How to make your nightwear last longer

Short answer: Nightwear is washed more often than almost any other clothing, so the wash programme is what decides how long it lasts. Wash at 40 degrees, skip the fabric softener and let it dry on a line, and the set will last noticeably longer.

Washing is the main cause of wear

Nightwear is worn for eight hours at a time and washed every two to three days. That adds up to a great many washes a year, far more than a jumper or trousers you only wear at weekends. Each wash wears fibres, colour and elastic a little, so this is where you can do most.

Temperature

40 degrees is enough for nightwear worn in a clean bed. At 60 degrees the fibres wear faster without the nightwear getting noticeably cleaner, and the colours fade sooner. Use an ordinary detergent in the right amount, as too much soap builds up in the fabric.

No tumble dryer

The heat in a tumble dryer destroys the elastic in the waistband faster than anything else, and it makes the fabric shrink and lose its softness. Line drying is the single most important habit. Hang the set up straight after washing, so it does not sit crumpled and dry out of shape.

Two sets in rotation

With two sets, each one is washed half as often. That extends its life noticeably, and you always have a clean set ready while the other dries. Many choose two matching sets so the pieces can be mixed. See bamboo nightwear for women for sets to rotate.

Turn it inside out

The surface wears less when nightwear is washed inside out, because the inside is what rubs against the drum and other clothes. The colour also lasts longer, and fewer bobbles form on the outside. It takes a few seconds and makes a visible difference over time.

No fabric softener

Fabric softener leaves a film on the fibres that makes the fabric less breathable and can trap odours. Bamboo viscose is soft on its own and does not need it. Leave it out entirely, and use a little less detergent instead if the fabric feels stiff after washing.

For men

The advice applies to men in the same way. Wash at 40 degrees, dry on a line and ideally keep two sets, so each one gets a rest between washes. See the matching sets in bamboo nightwear for men, where the pieces are also sold to go together.

Replace as a set

If the set was bought at once, the pieces also wear out at once. Replace them together, so you do not end up with a top that looks new and trousers that no longer hold up. See the range in nightwear if you want a new set to take over.

Storage

Fold your nightwear when it is completely dry and keep it in a drawer rather than leaving it on a hook for days. The fabric stretches if it hangs from the same point for long, especially at the shoulders. A fixed place in the drawer also makes the rotation easy to keep track of.