The secret to saving money on clothes?
Its all about making them last longer.
Just imagine how much money youd save if your clothing didnt shrink, pill, tear or stain.
However, learning how to make your clothes last longer can help you decrease your expenses.
Doing so can also help minimize the pollution that the fast fashion industry causes.
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Dont wash cotton and polyester in the same cycle, McCallum said.
They require different temperatures and spin cycles.
Plus, when they agitate against each other, they can get ruined.
When It Comes to Detergent, Less Is More
The less detergent you use, the better.
In fact, you might use about half of the recommended amount, McCallum said.
An excess of detergent can build up on clothing, which can cause them to wear down faster.
The same is true with fabric softener.
You may want to skip it and opt for wool dryer balls instead.
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3.
This will prevent them from tearing and snagging.
Skip the Detergent Altogether
Yes, this is actually possible.
A $35 laundry egg will last for 720 washes.
For the average family, thats about three years of laundry, coming out to .05 per load.
That means youre protecting the environment, your clothing and your wallet all at the same time.
Your clothes wont have the space to agitate in the machine, so they wont get as clean.
Plus, items of clothing rubbing up against each other will cause many fabrics to pill, Shahid says.
Wash Your Clothing Inside Out
Yes, even your t-shirts.
Itll also prevent graphics from peeling or cracking with repeated washes.
Also, denser weaves and knits last longer than loose ones.
One of the biggest culprits is jeans, she says.
They are not meant to be washed after every wear, as this is how they fade so easily.
Deaton suggests washing jeans twice a week (at most) to keep them in their best condition.
The less you wash anything, the better especially garments with any elastane (stretch).
Store Your Clothing Correctly
Clothing is vulnerable to confined spaces and overexposure to sunlight, Bradley says.
And finally, dont store them where bacteria may grow.
Wooden hangers can be a bit more expensive, but investing in them can help your clothes last longer.
The money you save on clothing means your wooden hangers will end up paying for themselves down the road.
Danielle Braff is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder.
