Do Sewing Repairs When You Wash Your Clothes

All too often I find holes in my jeans, a tiny nick in my sweaters, or a rip on the seam of a favorite t-shirt. When I actually find these it's either too late to really do anything about it or I don't have anything handy with which to repair my damaged clothes. One of the most frustrating things about damaged clothes in relation to laundry is that your clothes will more often than not become more damaged and worn after putting them the washer and dryer a few times. However, there is a good way to stay on top of the general wear and tear of your clothes and it's not hard or won't really shake up your laundry routine at all.

One of the easiest ways to treat and prevent excessive washer and dryer wear and tear on your clothes is to keep some needles and thread with the rest of your laundry supplies. Keep them in a basket so they don't become lost among all your other miscellanea and keep it within easy access so you can use them when you need to.

If you see a rip or a run or a tear on any piece of clothing, go ahead and quickly patch it up to prevent the washer and dryer from aggravating the situation further. The color of the thread you use doesn't even matter because once the clothes are dry you can set them aside for further and better mending that will be for more long term. The purpose of the needle and thread by your washer and dryer is simply to prevent further damage to your clothes. More permanent repair can happen later.

If, however, you don't have time for on-the-spot repairs, you can use safety pins to control the damage. Keep a handful of safety pins by your laundry supplies and when you see a potential clothing problem, pin it shut and work on real repair later. Safety pins can be an excellent way of holding the piece of clothing until better mending can be done.

If an article of clothing is too far gone to be saved by repairs, hand washing may prolong the life of the garment a little longer before you can't really wear it anymore (however by this time, it may just be time to let go).

Your washer and dryer don't have to be the end for your clothes. Clothes suffer through wear and tear all time—it's a simple fact of life. However, you can better control that wear and tear through prompt, short-term mending that will get your clothes successfully through the wash and onto real repairs.