune system, hormonal balance, destabilize water quality, and damage flora and fauna. Try to find biodegradable, non-toxic detergents made of renewable plant-based substances, which are gentler on you, your clothes and the environment.
- Ditch chlorine: Many of us have used chlorine to clean white clothes or towels. Nevertheless, it is highly toxic for the planet and can deteriorate items quickly. It is better to use a spot treatment to remove stains and to wash with an eco friendly detergent. You can use hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice to remove stains!
- Wear more, wash less: Washing clothes often will cause them to wear out. Try to get more wears off your clothing items before washing them, since it is not always necessary to wash after each wear. Pieces made from natural fibers retain less odor, so you will not have any problems on that front! Even Levi’s recommends washing denim once every 10 wears – at least [3], and to read how we suggest you take care of your Genes pieces, go to our product care page.
- Line dry laundry: A drying machines can consume as much energy as a refrigerator, dishwasher, and clothes washer all together[4], plus it can shrink clothes twice as much as washing[5] and cause damage to the fibers. It is better to line or air-dry clothes but, if it is impractical or difficult in your situation, opt for machine drying them on the lowest setting.
It is crucial to be aware of the importance the maintenance of clothes has, since you also need to pay attention to the use of resources and sustainable practices while taking care of your garments, not just when buying them. Follow these tips to take better care of your clothes, the environment, and your pocket.
Sources:
[1] Pakula, C. & Stamminger, R. (2010). Electricity and water consumption for laundry washing by washing machine worldwide. Energy Efficiency. 3. 365-382. 10.1007/s12053-009-9072-8.
[2] Birot, M. (2018). Hot vs Cold Water Washing Explained. Retrieved from https://www.canstarblue.com.au/appliances/cold-vs-hot-water-washing/#:~:text=Choosing%20to%20wash%20in%20cold,fabrics%20and%20the%20everyday%20loads
[3] Levi's. (2018). The definitive guide to denim care. Retrieved from https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/blog/article/the-definitive-guide-to-denim
[4] Upton, J. (2014). Your clothes dryer is a huge energy waster. Retrieved from https://grist.org/climate-energy/your-clothes-dryer-is-a-huge-energy-waster/
[5] Wolff-Mann, E. & Senguen, T. (2019). How dryers destroy clothes: we delve into the research. Retrieved from https://www.reviewed.com/laundry/features/how-dryers-destroy-your-clothes