Wash Smart, Save More: The Secret to Long-Lasting Clothes

Clothes don't last forever, but how you wash them can make a big difference. Scientists and detergent experts found that the way you wash your clothes matters a lot. They tested different wash cycles on activewear shirts. They looked at color fading, dye transfer, and tiny fibers coming off the clothes. The best way to keep clothes looking new is to wash them quickly and in cold water. A 30-minute wash at 25°C (77°F) keeps colors bright and reduces dye transfer by up to 74%. It also cuts down on tiny fibers coming off the clothes by almost half compared to a longer, hotter wash. This means your clothes will last longer, and you'll save energy too. Washing clothes at higher temperatures for longer times makes them fade faster. The study showed that dye comes off more easily in warmer and longer washes. So, if you want your clothes to stay vibrant, go for cold and quick washes. You might think that clothes release fewer tiny fibers after a few washes, but the study found that's not true. Even after 16 washes, clothes still release a lot of these tiny fibers. This is bad for the environment, so washing in cold water for a shorter time helps reduce this problem. Washing clothes uses a lot of energy and creates carbon emissions. But if you wash in cooler water and for less time, you can save a lot of energy. For example, washing at 30°C (86°F) instead of 40°C (104°F) saves about 40% of the energy used per load. Washing at 20°C (68°F) instead of 40°C (104°F) saves about 66% of the energy. So, by washing your clothes in cold water and for a shorter time, you can make them last longer, save energy, and help the environment. It's a simple change that can make a big difference.