Unlike regular laundry, secondhand clothes may have more dirt, lint, pilling, etc. In many cases, people make simple mistakes in washing thrifted clothing, which significantly reduces their lifecycle. In this blog, we will mention the top 8 mistakes to avoid when cleaning secondhand clothes. Let’s get started!
1. Not checking the care label
When it comes to thrifted clothing, there is so much that you might not know about the fabric. Is it washable? Can it be tossed into a dryer? What temperature is best for ironing it? Luckily, you can find all of this information on the small care label attached to the garment.
2. Not removing stains before washing
The older a stain gets, the harder it is to take it off. That’s why it might be more challenging to remove stubborn stains from preloved or thrifted clothing. Using spot treatments such as Vanish is a great way to effectively clean your preloved garments.
3. Going overboard with the detergent
Adding more than the required amount of detergent during laundry can result in uneven cleaning. Having extra laundry powder can also create suds which significantly harms both your washing machine (higher risk of clogging) and your clothing (leaves residue).
4. Picking the wrong detergent
Opt for eco laundry powders that's gentle on both the fabric and the environment. Using heavy-duty detergents, especially for delicate fabrics such as silk and cashmere, can cause discoloration and texture damage to the clothing. Choosing a milder detergent will in most cases be sufficient to clean and freshen up your secondhand clothes.
5. Not removing lint or pilling
Natural fabrics such as cotton are highly prone to lint and pilling, making them appear worn out only after a few spins in the washing machine. Using BIORESTORE Re-Tergent can help you get rid of lint, fuzz, and bobbles from your cotton clothing without any extra hassle. As a result, BIORESTORE cotton is also highly recommended for top-notch cotton fabric care as it extends the lifecycle of your garments in one home laundry wash.
6. Using hot water
While washing secondhand clothing, try to use cold or lukewarm water in order to prevent shrinkage and colour bleeding. Hot water washing can pose significant damage to some fabrics and also increase laundry and electricity costs as water is heated within the laundry machine.
7. Not air-drying
Air-drying or tumble-drying on a low setting is highly recommended for most secondhand clothing, especially those made of cotton or linen. Using high heat for drying can cause shrinkage and excessive wear-and-tear. (and also, drive-up electrical costs)
8. Not ironing
Ironing your secondhand clothes can help restore their shape and appearance. You can check the optimal ironing guidelines for each fabric on the care label attached to it. For delicate fabrics, steaming might be a much better option.
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