We generally wash our clothes too much, and it's neither good for the environment nor for the clothes. Washing clothes wears them out even more than daily use, but no one wants to wear dirty or smelly clothes, so we've put together a washing guide that helps you wash your clothes in the most optimal way, so you can take the best possible care of both your clothes and the planet.
1. Do not automatically throw your clothes in the wash, after wearing them. Often, we tend to toss our clothes in the wash when we take them off in the evening without considering whether they are actually dirty or not.
2. Air out your clothes. Hang your clothes over a chair when you take them off, and then assess the next day whether they are dirty and need washing or if you can wear them again. Fold the clothes you won't wear the same day and place them in your closet or dresser. If you don't like mixing perfectly clean with worn but clean clothes, have a special shelf or drawer for clothes you can wear again. Also, feel free to hang your sweaters and pants outdoors if you think they smell of food or smoke, but aren't dirty. This way, you remove the odor without washing.
3. Spot clean your clothes. Many stains can easily be removed with a wrung-out cloth and possibly a little soap. Especially knit sweaters and coarsely woven pants like jeans can be spot cleaned effectively
4. Freeze your clothes. Put your clothes in the freezer or hang them outside during winter. The cold removes bad odors such as sweat smell, as the bacteria that create the odor cannot survive the low temperatures. Moreover, a trip to the freezer helps to consolidate the fibers, so fluffy wool like angora sheds less.
5. Wash your clothes correctly. Clothes should be washed differently depending on the material they are made from. Check the washing labels on your clothes. Cotton is well-suited for machine washing, but use a gentle detergent so you do not unnecessarily wear out both the cotton fibers and the planet. Wool is more delicate and should be hand washed or washed in the machine on a wool program with a special wool detergent. And remember to use lukewarm, not hot water for your woolen clothes. Additionally, you should place clothes made of wool or silk in a wash bag, as these materials are delicate and can easily get holes from contact with the machine.