The easy summer breeze facilitates cleaning our clothes more sustainably, as they avoid the tumble dryer and are ultimately taken care of in a more sustainable manner. Caring for our clothes sustainably begins before the care itself in how we buy our clothes, the material, composition etc. The way we care for them, however, also has an environmental impact. Washing our clothes in a more eco-friendly manner if possible reduces the environmental impact of that garment and correctly caring for them means they retain their original shape and form for longer; meaning your favourite jumper doesn’t have to be flogged off on Depop too soon.

Washing 

First things first: check the label. Does it ought to be washed by hand only? What material is it? Is there a maximum temperature it should be washed at? – this can all be done through a simple label check. The average lifetime of a clothing garment is only 2.2 years, but this can be increased to an extent by the way we care for them.

A lot of dry clean only garments can be washed at a gentle, low temperature – avoiding the negative chemicals that are produced through the alternative route. The Clothes Doctor sells an eco wash for silk which is ideal for a gentle hand wash or delicate cycle.  Sometimes, you cannot avoid taking dry cleaners; I was speaking to a lady in the charity shop the other day who vehemently argued that pleated items of clothing ought never to be washed at home. Please correct me if this is the opposite though. Some cleaners offer non-toxic cleaning services so it is always worth investigating what they use.

The question of ‘how often should I wash my clothes?’ Can be answered: as little as possible. It will, however, differ depending on the material, sweat, what you’re actually doing in the clothing etc. Moral Fibres composed a post that details how often things should be washed;  dependent on material and changing seasons. Thanks to lockdown, a bra is not a regular item of clothing that I adorn but I had no idea it should be washed as frequently as every 3-4 wears.

What to wash your clothes with? A lot of the standard washing powders and softeners contain substances that do not break down, for example, Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate or LAS. This does not anaerobically biodegrade meaning it ends up in waterways or sewage systems and is a pollutant we might not be overtly aware of. Alternatively, there are natural detergents out there which are less harsh on the environment like Method or Ecover. If you can use refillable or reusable bottles, even better. 

I was sent an Eco-egg by EcoHonesty* and it has definitely changed the way I wash clothes now. The pellets used in the egg are available as refills, so each wash is 10p when you refill (and 14p when you first buy). It’s good news if you’re looking for a hypoallergenic alternative to regular detergent, as Eco Egg worked with Allergy UK to hold their ‘allergy-friendly award’. AND you can use it for hand washing – soak it in water for 5-10 minutes and then hand wash as normal. All I want to know is can I use this in a university washing machine? Also for those of you wondering, yes I do track how many washes I’ve done with the egg because yes, I do find that tracking sustainability habits is a solid substitute for a personality.

Some further tips when washing to ensure the longevity of wear are:

• Washing them inside out, a fact I learnt from Eco-Age, as this avoids friction. 
• Don’t underload the washing machine as it could lead to unnecessary washes but also don’t overload it as again, this can cause friction and wear between garments.

Drying

The tumble dryer in our home hasn’t been touched for years, as air drying is the much more eco-friendly option. Naturally, a drying rack seems like an essential university purchase when clothes cannot be left to dry outside. Some fabrics require a different way of drying and as I subsequently learnt from one of the Woolly Mammoth Knits’ product descriptions, wool is actually best dried flat. Hanging them up on the line can cause knitted garments to stretch due to the moisture retained and as a result, loses its shape.

Steaming is also better than ironing, a fact I did not know until I went to university. It’s a fact I also did not use once in the term; as I failed to understand why I’d ever ironed my clothes up until this point. Steaming is more gentle as there is no contact with the iron and the garment. 

Storing our clothes to make them last longer

At the end of a long day, I will take off my clothes and inevitably rest them on the chair by my desk; mostly out of laziness or a desire not to leave my room and put them in the washing basket. However, changing storing habits can lead to greater longevity for our garments. If you’re hanging up your clothes, like a dress or jumper, wooden hangers are the ideal companion for maintaining the condition of your clothes. Storage matters. Space should also be dry and cool and not too closely packed together. This, to me, screams for a more minimal wardrobe. 

Sustainability goes further than the physicality of care

Looking after our clothes goes beyond the appreciation of wearing a pretty charity shop dress. A common misconception about ethical fashion is that just because an item of clothing is sustainably made, it will last longer. Nada, not the case, I dispute. Just because it is fast-fashion it does not mean it is made poorly either. Some of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe are old loves from fast fashion shops; it doesn’t and shouldn’t mean I treat them with any less care. It has to lead me to want to take better care of my clothes, and not just for environmental reasons as a result of the products we use to care for them. If you love what you own, you are more likely to care for them in a more considered manner. Caring for garments correctly, according to their fabric and form, will hopefully extend what could have been their previous lifespan (note: through personifying clothes I am aware I speak like they have feelings but it is important to highlight that someone is behind what we wear and made that garment, it deserves your care.) 

lots of love, eleanor xx

*this post contains gifted content but all views are my own.