CARE & REPAIR
Over half the clothes we discard end up being incinerated or sent to a landfill. By making small changes to your day-to-day laundry routine, you can help reduce this harmful practice. We hope this guide helps you make better decisions for your clothes and for the planet.
THINK BEFORE YOU WASH
- It may sound obvious, but we should only wash our clothes when they really need it.
- Instead of automatically putting everything in the machine, try spot cleaning and/or airing things first.
- Wool is actually self-cleaning so you don’t have to wash it, just spot clean minor stains and use a sweater stone to remove pilling.
- Denim only needs washing a few times a year, spot cleaning and airing will usually make it fresh again.
HOW TO WASH CLOTHES RESPONSIBLY
- Turn your clothes inside out before putting them in the machine and only wash full loads.
- Choose easy-care programs, low temperatures, and low spin cycles.
- Use eco-labeled washing detergents.
- Use a laundry bag when washing delicate or synthetic materials, this protects the clothes and prevents them from releasing harmful microfibres into our water systems.
- Hang your clothes to dry - only tumble-dry when absolutely necessary, and only full loads.
- Only iron or steam when necessary.
- Fold knitted pieces instead of hanging them to help keep their shape.
DRY CLEANING
- Only dry-clean when absolutely necessary and choose places that use sustainable methods - this is the more responsible choice and it’s also better for your clothes.
REPAIR VS REPLACE
- Always try to repair your clothes first before replacing them.
SHARE THE LOVE
- Pass unwanted clothes on, don’t just throw them away.
- If your clothing is still wearable give it to family or friends, take it to a secondhand store, or donate it to charity.
- If not, then drop it off at a textile collection point.