I have an emotional attachment to my most reliable clothes. There’s my favourite pair of socks that are back on my feet as soon as they’re clean. The trusty pair of trousers that not only have an elastic waist (comfy!) but make an ordinary T-shirt look part of a really well put together outfit. And then there are my best jeans. I wouldn’t say they’re lucky, per se, but good things seem to happen when I wear them. Oh, and I pretty much never wash them.
Many of us own an item of clothing that we perceive as “lucky” and, anecdotally at least, we’re often reluctant to wash it. Perhaps because we don’t want to rinse off the “luckiness”. Or maybe it’s because we’re beginning to understand that washing clothes too often can do more harm than good.
“Washing machines are wonderful creatures,” says Laura de Barra, author of the book Garment Goddess: How to Buy, Care for and Increase the Lifetime of Your Clothing. “They are designed to encourage clothing to agitate against each other in the drum, cleansing it of bacteria, stains and odour.” But she goes on to say that overwashing will reduce a garment’s life.
Ecover’s own laundry expert agrees: “Water, detergent, heat and the mechanical action of the washing machine can gradually contribute to colour fading, fibre loss, changes in shape and wear of the fabric. Washing only when you need to, and choosing a cooler, shorter or gentler cycle when appropriate, can help keep clothes looking bright and feeling good for longer – while reducing water and energy use.”
Of course, there are certain things that we need to wash more frequently, such as underwear and socks, but many items last far longer between washes than we might expect.
But what about when you spill some tomato sauce on your lucky white shirt? Is there a way to clean our sentimental items without always sticking them in the washing machine?
This is where spot cleaning is ideal. It simply means dealing with the exact spot on the clothing in need of sprucing up. “Washing-up liquid is incredible for spot cleaning,” says de Barra. “Ecover is my go-to because it is clear, so there’s no risk of it leaving a stain.” Spot cleaning is about transferring the stain from the fabric of your treasured garment to another fabric, she says. “Soak a white cloth in water and washing-up liquid, then dab it on the stain, using a new part of the cloth every few dabs. In time the stain will be gone.”
I have been following de Barra’s Instagram account for a few years and swear by her tip of massaging a little washing-up liquid into an oily stain to break down the grease. It works a treat, particularly if you are the chef of the household and prone to these types of stains.
When spot cleaning just won’t cut it and the time comes to put your treasured item in the washing machine, there are still ways to protect it and prolong its life. “The strongest wash isn’t always the best wash,” says Ecover’s expert. “More heat, longer washing and stronger mechanical action can mean more stress on fibres and dyes.”
Check the care label and choose the gentlest suitable cycle, as well as the right laundry product. “Go for a detergent that is kind, and avoid anything that doesn’t work with cool temperatures,” says de Barra. You can even use a detergent that may actually improve the way your clothes look: Ecover’s bio laundry liquid is formulated with a carezyme (a type of enzyme) that brightens colours and removes bobbles from cotton fibres when washing.
So there we have it, clever hacks to make your life easier, cut down your household’s energy and water use, and keep your clothes looking great for longer.
Let’s live clean
Find out why Ecover® laundry products can help keep your clothes looking their best at ecover.com
