Expert Tips for Making Your Kids Clothes Last Longer

How to make kids' clothes last longer

We all know that our kid’s clothing seems to last no time at all. If they aren’t growing out of it at a rapid pace, they are putting holes in the knees and grass stains on the butt.

And it might not even be that the clothes are being put through their paces with an adventurous soul – it might just be that their favourite jumper seems to be constantly on and getting threadbare.

In the end, though, there are no two ways about it – a kid’s clothing needs to be tough and taken care of to make sure it goes the distance.

Durable Materials

There are times when soft and beautiful fabrics like silk are the ideal option. For general daily wear, though, denim is durable; cotton and some linen are hardwearing, comfortable and resistant to fading (so long as they are washed well).

While often a cost-effective option, synthetic materials have a higher amount of chemicals in them and don’t let the skin breathe. So, it is a good idea to skip those when possible.

Less Washing Powder

It doesn’t matter if you use washing powder or liquid – most of us use too much of it. Too much washing powder and/or liquid is not only a waste of money but the residue will be left on the clothing.

The clothing will need to go in for an extra rinse costing more energy and putting the clothing through more stress than needed.

Any dye-free, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic washing powder or liquid is usually gentle enough to keep clothes looking newer for longer.

Buy Less

Higher quality items usually come with a higher price tag. And since children grow so fast, it can feel like a waste of money. However, most often, the brands you’d typically offer a better quality of clothing.

So, where possible, save up and pay a little more.

Stains

Children and stains go hand in hand. Mud, blood, grass stains, red sauces, pens, paints… you name it!

Unless those stains are tackled with a stain remover as quickly as possible, the chances are they will set in.

Once a stain has set it, the clothing will be discarded – even if it has years of wear left in it.

If you don’t want to use a harsh stain remover, you can use baking soda and vinegar to lift the stain. Use warm water instead of cold to help lift much of the stain. With protein (body fluids like blood), stains are better; you’ll likely need to use something a little tougher, like natural dish soap or hydrogen peroxide at about 3%.

Before the item of clothing makes its way to the dryer, check the stain is gone – often, the dryer will set the stain for good.

Size Up

It is much easier to roll trouser legs and sleeves up and add stitches to make them shorter than letting out the cuffs to make them longer.

One of the best ways to make your kid’s clothing last as long as possible is to buy a size up. When it comes to gifts from friends and family, ask if they can size up too.

Separate for Washing

We are all guilty of throwing the washing into the same cycle and hoping for the best. From time to time, we might get an item that gets dyed.

Most of the time, though, we think it works out fine. If a brand has 40 degrees on their clothing tags, dry clean only or even just 20 degrees, they know that is what the fabric needs.

Having more than one child and everything from jeans to crisp school shirts in the laundry pile can be time-consuming.

But the extra time it takes can make all the difference to how long your children’s (and your own) clothing is going to last.

Pretty much everything apart from whites can be washed at 20 degrees with half the amount of washing powder that you usually use.

Finally, something that benefits kids’ clothing and any material in your home is learning to mend them – ​​mend Your Clothes Woes – Stat! 

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