How to Wash Your Vintage and Recycled Clothes Properly

For people making an effort to move towards a more sustainable approach to buying vintage and recycled clothes, here’s what should be at the top of the list: knowing how to take care of the clothes you invest in and make them last longer. This includes how to wash your clothes. Regular washing can take a toll on your favourite vintage items, but there are a few simple steps to take that will keep them looking their best for longer.

The first thing to check before placing an item in the laundry basket is whether it really needs to be washed. Sounds like a no-brainer — but it’s all too easy to just throw garments into a wash when in fact, they’d be fine with a freshen-up instead. Over-washing is the main reason a wardrobe favourite might fade, shrink, or lose its shape. If a garment just needs to be refreshed, it can be hung outside or in a steamy bathroom.

When placing clothes in the washing machine it’s best to turn them inside out and close all zips and fastenings to avoid friction and minimize abrasions on your clothing. For delicate items, you can also prevent friction by investing in mesh laundry bags. Over or underfilling the washing machine can actually cause damage to garments, too. Make sure to check the maximum load for your particular machine.

Another way to reduce clothing damage is to air dry it. Even on a gentle setting, dryers are likely to cause wear and tear. Instead, hang clothing on a washing line or drying rack. Delicate items such as jumpers may need to be dried flat, so make sure to check their labels.