Simple and effective tricks to extend the life of clothes

Before washing clothes …

Read the labels. In them you will find all the necessary information on how to care for clothes and what precautions to take. Pretreat stains, close zippers, and don't forget to empty pockets, check that there are no loose buttons that could fall off during washing, and secure ties, applications …

Separate clothes by colors

Never wash garments of light and strong tones at the same time, you will avoid that there are color transfers from one to another in case of any color fade. And the white clothes, wash them separately. Not even with light colors, because otherwise they will lose their whiteness. Also, this way you can use a bleach or bleach if necessary.

And turn it around

Especially the color one. By washing it inside out, the colors wear out less, you prevent the patterns from being damaged and you prevent those little balls and those whitish stains that age it from coming out.

When putting the washing machine …

Always opt for low-temperature, short, low-spin programs whenever possible. And don't use too much soap or fabric softener.

Ideal temperature

It is best to wash with cold or warm water. Only heavily soiled cotton items (tablecloths, towels …) are washed at more than 40 ° C. The rest just do it at 30 ° C or cold. Those that incorporate synthetic fibers, especially lycra (leggings, jeans, sportswear …), are very sensitive to heat, with which they lose elasticity and shape.

Choose the right detergent

For white and light-colored clothes, preferably choose detergents that contain active oxygen, a bleach that restores the original white and also works very well against stains. And for strong colors,
opt for specific products to protect the color. They really work and the garment will keep its vibrancy and shine for longer.

Delicate clothes

Undergarments, whenever possible, wash by hand with delicatessen soap. If you do it in the washing machine, do it inside mesh bags to avoid snagging and excessive wear. And the
wool garments wash by hand. Immerse them in the water, but do not rub or scrub, and dry them horizontally, do not hang them.

If you use a dryer …

Do not do it with long programs or at a very high temperature. If the clothes get too dry, they become rough and little by little they get damaged. In addition, it comes out extremely wrinkled and costs much more to iron, and can even shrink.

If you spread it …

Avoid direct sunlight, as it ends up wearing down the fibers. In the case of white clothes, it can help to whiten them. But keep black and colored clothes out of the sun so they don't fade. Also, do not store clothes very wet or keep them on the clothesline for a long time so that they do not become deformed and stiff.

So that there are no marks

Use suitable tweezers. There are ergonomic design that do not leave marks; and 100% plastic, which prevents possible rust stains, since the spring is not metallic as in traditional ones. Pants and skirts are fastened at the seams; t-shirts, at the bottom; shirts are hung on hangers, and woolen and knitted garments should be dried flat so that they are not deformed.

When ironing …

Iron your clothes inside out, slightly damp and at the lowest possible temperature. This way it is easier to iron, it does not damage the fabric so much and shine is avoided.

Keep it with care

Dresses and blouses hang on padded hangers. For coats use wide and sturdy hangers. But never hang up knitwear, because it will deform.

Folded and not squeezed

To avoid extra marks or wrinkles, or rubbing against shelves or drawers, fold it carefully. If you don't know how, try Marie Kondo's method of folding clothes, which will also save space and find the clothes more easily.

Everything in its place

Don't mix freshly washed clothes with what you've already worn. Also, do not store accessories (belts, bags …) with the garments, since the appliqués can snag the fabrics. Sweaters and knitwear or terry cloth (such as towels) are best stored on shelves so they do not become caked. Instead, T-shirts or polo shirts can go in drawers.

Clothes from another season

Clean it and store it in the least accessible part of the closet with a few sprigs of lavender to avoid bugs. Keep the coats in covers.

Proven, if you take care of your clothes, it can last you a few seasons. Do you want to know how? Very easy, follow these simple but infallible tricks and keys from the image gallery to wash, dry, iron and store clothes, and you will keep your favorite clothes as the first day for a loooong time.

Before washing clothes, prepare them and avoid problems

Read the labels. In them you will find all the necessary information on how to care for clothes and what precautions to take. And if it does not have a label or has lost it, here are the tricks to know what fabric a garment is made of.
Pretreat stains. There are specific products that will help you remove stains without having to resort to overly aggressive washing.
Close the zippers. You will prevent them from damaging other clothes. Do not forget to empty the pockets, check that there are no loose buttons that could fall off during washing, and secure ties, applications …
Sort the clothes. Make 3 groups: white clothes, dark and light colors. But go further and divide it into delicate and resistant garments as well.
Turn the clothes over. Especially the color one. By washing it inside out, the colors wear out less, you prevent the patterns from being damaged and you prevent those little balls and those whitish stains that age it from coming out.
To fix the color. Before the first wash of the garment, put it in water with white vinegar. It will stay pretty longer.

Sometimes you don't need to wash your clothes, just air them out.

When putting the washing machine, please do it correctly

Program. Always opt for low-temperature, short, low-spin programs whenever possible. And don't use too much soap or fabric softener.
With cold or warm water. Only heavily soiled cotton items (tablecloths, towels …) are washed at over 40 ° C. The rest is enough to do it at 30 ° C or cold. Those that incorporate synthetic fibers, especially lycra (leggings, jeans, sportswear …), are very sensitive to heat, with which they lose elasticity and shape.
Use short programs. Do it whenever you can, both in the wash and in the spin. The longer they are, the more friction and the more clothes are damaged.

Look at the labels of the garments to know how to wash and iron them

Choose the most suitable detergent

White and light-colored clothing. Choose preferably detergents that contain active oxygen, a bleach that restores the original white and also works very well against stains.
Strong colors. Opt for those products that are specifically designed to protect the color. They really work and the garment will keep its vibrancy and shine for longer.
Delicate clothes. The silk ones, with lace … are washed with also specific detergents, which do not contain chlorine, bleach or bleach. The best are the liquids indicated for hand washing.
Underwear. Whenever possible, hand wash with delicatessen soap. And if you do it in the washing machine, do it inside mesh bags to avoid snagging and excessive wear. To store your bras, fold them by tucking one cup into the other.
Wool. Wash it by hand with detergent for delicates. Dip it in the water, but don't rub or scrub. Dry it horizontally, do not hang it.

Learn how to dry your clothes without spoiling them

If you use a dryer. Do not do it with long programs or at a very high temperature. If the clothes get too dry, they become rough and little by little they get damaged. In addition, it comes out extremely wrinkled and costs much more to iron, and can even shrink.
If you do. Avoid direct sunlight, it ends up wearing down the fibers. In the case of white clothes, it can help to whiten them. But keep black and colored clothes out of the sun so they don't fade, and don't store clothes very wet or keep them on the clothesline for a long time so they don't warp and stiffen.
So that there are no marks. Wool and knitwear should be dried flat so that they do not warp. Pants and skirts are fastened at the seams; t-shirts, at the bottom; and shirts are hung on hangers.

Avoid tending to direct sun so that clothes do not fade or wear

Precautions when ironing

Damp Iron with slightly damp clothes and at the lowest possible temperature. This makes it easier to iron and does not damage the fabric so much.
Reverse. Always iron your garments like this, you will avoid that shine that dulls them. And do it in the direction of the weave so that they do not deform.
Smart irons. There are irons that automatically adjust the temperature and the steam output to the type of fabric being ironed so that it does not burn.

Take care of your clothes by ironing them inside out and at a low temperature

And how to keep it with care

With a good hanger. Dresses and blouses hang on padded hangers. For the coats use wide and resistant hangers. But never hang knitwear, because it will deform.
Folded and not squeezed. So you don't get extra marks or wrinkles, or rub against shelves or drawers. If you don't know how, try Marie Kondo's method of folding clothes, which will also save space and find the clothes more easily.
Separately. Don't mix freshly washed clothes with what you've already worn. Also, do not store accessories (belts, bags …) with the garments, since the appliqués can snag the fabrics.
On your site. Sweaters and knitwear or terry cloth (such as towels) are best stored on shelves so they do not become caked. Instead, T-shirts or polo shirts can go in drawers.
From another season. Keep your clothes clean and with a few sprigs of lavender to avoid bugs. Keep coats in covers.