How to Make Your Clothes Last YEARS | Sustainable Care Tips

[@linaria__]

I love how universal "the chair" seems to be xD

[@imperfectidealist]

Hahaha yes! Always need it 😂

[@MissCarreautee]

I had never even heard of the "throw out underwear after 6-12 months" rule... I still have some underwear that my mom bought me when I was in high school and I'm 29 now lol. Also additionnal tip for people who menstruate: use old/damaged panties on your period! (Unless using period panties)

[@imperfectidealist]

Love that! And absolutely, I love using my older undies on my period so I don't accidentally stain my nice ones!

[@victorbremer8097]

People who menstruate? You mean women? 🤣

[@imperfectidealist]

Just wanted to add a few more tips I forgot to mention: 1. Use the shortest washing cycle or the delicates cycle (see what works for you) 2. Wash full loads but not overflowing 3. Hand wash any sweaty armpits + air dry to go longer between actual washes. Handwashing is also great for delicates and bathing suits. 4. Skip the fabric softener (it can trap odors and build up over time). Try half a cup of distilled white vinegar instead, or just remove it. (I've personally never used it!)

[@Androgynary]

Yes! Ever since I started to mindfully rebuild my wardrobe after going through a huge life change, I began taking much more care of my clothes. I still cringe at the fact that I used to toss clothing in the washing machine & dryer w/o giving it a second thought! One of my best purchases last year has been a drying rack that I use almost every day.

[@imperfectidealist]

Drying racks are really the best, especially when it comes to preventing pilling! Also love how most can be easily folded and stored away 😊

[@fizzyofbrassica]

My favorite piece of clothing was a woolen overcoat given by my mom, which she bought around the time she graduated from college. The overcoat was really warm and super sturdy, and I had it for about five years. Eventually the linings worn out ( 20 years since it was put in use. Remarkable) and it was put into a used clothing box. I hope someone had been able to make use of it.

[@imperfectidealist]

That's incredible that it stayed in the family for so long! I also hope someone else is enjoying it now :)

[@TlazocamatiCoatlicue]

That TJ Maxx comment is real! My athletic shorts from Ross that I bought in high school are still going strong!

[@imperfectidealist]

Love that!! So many memories attached to the clothes when they last that long too ❤️

[@hannahg5479]

My favorite piece of clothing is this gorgeous, vintage 80s, 100% wool "handknit in Iceland" chunky sweater. Its has a fairisle design in colors of sage green and off-white. Super warm and cozy. Great for winter hiking or a holiday party. I got it off Poshmark for $9 a couple of years ago. It did have a hole in the underarm, but I mended that up super easy. I've actually had a lot of success in the second-hand market buying damaged clothes that were super easy to mend.

[@imperfectidealist]

This sounds like the loveliest sweater! And that's fantastic - it's so special to be able to give damaged clothing more life

[@micivalantincic8227]

I like your voice and the way you talk, cause you are calm. My fav. Piece of clothing is this 9 years old wool sweater I got in a second hand store. I mend the holes and usually wash it by hand. It is black and warm and flattering and I hope it lasts for many years to come.

[@imperfectidealist]

Aww, that's the sweetest compliment, thank you! That wool sweater sounds so cozy and well-loved ❤️

[@-Unimpressed-]

Yesssss. Just last year I started learning what dry cleaning, air drying, and garment bags were. Fading has become less of a problem for me.

[@christinanguyen1230]

Your statement about having underwear that has lasted 8 years has inspired me to not throw out some underwear that had a ripped seam because it still fits good around my waist. I just need to get out my sewing kit and close up the ripped seam with hand-sewing..

[@imperfectidealist]

Love that! I also need to repair the seams of one of my pairs haha. By the way, once your underwear is worn through, Knickey has a recycling program for undies specifically (which most recycling programs won't take).

[@christinanguyen1230]

@@imperfectidealist Unfortunately, I am based in Australia and Knickey recycling program is for the US residents only, but don't worry because my underwear is far from being unusable and hopefully by then I can find an alternative textile recycling scheme in Australia. Or if not, that I can rip it to shreds and use it as stuffing/insulation for a future sewing project.

[@auroraborealis5326]

Great video! I love organic basics, I’ve bought underwear, active wear, turtle neck, socks and a top from them and they’ve all been comfy and good quality 😊

[@neemok]

I discovered your channel a few weeks ago, and I really appreciate your calm and your state of mind. You seem to be a very nice person, I wish you the best.

[@poppymayamber2706]

Wow... I'm just getting into sustainable fashion and in general sustainableness...(is that a word??) And your channel is such a joy to watch I feel so excited whenever I watch your videos!! It makes me want to go round fixing stuff hahah!! Anyway thanks for the content xxx

[@imperfectidealist]

This is the sweetest thing - thank YOU for being here!!

[@jayharris5086]

The word you were looking for was sustainability :)

[@megumim6795]

this video should be watched by EVERYONE!!!!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I do all of these things, except: I use lukewarm water on some loads, and I don’t have synthetics, so I don’t need a microfiber filter. I’ve been buying only natural-fiber fabrics for many years. I have both a drying rack and a clothesline, for hanging more and bigger items, in my laundry room. My tip is: if in a hurry, turning a fan on hanging wet clothes cuts drying time in half. The amount of energy used by a fan is tiny compared to that by a tumble dryer because it doesn’t produce much heat. The heat-producing appliances are big energy guzzlers.

[@juliettegibson9845]

Great video! I’m glad you mentioned the replacing clothing part. I have a two year old sports bra and it’s still in excellent condition. I have a question: my environment is extremely humid which makes it virtually impossible to air dry. How can I air dry it in humidity?

[@rosesofamerica]

Is it very humid in your house? You could dry indoors if you haven’t already. Or if you have a place in the sun that you could dry them that would work, but be careful your colorful clothing doesn’t get sun bleached

[@juliettegibson9845]

@@rosesofamerica It is usually humid in my house. In the summer the sun drying worked but lately it’s been cloudy and things haven’t been drying.

[@imperfectidealist]

That definitely makes it harder! Like the others, I'd recommend putting clothes near a fan/AC/heater if they're already running (or turning on the fan for a bit since it's less energy intensive than a dryer anyways). Also make sure there's plenty of room between garments so they have space to dry/breathe!

[@juliettegibson9845]

@@imperfectidealist Thank you!

[@juliettegibson9845]

@Rachel Ny Thanks for the tip!

[@tialorabelin6993]

I have a Champion active sweater from Target (back when Champion wasn’t cool, lol) I got for Christmas in 2013! I have gone through so many phases with it and am flabbergasted it has held up as it has. It’s still in great condition and is a truly timeless piece. Also, it only has a tiny logo on the sleeve… I wonder if there is something to that 🧐!

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I’ve lost so much weight that most of my wardrobe is unwearable and the loss seems to be permanent. I’ve taken in everything I could multiple times, but I’ve reached their resizing limit, going from an XL to S/M is just too big a change. I still love my clothes! I’m trying to keep wearing as many as I can.

[@mochipii]

I wash everything that touches my skin directly after each wear, especially if i get sweaty, but i have multiple of those clothes. Because i don't want to let any sweat or deodorant stain/ smell set into my clothes. I also hand wash my clothes with cold water. If stains/ smell doesn't set in you'll also need less agitation in your washing cycle.

[@kather9]

My most loved piece of clothing is a leopard tee I bought at a thrift store ~6 years ago! It's synthetic, which I think makes it prone to hold onto odors, but I do my best to keep it fresh so I can wear it for years to come. Any advice for getting odor out of older synthetic fabric? One tip I have is get iron-on patches for clothes with larger holes. They're easy to apply, hold up well with washing, and the patches I've used come in a variety of colors and sizes. I sometimes patch from the inside if the hole is in a tricky spot, like a ripped belt loop on pants.

[@imperfectidealist]

Leopard is so versatile! I have trouble with odors too, especially as a runner. What's helped for me is to leave the items hanging out on the side of the laundry bin when it's time to wash and not in any damp dirty laundry (otherwise it picks up odors). I've also liked drying in the sun/outside for a bit (though be careful of sun damage) and I've heard soaking in water + baking soda can help before washing! I'll have to look into those iron-on patches - they sound handy!

[@imperfectidealist]

Just a follow-up: one thing I learned recently is that fabric softener can trap odors, especially on synthetics. I've never used it before so I didn't even think to mention it! As an alternative, you can try adding 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar, or just skipping it if you aren't already.

[@emmahilger7143]

My most loved piece is probably a sweatshirt I bought in Quebec about 3-4 years ago! It’s a synthetic so it’s pilling pretty bad but I do my best to keep it in good condition. I will definitely try air drying to prevent damage!

[@imperfectidealist]

I love a good sweatshirt! I also have several from many years ago

[@BuffySummersWannabe]

I just noticed this morning that the crotch/thigh on my FAVORITE romper/jumpsuit had worn all the way through and was about to look for a tutorial to fix it when this video popped up in my recommended XD

[@imperfectidealist]

Haha the algorithm always knows!!

[@Emxn_matrix]

great video!!

[@Bllackstaarr]

Ahh i was waiting for a video like this and wanted to suggest it on your blog!! cant wait to watch

[@Bllackstaarr]

Being from eastern europe its so shocking to hear that air drying is uncommon in some places, I dont know a single person that owns a dryer :0

[@imperfectidealist]

Hehe glad to hear it was something you were wanting to see! And it is definitely strange how common drying is in the US compared to other countries. I wish air drying were more common here!

[@cjtorres5917]

Favorite item: waste2water recycled chiffon scarf in "adobe rose" from Haute Hijab. It makes me feel like a sunset cloud. Runner up: plaid slacks my mother passed on to me after decades of wear.

[@mendi3395]

do you have any tips for new time air dryers? I have several questions about the logisitics of it-should I avoid the sun, what is the best temperature (if any), and what to do in the winter when it's snowy out? :)

[@imperfectidealist]

I actually usually air dry indoors on a foldable drying rack! Too much direct sun might eventually damage the clothing color, but I haven't seen an issue myself. I actually would love to air dry outside, but don't have a clothes line or good place to do that. Warmer temps are always better, but the less humidity the better too. You can always dry near a heater/AC or turn on a fan if humidity or the cold temps are an issue :)

[@ruthnk6575]

I have a blue champion sports bra i thrifted when I was like 14, I am turning 20 this November and it’s been with me through all the fluctuating breast sizes lol

[@ruthnk6575]

And still in pretty good condition!

[@imperfectidealist]

That's amazing! I'm also wearing a champion sports bra from high school as we speak haha!

[@andydutton455]

I love your outfit!

[@imperfectidealist]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@woteverism]

Hi Lilly, I’m new to your channel. Could you please list a few brands that are affordable and last long please?

[@christianmontero-ll1oc]

Is it okay to hand wash a 53% cotton 47% polyester airism crew neck oversized t shirt from uniqlo?

[@lampenfieber]

Yes, of course.

[@andydutton455]

I'm wearing a polyester cotton blend shirt today and I was just thinking it is piling. I will not buy blends like this again, even from thrift stores.

[@imperfectidealist]

Yeah, I've definitely had trouble with this myself! I'd even made a skirt years ago and the fabric must've been blended because the pilling is pretty bad 🥲

[@oompaloompa8077]

What does 30 wears mean?

[@meisekohl8765]

💚

[@maryjeffries9251]

Wearing an apron when I'm cleaning or doing anything at all in the kitchen has gone a long way to help keep my clothes clean longer.

[@sxmvp]

I'd like to air dry, but I have no space in my small flat for a drying rack :(

[@aleksmedis6698]

I got a piece of nylon thread and I can put or up or take it down as needed- I am lucky that there's convenient places to hang it (I put some small carabiners on the ends) but you can hammer hooks into the wall if you need and cover with white putty when you move out. I used to used a flat rack (and fold it up when not in use) but I prefer a line- more airflow, although it does take over my whole space on Saturday. See if you can get away with even a small line and just drying larger items that are washed less often.

[@sxmvp]

@@aleksmedis6698 I'll give that a try, thank you!