Over to you: the care cycle
Most merino wool, cashmere, acrylic, and mohair sweaters can be washed at home according to our care labels.
Did you know that the most significant environmental effect of clothing occurs during the care cycle? When you buy clothes, think about how much care they require. This is determined by how quickly you wear them out thorough cleaning, washing, etc. This impacts the environment more than manufacturing and shipping since not everyone can afford a brand new wardrobe every week. There are some easy ways to reduce your impact on the environment, though. Besides just washing your clothes less often, be mindful of where your clothes come from.
How to hand wash a sweater:
There are many ways to reduce the environmental effect while keeping your clothes looking fantastic for years. You will save money by skipping the dry cleaner and washing your sweaters at home using the instructions below.
- Step-1: Fill a big pot, such as a sink, bathtub, or basin, with cold water. Add a gentle soap, ideally one that is non-petroleum and environmentally friendly.
- Step-2: Turn the sweater inside out, then immerse it in water and gently swirl it around, being careful not to stretch the fabric. Soak the sweater in water for up to ten minutes.
- Step-3: Flush the basin with cold water after draining it. To remove the soap, gently swish the sweater back and forth in clean water. Rep this move as needed until all of the soap is gone.
- Step-4: To remove excess water from the sweater, drain the basin and gently press the sweater. Wet fibres are very fragile, so don't wring or twist them.
Wool and cashmere sweaters will shrink or pill when machine dried. We always suggest air drying your clothes because it is gentler on both you and the climate.
- Step-1: Sweater should be spread out on a thick, dry towel. Gently roll the towel like a yoga mat, pushing to extract moisture as you go. Towel should not be twisted.
- Step-2: Unroll the document. Place the sweater on a dry towel on a flat, water-resistant surface.
- Step-3: Adjust the fit of the sweater. Arms should be straight, ribbing should be pushed together, collar should be aligned, and any buttons should be buttoned. If a belt is present, it should be dried separately. Turn the sweater over and spread it out on another dry towel after 12 to 24 hours (depending on the thickness of the knit). You won't have to reshape it, but you should fluff it up.
- Step-4: Your sweater should be ready to wear once it has dried fully. If any wrinkles or folds remain, remove them with a steamer rather than an iron.
The clothes you look for again and again are the ones we assume are the most sustainable. Here are few pointers on how to keep your sweaters and knits looking fantastic for years to come.
- Tip-1: Between wears, use a steamer to refresh your sweater (we suggest Jiffy's handheld steamer). To gently remove lint and fur, use a sweater stone or pilling brush.
- Tip-2: Sweaters should be folded to maintain their shape to avoid stretching. Avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading. To reshape a stretched-out sweater, gently massage the affected areas with warm water. Enable to air dry by laying it flat on a towel.
- Tip-3: Wool and cashmere sweaters should be stored in canvas storage bags during the off-season to avoid rodents, mould, mildew, and discoloration.
The average American throws out 70 pounds of clothing every year. A staggering 85% ends up in a landfill. Donating your worn clothing to organizations like Goodwill or putting it in a textile recycling bin instead of tossing it in the trash.
You can save money by recycling old clothing instead of buying new clothes and donating them to Goodwill or other organizations. These organizations sponsor clothes drives that collect used clothing for people in need.
The U.S. has a charitable goods market that includes secondhand clothing, but charities don't sell most of the donated. Charities are only able to sell 20% of the donations they receive. That means 80% of the items received are shipped to textile recyclers. That arrangement generates small revenue for the charities and a large number of clothes go to the landfill.
Donate all textiles—worn, torn or stained—including tops, jackets, pants, cardis, coats, shoes, socks, purses, woven, knit or sweater.
Before donating items, make sure they are clean (paint or chemical) and mold-free.
Be aware that drop boxes that cite organizations may not be owned by charities.
The biggest change starts with the smallest acts.
Run the washing machine less often
2. Switch to Cold Water
Cold water can reduce the amount of energy needed to run your washing machine by up to 90 percent.
3. Choose Products from Plants Not Petroleum
Renewable and biodegradable products tend to be healthier and better for the environment. If you're not sure about a product, check what it contains. Some chemicals have been linked to serious health problems.
4. Line Dry
Conventional dryers are the single biggest consumer of electricity in many American homes.
5. Steam Instead of Iron
If you steam, your clothes last longer, which reduces your need to dry-clean them. Washing clothes with a steam cleaning system uses less water than dry cleaning, and steam can remove wrinkles from clothing.
6. Hand Wash Instead of Dry Clean
There are many types of fibers. If you want to properly wash your clothes, it's important to read care labels.
7. Go to a Green Dry Cleaner
If you can, bring a reusable dry cleaning bag or ask your cleaner to skip the plastic. And bring back your hangers to recycle. Most of our clothing can be washed at home and dried on the line.