How Not To Murder Your Cashmere With Good Intentions
Let’s get one thing straight: clothes are not disposable. They are, in their best form, long-term companions. Friends who drape over your shoulders, cling to your hips, and whisper encouragement as you stride into meetings and parties, or go through heartbreak.
Extending the life of your clothing isn’t about guilt or virtue. It’s about getting your money’s worth. And with just a bit of care (and less enthusiasm for the tumble dryer), you can keep your wardrobe looking less “post-apocalyptic laundry basket” and more “editorial shoot in Tuscany.”
Here’s how to preserve your wardrobe’s dignity.
Wash Less, Air More
Unless you’ve been rolling in mud, most clothes don’t need constant laundering. Spot clean where you can, hang things out to breathe, and they’ll thank you for it. It’s gentler on the fibers and infinitely kinder on the planet. And if something smells a bit lived-in? Put it in the freezer overnight. The cold quietly assassinates odor-causing bacteria without a drop of detergent. It’s efficient and gloriously low effort.
Skip the Softener
Fabric softener is the con artist of the laundry cupboard, masquerading as luxury while quietly sabotaging your clothes. It coats fibers with a waxy residue that might feel lovely at first touch but slowly strangles breathability and breaks down technical fabrics over time. Your sportswear, denim, and natural fibers deserve better. If you crave softness, a splash of white vinegar in the rinse cycle will do the job, minus the scent of artificial meadow.
Cold Water is King
Hot water is the silent killer of your wardrobe: it fades colors, shrinks wool, and acts like an overzealous agent with a license to kill. Cold water preserves shape and tone. And it’s cheaper. You’re welcome.
Say No to the Tumble Dryer
Your dryer is not your friend: it’s where nice materials go to die. Air dry wherever you can — on a rack, a hanger, or the back of a kitchen chair like a Parisian. Bonus: your home will smell faintly of laundry and success.
Depill, Don’t Despair
Pills, lint, and fuzz are all hallmarks of a well-loved jumper. Invest in a reusable lint remover, one of those clever little tools that gently shaves or brushes away the lint without leaving behind glue or guilt. It’s satisfying, oddly meditative, and keeps your knits looking like they’ve just emerged from the pages of a lookbook, not the back of your chair. A classic bristle brush will de-fluff your wool coats, remove dust, and keep your tailoring sharp without adding microplastics to the ocean.
Fold Your Knitwear. Always.
Hang a jumper and you’re asking for shoulder nipples. Fold it, stack it, and treat it like a croissant: soft, layered, never squashed.
Get Friendly with a Tailor
That hem that’s dragging? Those pants that are suddenly ambitious around the waist? A tailor is not just for brides and aristocrats — they’re the secret to making high-street pieces look haute.
Store with Respect
Pack away your off-season wardrobe in breathable garment bags, not bin liners! And throw in a lavender sachet or scented soap. Moths hate it; you’ll love it.
Learn to Love the Steamer
An iron is fine if you enjoy scalding your fingers and flattening things into oblivion. But a steamer is gentle, efficient, and makes your clothes look freshly exhaled rather than beaten into submission.
Rotate Religiously
Don’t wear the same jumper three days in a row. Not because it’s gross (though, arguably), but because the fibers need time to relax back into shape. Let your clothes rest. They’re doing the most. The same goes for shoes and bras.