July in the wardrobe

Short answer: Summer clothes are used the most now, and so they wear out the fastest. Check socks and T-shirts once a month, and rinse swimwear in cold water the same day, so salt and chlorine cannot do their damage.

What wears out now

Three things wear faster than the rest in July: T-shirts under the arms, short socks at the toes and swimwear from sun and chlorine. All three are used almost daily for two months, and that is enough for faults to show. A short review in midsummer is a good habit.

A monthly check

Pick a fixed time each month to look through your T-shirts and socks. Look for thin spots, small holes and loops that begin to pull. The earlier you see it, the easier it is to plan a purchase, without ending up with too few pieces during a busy week.

Under the arms

Sweat and deodorant rub against the fabric under the arms, and that is often where a T-shirt first turns thin or gets discoloured. Wash it after each wear in summer and turn it inside out in the machine. The fabric then wears less, and the colours stay nicer from wash to wash.

The swimwear

Rinse swimwear in cold water the same day and let it dry in the shade rather than in the sun. Salt and chlorine break down the elastane if they stay in, and direct sun fades the colour while the fabric is wet. Dry it flat. See bamboo T-shirts for men.

Why shade is better

Wet fabric is more exposed than dry fabric. The sun fades colour faster when the fibres are damp, and the elastane loses its stretch faster in the heat. A shady spot with a little breeze dries swimwear well, and it takes barely longer than in the sun, even if you would not expect it.

Sunscreen on clothes

Sunscreen contains filters that can leave yellow marks if they stay in the fabric. Treat the marks with a little washing-up liquid before washing, on clothes as well as towels. Leave the liquid to work for a few minutes, then wash as usual, and most marks will never become visible.

The towels

Towels are used a lot in summer, and they get damp and sandy. Hang them to dry after each use so they do not develop a musty smell, and wash them at forty degrees once they have been used several times. See bamboo towels for the beach, the bathroom or the summer house.

Clothes for every day

Summer is also a time when many people wear the same few pieces day after day. That is perfectly normal, but it also means a few pieces do all the work. If you have only a few T-shirts you wear daily, those should be checked first. See bamboo clothing for women.

What you can do now

July is a good month to fix things while you are still using your clothes every day. Write down what is missing and what is worn, so you can shop with a list rather than on impulse. That means fewer purchases, and you get what you actually need.