Style Guide

How to Care for Your Clothes and Make Them Last Longer

Extend the life of your wardrobe with proper clothing care techniques. Learn washing, drying, storing, and repair methods that preserve your favorite pieces.

Reading time: 10 min read Difficulty: beginner

Learn to read care labels

Every garment has a care label with washing, drying, ironing, and dry-cleaning symbols that tell you exactly how to treat the fabric. Take thirty seconds to check the label before washing any item for the first time. MyWear lets you store care instructions for each garment in your digital closet so you never have to search for the label again.

Wash less and wash smarter

Most clothing does not need washing after every wear. Jeans can go five to ten wears, sweaters three to five wears, and outerwear only when visibly soiled. When you do wash, turn garments inside out, use cold water, and select the gentle cycle for delicates. Overwashing is the number one cause of premature garment aging.

Master the art of drying

High-heat tumble drying is the most damaging laundry step. Air-dry delicates, knitwear, and any garment you want to preserve. Lay knits flat on a towel to prevent stretching, hang woven fabrics on padded hangers, and use the dryer only for sturdy cotton basics. This single change dramatically extends garment life.

Store garments properly

Hang structured items like blazers, coats, and button-down shirts on quality hangers that match the shoulder width. Fold heavy knits to prevent hanger shoulder bumps. Use cedar blocks or lavender sachets to repel moths, and keep closets well-ventilated to prevent mildew. Proper storage prevents half the damage most wardrobes suffer.

Address stains and damage immediately

Treat stains as soon as they happen using the appropriate method for the stain type: cold water for protein stains like blood, warm soapy water for grease, and white vinegar for many others. Repair loose buttons, small tears, and dropped hems immediately before they worsen. MyWear can store care notes for each garment including its specific stain vulnerabilities.

Learn basic clothing repairs

Sewing on a button, fixing a dropped hem, and closing a small seam split are simple skills that save money and extend garment life significantly. Keep a basic sewing kit with needles, thread in neutral colors, and spare buttons. For more complex repairs, find a reliable local tailor and build a relationship.

Rotate your wardrobe evenly

Wearing the same pieces repeatedly while others sit unworn leads to uneven wear and premature retirement of your favorites. Consciously rotate through your entire wardrobe to distribute wear evenly. MyWear's style calendar and wardrobe analytics track your wearing frequency and can alert you when certain pieces are being neglected.

Pro Tips

A handheld steamer is the single best clothing care investment. It removes wrinkles faster than ironing, is gentler on fabrics, and works on hanging garments.

Use mesh laundry bags for delicates, bras, and items with hardware like zippers and hooks to prevent snagging and stretching in the wash.

Between washes, hang worn clothes in a well-ventilated area for 24 hours rather than returning them directly to the closet. This lets odors dissipate and fibers recover.

Invest in a fabric shaver to remove pills from sweaters and knits, restoring them to a like-new appearance in minutes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✕ Using hot water and high heat for everything

✓ Cold water cleans effectively for most garments and prevents shrinking, color fading, and fiber damage. Reserve warm water for heavily soiled items and towels. Low or no heat in the dryer preserves elasticity and shape.

✕ Ignoring small damage until it becomes unrepairable

✓ A loose thread, wobbly button, or tiny tear takes five minutes to fix now but becomes a ruined garment if left unaddressed. Inspect garments when removing them and make immediate notes in MyWear about any needed repairs.

✕ Using wire hangers from the dry cleaner for long-term storage

✓ Wire hangers distort shoulder shapes, leave crease marks, and can rust onto fabric. Replace them with wooden, velvet, or padded hangers appropriate for each garment type. This simple switch preserves the fit and shape of everything in your closet.

Put This Guide into Practice

Download MyWear and start applying these tips to your wardrobe today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I wash jeans?

Denim experts recommend washing jeans every five to ten wears unless they are visibly stained. Spot clean small marks between washes, and when you do wash, turn them inside out in cold water on a gentle cycle. Air dry to preserve the fit and color. This approach keeps jeans looking their best for years.

Is dry cleaning better than home washing?

Dry cleaning is best for structured garments like blazers and coats, delicate fabrics like silk and cashmere, and items with specific dry-clean-only labels. For most everyday clothes, gentle machine washing or hand washing is equally effective and less expensive. Over-dry-cleaning can actually degrade fabrics due to the chemical solvents used.

How do I prevent clothes from fading?

Wash in cold water, turn garments inside out, use a color-safe detergent, and dry away from direct sunlight. Dark and bright colors fade fastest with heat and agitation, so the gentler your washing routine, the longer colors stay vibrant. MyWear can help you track which items need the most careful color-preserving care.

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