How To Take Care of Your Clothes and Keep Them Feeling New

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Properly caring for clothing significantly extends its lifespan, saving you money and reducing your fashion footprint. Practical tips—like washing less frequently and hanging laundry—can keep your garments looking and feeling their best for years.

Read on to discover how to take care of your clothes and help your favorite garments last longer.

How should you take care of clothes? 10 clothing care tips

When it comes to clothing care, a little effort goes a long way. Check out our clothing care guide and maintain each garment throughout its entire lifecycle.

1. Wash garments less often

Detergents and friction from the washing machine quickly wear out fabric, causing shrinkage, pilling, and color fading. The best solution is also the easiest: Wash clothes less frequently. 

It’s a common misconception that you must clean clothes after each wear. This rule only applies to underwear, T-shirts, socks, and workout gear (and even then, use your best judgment). Pieces like bras and dresses only need washing every 2–3 uses, and jeans and jackets every 4–5.

Pro tip: Reduce the frequency of washing by using a clothes steamer to remove wrinkles and freshen the fabric.

2. Use cold water and short cycles

Stay mindful and wash clothes carefully. Using cold water is an excellent first step, as hot washing cycles hasten damage like shrinking and fading. Cold water also uses less energy—a bonus for the environment. 

Unless the fabric is heavily soiled, it’s also best to use short laundry cycles. This is especially important with delicates like lingerie, sweaters, or items made of silk or linen.

3. Treat your fabric with the right detergents

To prevent fabric wear and fading, use a gentle, hypoallergenic laundry detergent that’s low in fragrances and dyes. 

We also recommend using less laundry detergent in the washing machine than the bottle requires, bulking up the difference with baking soda. It cleans just as well but isn’t as harsh (plus, baking soda is handy to have around in case of oil stains).

Investing in a set of wool dryer balls is also a good idea. Dryer sheets and fabric softeners can be hard on clothes as the chemical residue builds up over time, making fabric less absorbent and breathable.

4. Mind unique and delicate garments

Read the instructions on your clothes and note any special care needs. For example, delicate fabric often requires gentle drying cycles, air-drying, or dry cleaning.

Check ironing specifications before doing so. Intense heat can damage fabrics like silk, velvet, and lace. Use a clothes steamer to gently remove wrinkles from delicate materials.

Pro tip: Learn what wash symbols on clothing tags mean. These are quick shorthands for washing, drying, and laundry detergent use instructions.

5. Opt for low heat and air-drying

Dryers can deteriorate, shrink, and warp fabric. Prioritize gentle, short cycles on low and medium heat settings. 

Even better, hang your clothes to dry whenever possible (especially delicates). You can use a drying rack or washing line to dry your clothes gently. And if you have an outdoor clothesline, the sun is also an excellent way to detox your clothes. 

6. Maintain your clothes with hangers and fresheners

Yes, how you organize your closet affects the longevity of your clothes. Proper storage reduces stretching, sagging, and even mildew.

Fold heavy garments like knitwear and jeans to prevent hanger damage and fabric distortion. For lighter pieces, hanging clothes on padded hangers will disperse the weight evenly and avoid slippage.

Make sure your closet is well-ventilated and that garments aren’t too close together. Use mothballs and lavender sachets to protect clothes from bugs and keep them smelling fresh.

7. Repair torn fabric and remove stains

Minor imperfections shouldn’t prevent you from wearing your favorite clothing. Learn fundamental mending tips, like replacing buttons, sewing tears, and removing pilling with a fabric shaver (or razor).

Treat stains immediately so they don’t set, and keep essential stain removal products like baking soda and vinegar accessible to maintain those versatile white sneakers.

8. Prevent wear, damage, and stains

Accidents happen, but the best way to maintain clothes is to prevent damage. Wear aprons when cooking or painting to avoid stains, and store your shoes on shoe trees to hold their shape.

You can also rotate your clothes to reduce wear and tear, swapping out your looks and giving each clothing item the spotlight to avoid damaging your favorites. 

Are you ignoring a certain piece because it’s ill-fitting or itching? It might be time for a closet cleanout!

9. Reuse, repurpose, and refresh

Sort your clothes and identify worn or unwanted garments, but don’t throw them away. Upcycle damaged pieces, mend small tears, and make minor alterations—for example, if you avoid a sweater because it’s too big, gently shrink it.

It’s also vital to sell garments you don’t wear. A cluttered closet hides the clothes you love, and you may shop to find something you already have. Make de-cluttering easy by grabbing a Clean Out bag from ThredUp—fill it up, ship it off, and we’ll find each garment a great new home.

10. Buy the right clothes

Prioritize quality over quantity to build a lasting wardrobe. Well-made clothing maintains its shape and softness much longer than fast-fashion pieces. Opt for clothing items crafted from natural fabrics, like cotton button-downs, ethically crafted leather jackets, and denim jeans.

While high-quality clothes are worth the investment, you can sidestep the costs by thrifting. Online consignment stores like ThredUp allow you to find trusted brands without emptying your bank account, so you can create an entire capsule wardrobe for less.

Find high-quality, long-lasting clothes on ThredUp

ThredUp is the best platform for finding well-made clothes that last. You can thrift reliable brands like Ralph Lauren and J.Crew and natural materials like wool and silk at wallet-friendly prices. Then, use our tips to treat stains and avoid fading—and you’ll wear your clothing for years.

To refresh your wardrobe sustainably, replace worn items with secondhand garments from ThredUp. This is incredibly impactful with carbon-intensive clothing, like blazers and dresses.

Ready to part with a few pieces? We can help. Fill a Clean Out bag with your preloved fashion and send it our way—we’ll price it, sell it, and send you cash or credit.

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