HOW TO WASH A GARMENT TO MAKE IT LAST?

First and foremost, read the care label carefully

The care label tells you what's best for preserving the textile material used. Cotton, elastane and other synthetic fibres don't all react the same way to machine washing or high temperatures — so caution and care are in order…

Washing is indicated by a small tub with water, with the recommended wash temperature shown inside. But be aware that some fabrics don't take well to the washing machine.

In that case, the symbol is crossed out. If hand washing is recommended, a small hand replaces the temperature.

The triangular symbol stands for bleaching — permitted or not. A cross over the symbol means it isn't.

For ironing, you'll recognise a iron. The number of dots indicates the temperature to use. Two dots, for instance, allow a medium temperature (up to 150°) with steam possible.

Tumble drying is shown by a circle inside a square. One dot inside means set it to "delicate". Two dots, a normal programme is fine. A cross means it's not allowed.

On some labels there is a circle with a W, P or F: this means the garment can be dry-cleaned. It may also be the only cleaning method allowed. The letters indicate the cleaning techniques that can be applied to the garment — they are intended for professionals. W: wet techniques; P and F refer to specific types of solvent. If the circle is crossed out, dry cleaning is not possible, even if you thought it might be the best way to protect your favourite pieces!

Adopt smart laundry habits!

Beware of temperatures that are too high — garments risk shrinking and deteriorating, especially over time. We really recommend sticking to the temperature indicated.

It is also more than advisable to separate colours from whites. Many garments bleed colour. And that's a disaster! Unless you use anti-colour-transfer sheets placed at the bottom of the drum. A brilliant invention.

At HABILE, our rule is never to wash above 40°C, even our cotton pieces. Our HABILE jackets, for example, are washed at 30°. Why?

• Washing at 30° is more economical and more eco-friendly
• It is sufficient for a thorough wash, thanks to the technical advances in modern washing machines
• Even if the fibres are resistant, very high temperatures can damage dyes.

A washing temperature of 40° is recommended by experts for textiles in direct contact with the body (underwear, t-shirts, socks…). 60° should only be chosen for heavily soiled laundry, tea towels, sportswear or clothing worn by someone who is ill.

And contrary to popular belief, washing at very high temperatures will neither help remove stains nor eliminate perspiration odours.

Okay, end-of-day smells that cling to your t-shirts are a real challenge. A good trick is to pour white vinegar onto the underarm areas, under the sleeves, and leave it for 1 hour before washing. It takes a bit of planning, but it works! Then just wash the garment at 40°C.

For coloured or printed garments, remember to wash them inside out. The colour will stay as vibrant as the first day!

The devil is in the details, so also learn to:

• Sort laundry by type. For example: bath towels together
• Fasten buttons or zips. Your pieces will hold their shape better and seams will be spared unnecessary stress

Measure your detergent: too much is pointless and can leave residue on the fabric. If you tend to overdo it, go for pre-dosed water-soluble pods

Don't overfill the drum: it's better to do two loads than to end up with poorly washed laundry

As for the spin cycle, be careful with high speeds! You'll save drying time, but you'll damage the fabric. Not ideal for your favourite pieces!

If you want to restore the brightness of whites, try natural options like lemon or baking soda — your choice:

1/ add lemon juice along with your detergent in the machine's drawer, or place a small fabric pouch with 4 seedless lemon slices directly in the drum. Lemon is also known to freshen, soften and leave laundry smelling great

2/ add 3 tablespoons of baking soda directly into the drum. Then add your detergent as usual in the detergent drawer.

At HABILE, the tumble dryer is not our idea of best practice. It damages textile fibres. Why not go for natural drying instead?

Our best ally is the indoor drying rack!

First tip: space your laundry out well on the rack for faster drying and fewer creases. T-shirts can go on hangers, but be careful — depending on the fabric, your garment may take on the shape of the hanger.

If you can't resist the call of the dryer, we recommend choosing a short, low-heat cycle. It's always better to take out slightly damp laundry than completely shrunken laundry :).

Ironing has never been anyone's favourite pastime.

At HABILE, to cut down on ironing, we like to give our clothes a good shake as they come out of the washing machine before hanging them up carefully.

If ironing is unavoidable, make sure to set the right temperature on your iron and iron on the reverse side. And above all, don't press too hard on the fabric — you risk giving it a shiny, mirror-like finish.

Next time, we'll show you how to make your own laundry detergent or try time-honoured recipes like soap nuts. Hugely on-trend, because they're both eco-friendly and economical!