This Second Hand September, we look at how better laundry care can help clothes last longer from everyday favourites to delicates, woollens and the special pieces we want to keep.
Most of us have clothes we’ve held onto for years, whether it’s an old jumper that reminds us of someone, a baby’s first romper, a favourite silk skirt or simply the jeans we always reach for. Some have sentimental value, others we just really like wearing, but they all make a case for looking after what we already own.
According to Oxfam’s 2026 State of Style report, 32% of British wardrobes went unworn last year, and Oxfam estimates that the water used to produce the nation’s unworn clothing is equivalent to a lifetime’s supply for one million people. Producing a single pair of jeans takes around 16,000 litres of water.
Second hand is an important part of keeping clothes in circulation, but so is taking better care of what’s already in our wardrobes. And one of the most regular ways we interact with our clothes is also one of the easiest to overlook: how we wash them.
How washing affects how long clothes last
We tend to judge a wash by what comes out of the machine: did the stain disappear, does it smell clean, does it look fresh? But every wash has an effect on the fabric itself. Water, temperature, agitation and detergent all play a part in how clothes look and feel over time.
WRAP identifies how we look after our clothes including whether we follow washing instructions and care information — as one of the factors that can affect how long a garment stays in use. And that matters: the longer clothes remain wearable, the less frequently they need replacing and the fewer resources are needed to make new ones.
It’s something we think about a lot when we formulate at nimble cares. Our laundry products use plant-based, skincare grade, biodegradable ingredients, chosen to clean effectively while caring for the fabrics they’re cleaning.
Plant-based surfactants derived from sources including coconut and corn lift oils and dirt from fibres, while natural water softeners tackle the calcium and magnesium found in hard water, helping those surfactants do their job.
That last part is more important than it sounds. Hard-water minerals can build up in fabric over time, contributing to dullness and changing how clothes feel. Adding more detergent isn’t necessarily the answer; how that detergent is formulated matters too.
How to wash clothes so they last longer
Different clothes need different kinds of care. Our Laundry Detergent can be used for cool and eco cycles, hand washing, delicates and woollens, whether that’s cashmere you’ve had for years, silk you want to keep that way or a tiny romper you might one day pass on.
There are other small habits that can help too: washing clothes when they need it rather than automatically, following the care label, choosing cooler cycles where appropriate and treating a stain rather than automatically putting the whole garment through another wash.
None of this means keeping clothes pristine. They’re meant to be worn, washed, lived in and passed on.
Second hand gives clothes another life, but looking after what we already own can help make that life longer in the first place.
Wash well. Wear longer.
