How to Make Clothes Last Longer: 10 Expert Tips

UK households throw away an estimated £140 worth of clothing every year that could have been repaired or restored. Most of it ends up in landfill. The good news: with a few simple habits, you can make your clothes last 3–5x longer — saving money and reducing waste at the same time.

1. Remove pills as soon as they appear

Pilling makes clothes look worn out even when they're structurally fine. Remove pills early with the LintGone Pro before they grow larger and embed deeper. A 60-second pass every few weeks keeps garments looking new indefinitely.

2. Wash less frequently

Every wash cycle degrades fabric slightly. Most clothes don't need washing after every wear — especially knitwear, jeans, and outerwear. Spot clean small marks. Air garments overnight between wears. Wool is naturally antibacterial and rarely needs more than one wash per 5–10 wears.

3. Wash cold and gentle

Hot water breaks down fibres and causes colours to fade. The vast majority of clothing washes perfectly well at 30°C on a gentle cycle. Switching from 40°C to 30°C also saves around 40% of the energy used per wash.

4. Turn clothes inside out before washing

The outer surface — the part people see — takes the most friction damage in the washing machine drum. Turning garments inside out before washing protects the visible surface and significantly reduces fading and pilling.

5. Use mesh laundry bags for knitwear

Jumpers, cardigans, and delicates snagging on zips and buttons in the drum is one of the most common causes of damage. A £3 mesh laundry bag eliminates this completely.

6. Never tumble dry wool, cashmere or silk

Tumble drying is the single fastest way to ruin natural fibre garments. The heat causes immediate, irreversible shrinkage. Air dry flat for all knitwear — it takes longer but your clothes last decades longer.

7. Fold knitwear — never hang it

Hanging knitted garments stretches the shoulders permanently within weeks. Fold jumpers, cardigans, and knitwear and store in drawers or on shelves.

8. Store with cedar to deter moths

Moths destroy wool and cashmere, especially in storage. Cedar blocks and lavender sachets are natural deterrents that don't damage fabric. Replace cedar every 6 months as the scent fades.

9. Repair small damage immediately

A small hole repaired today costs 5 minutes. Left for a month, it becomes a large hole that ruins the garment. Keep a basic sewing kit and address small pulls, holes and loose seams immediately.

10. Clean before long-term storage

Storing clothes with body oils, food residue, or sweat attracts moths and causes staining that sets permanently over months. Always wash before storing seasonal items.