It takes approximately 6,800 litres of water to manufacture a pair of jeans. The materials often used in the production of fast-fashion aren’t sustainable or ethical. The annual carbon footprint emitted from the fashion industry is 10 per cent of global carbon emissions, which means more greenhouse gases are given off in this process than all the international flights and maritime shipping combined.

The data is worrisome; the clothing industry contributes greatly to climate change. Small sustainable steps are needed to prevent us from over-buying and sending our garments to the landfills at lightning speed. And one of the best ways to do that is to extend proper care to your clothes – that will then spark joy in you, and you will end up wearing them much more.

What’s more, you will save time and money when you don’t buy things as frequently, and also help save the oceans, the rivers, the environment and the planet in the process.

Here are some easy rules to help you care for your clothes. They guarantee results. We promise!

1. Use quicker, cooler cycles to wash your clothes

Contrary to popular belief, washing clothes in cold water and using less time to hand-wash or machine-wash them actually cleans them well. Moreover, you don’t lose the colour or the elasticity of the fabric as fast, making it a delight to wear them for a longer period.

Plus, fewer synthetic microbes are released in a quick, cool wash. These are basically ‘invisible’ plastics that end up in our oceans choking our marine life.

2. Understand your clothes better

It’s always a good idea to segregate your laundry according to colour, fabric and texture. For example, washing your whites and dark colours separately, throwing in cotton and wool in different washes and ensuring that your jeans don’t go in with your delicates works wonders in increasing their longevity.

3. Switch to sustainable, non-toxic laundry detergents

Your wardrobe deserves better than the toxic chemical-laden washing liquids or powders. Natural enzyme-based laundry cleaners not only promise to loosen the hold of tough stains without any damage to your clothes but also generate wastewater that is broken into simple components, keeping our oceans safe.

Try The Better Home’s newest laundry liquid made of all-natural ingredients, great for your clothes and the ecosystem.

4. Try different ways of drying

The most important factor that ensures a healthy life for your garment after cleaning is drying. Here are some quick tips: Never hang your dark-coloured clothes in direct sunlight because that causes fading at an alarming rate. If you’ve worn your clothes for only a couple of hours, air dry them and use them again instead of chucking them into the laundry.

Also, you can consider giving up tumble or machine drying because it uses a lot of electric energy and also shrinks the fabric of your clothes, making them lose their sheen much sooner.

FYI: A small load of clothes takes about 45 minutes in the dryer and uses 3.3 kilowatt hours of energy.

5. An organised wardrobe is a perfect gift for your clothes

Dumping your clothes on top of one another inside the wardrobe takes a toll on their life. Folding them neatly with love and care, or properly hanging them on a hanger, or even segregating them according to their category ensures that you are in love with them for longer. The idea is to store them in a way that doesn’t frustrate you when you pull something out to wear.

Basically, you look your best if you take care of your clothes. It’s a symbiotic relationship where love begets love. For the sake of variety, you can do a clothes-swap with your loved ones to have newer stuff without having to buy new things. You can, alternatively, also donate your old and unused outfits to organisations that upcycle old jeans into bags and slippers for the underprivileged.

[“source=thebetterindia”]