Did you know? Washing takes up the biggest part of the CO2 emissions and energy consumption of your garment. So wash with care, and you’ll
automatically help the environment.
Taking proper care of your clothes is not difficult. It mainly means that you shouldn’t do a number of things. And yay, with most tips you also save time and money. Below are some general tips for washing, on the Fabrics & Product Care page you can read more tips per fabric category. A few do’s and don’ts!
Back in the day, when we still did a lot of physical work, our clothes became really dirty. For most people, this is no longer the case. Yet we often put everything in the laundry after wearing it only once. Airing
your clothes outside or teaming them in the bathroom while you shower is often enough to freshen them up. By washing less, your clothes will stay in good condition longer. Did you know that true denim lovers never wash their jeans?
More is not always better. On the contrary. Too much detergent is not
good for your clothing or your washing machine. Soap scraps and dirt,
such as skin flakes and grease, remain in your machine. The result is
smelly laundry with stains. So take it easy with the soap.
Not too
hotWashing at a high temperature is bad for your garments. And it is not
necessary: many detergents work fine from 15 degrees. Washing at 60
degrees is almost twice as expensive compared to 40 degrees. So which
temperature is best to use? 30 degrees is sufficient for most loads.
Occasionally washing at 60 degrees is wise: for example, if you wash
dishcloths or when somebody in the house is sick. Wash at 60 degrees at
least once a month to extend the lifespan of your machine.
This may sound contradictory, especially for the garments that you are
most careful with. A delicate program is generally safer than a hand
wash. If you wash by hand, the water is often too hot. Rubbing or
wringing is also not good for your favorite dress. A delicate program
has a very constant temperature and rocks your clothes gently back and
forth in the machine.
Fabrics wear out and get out of shape more quickly in the dryer. So dry
your laundry on a washing line or drying rack. Drying your clothes
outside has a few advantages: sunlight makes your laundry cleaner
through UV radiation. In fact: it works as a natural bleach with white
laundry. The wind helps to smoothen the fabric. A dryer uses a lot of
energy: 3 to 4 times as much power as a load of laundry.
I mean, never say never, but only iron your clothes if you cannot wear them otherwise. Ironing shirts is allowed, but please don’t iron tea towels or underwear. It saves energy, money and a lot of time. Viscose items are an exception. Your viscose dress, skirt or top shrinks around 4 - 8% when you wash it. Ironing helps bring your garment back into shape.
There are a number of things that are important, if you want your clothes to last for a long time:
Empty your pockets. Turn jeans and garments with prints inside out. With jeans, doing so can prevent pale stripes. Close all zippers and buttons. This way you prevent them from damaging your other clothes in the washing machine.
It is very important to look at the material, the color and how dirty it is. First of all the material: delicate fabrics, such as silk, are fragile. You should put all delicate fabrics together. Do not mix them with raw fabrics, for example, to prevent them from being damaged. Also wash raw fabrics, such as denim, together. Unsure? Have a look at the care label. Does the label say 30 degrees or hand wash? Use a delicate program. Does the label say 40 degrees or higher? Run a normal program with a higher speed.
Really dirty clothing can be washed at a high temperature as well as underwear, socks and towels. Don’t forget to sort by color: white, colored and dark. Pay extra attention to red fabrics, jeans and other items that give off color easily.
Wash your most delicate clothes in a laundry bag. Think of unique vintage details like embroideries or sequins. Or your most beautiful silk dress. Also wash bras, especially underwired bras, in a laundry bag. Without a laundry bag, the underwire and hooks can damage your machine.
We love polyester dresses. We are increasingly using recycled polyester for the production of our garments. Polyester is receptive to print and colorfast, which makes our colorful prints look their very best. In terms of use, we’re also drawn to polyester: it remains beautiful for years, dries quickly and retains its form. Wash your polyester garments in a special laundry bag: the GuppyFriend. Small pieces of plastic are released when washing polyester and nylon. These microplastics end up in the water and ultimately in the sea. The special GuppyFriend laundry bag holds back 99% of those plastic fibers.
According to the supermarket you need a different product for each stain resulting in a huge shelf full of detergent and stain removers. We know better. With a few natural products you can easily take great care of your garments.
A bar of soapOnly 20% of liquid detergent consists of active ingredients, the rest is water. Choosing a bar of soap will save plastic packaging, and a lot of CO2 emissions.
If available, go for an organic (local) soap.
Do you have stains in your clothes? Wipe the stain with a damp piece of soap before throwing it into the washing machine.
The Sapindus mukorossi fruits grow in abundance on trees in and around the Himalaya. The peels of these fruits contain a natural type of soap called saponin. In your washing machine, they come into contact with water, where they spontaneously release their soap! Hypoallergenic and without chemical scraps, these super peels make your laundry wonderfully clean and soft.
This natural soap is good for your skin and your laundry! The peels also work as fabric softener and you can use them for all types of laundry, even for delicate fabrics such as wool and silk.
The Seepje brand sells these supershells and other natural detergents.
Vinegar can work miracles for your clothes. Here are a few tips on how to use it:
· Use a dash of vinegar as a fabric softener. Don't worry, you won't smell it on your laundry. An additional advantage: vinegar makes the water softer, so you need less detergent. If you want a nice scent, add a few drops of essential oil to your fabric softener tray.
· Soak new clothes with bright or dark colors overnight in cold water with a cup of vinegar. That way, the colors will last longer. This is also recommended for a new pair of jeans.
· A dash of vinegar with your detergent helps to neutralize odors, for example from sweat and cigarette smoke.
Want to make your own detergent? For a light colored load, add 20 grams of soda, which will help to maintain the whiteness.
Always treat stains as quickly as possible to increase the chance of getting the stain out. You don’t need a different bottle or product for every type of stain. First take a look at what’s in your kitchen cupboard:
In addition to washing as little as possible, you can do more to take good care of your garments.
Take care of your knitsHanging everything in your closet might look nice, but it’s not ideal for knitted garments. They will stretch out. So fold them neatly and enjoy a great fit.
That's what they call pilling. It is caused by friction, which is why it’s most found underneath the armpits and on the elbows. Wool is most sensitive, but it happens with other fabrics as well. A pity, because it can look shabby. You can remove the pilling with a special fabric razor or a regular razor blade. Be careful not to damage the fabric. Pilling does not say anything about the quality of the fabric: even the most expensive wool can pill.
Your garments love fresh air. Make sure you have a tidy closet that is not packed. Air your clothes regularly, even the party dress that you don't wear every week.
Do you have a huge pile of clothes that need to be fixed? Schedule an afternoon off and get started. Anyone can sew a button. Are you not getting to it, or is it just too difficult? Find a tailor in your neighborhood. With some minor adjustments, they alter that dress so it fits perfectly. Repair a wool item? Easy peasy with Woolfiller, which can be used to close the hole. Choose the same color as your cardigan or make a flower in a contrasting color.
