Maintaining your wardrobe

The importance of taking care of our planet is clearer than ever. Cutting back on our private consumption is one way to do it. Use the things that you already have and take good care of them. Maintaining your wardrobe is the perfect place to start. Start by organising it so you have an overview of all the clothes that you own. Here are our best tips to become an awesome wardrobe organiser:

The easiest trick to getting your closet to look organised is to get matching hangers.

Next, keep track of your wardrobe by organising your clothes first in categories, then in colour. Hang shirts together and organise them from light to dark, from left to right. Then go on with trousers etc.

More tips to tidy up your house

Don’t toss your shoe boxes. They protect your shoes from dust and are easy to stack. Put a picture of the shoes on the outside of the box, so you know what’s inside.

Get a wardrobe that matches your style. If you mostly dress informally in sweaters and t-shirts, you need lots of shelves. If you wear business suits every day, you need a hanger bar for your jackets, dresses etc. Baskets are a perfect place to store socks, scarves and other smaller items.

If your closet is still a bit overwhelming, it is time to cut down on your clothes. For each t-shirt, dress or cardigan, ask yourself: “If I were shopping today, would I buy this, knowing what I know now (that the t-shirt doesn’t really fit or that the cardigan is itchy)?” If the answer’s no, out it goes.

If you need more help downgrading your wardrobe, focus on keeping the basic essentials: A white tee, a black dress, jeans, a knee-length skirt etc.

In general, it is a good idea to wash your clothes less than you usually do. The washing process is tough on clothes and can damage them. Unless it is visibly dirty or smelly, you don’t need to wash your clothes after each wear. Always wash delicate clothes in a laundry bag on a gentle setting and wash woollen sweaters by hand. Life hack: Use a salad sling to squeeze out the water and flat dry them to keep them from stretching.

Getting vintage clothes is a great way of renewing your wardrobe while at the same time keeping your carbon footprint at a minimum. If your new vintage finds have that certain odour, pour some vodka in a spray bottle and spritz it on the clothes. As the alcohol evaporates, the odour will too.

Don’t your shoes fit anymore? Fill two waterproof plastic bags with water and put them in your shoes. Put the shoes (incl. the water-filled plastic bags) in the freezer. As the water freezes, it will gently expand your shoes.

When you are ironing, cover up any delicate buttons or details with the bowl of a metal spoon and press the surrounding fabric.

Remember to let your freshly ironed shirt hang for five minutes before putting it on. Otherwise, new crinkles will reappear on it.

Do you have any other tips for a sustainable but fashionable lifestyle? Let us know in the comments.