Reducing the environmental impact on your wardrobe can be quite complicated. The fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world. Every 10 minutes, around 6000kg of textiles and clothing are dumped in the landfills of Australia
We can make small changes to reduce our environmental footprint. The aim of is to really ensure that you make wise decisions about your clothing selection so that they can last a lifetime.
Here are some clothing care ideas that can help you extend the life of your clothes. Not only will this save you having to replace your everyday clothing pieces, but it will reduce waste and energy output.
1 – Wash less, wear more
We often tend to over wash our clothes, thinking that it gets dirty as soon as we step outside. Throwing clothing into the laundry basket may just be a natural habit at this point. However, this can wear down your favourite clothing items faster than you think. Less washing will also allow you to save water and electricity, which can make a difference to your bills in the long run. Of course, this is all within consideration – wash your clothes if they start smelling unpleasant or if you have spilled coffee over your shirt.
2 – Handwash your clothes
Handwashing is a gentle way to prolong the longevity of your clothes, especially when using cold water. This is the best method to use when washing wool items of delicates, or even just handwashing that one white piece of clothing that you can’t wash with your coloured pieces.
3 – Eco-friendly laundry detergents
Conventional laundry detergents can include harsh chemicals that can break down the material of your clothes faster. Using an eco-friendly laundry detergent is a great way to keep your clothes lasting longer and can be less harmful to the environment. An eco-friendly swap is soap nuts. When agitated by water, these nuts produce saponin, which is a non-synthetic and biodegradable surfactant.
4 – Recycle your clothes properly
If there are clothing pieces gathering dust in your closet, it is easy to organise a new home for them. Some ideas are to hold a clothing swap with your friends or donate them to someone in need. Sometimes, your clothing may have reached the end of its life and can not be given away. When this happens, it’s important to research ways to recycle your garments properly, such as going to a local textile recycling facility.