Unless you’re as rich as Bill Gates, who could wear new clothes everyday if he wanted, chances are you will need to wash your clothes at some point in your life. This economy crisis has most of us wondering how we can get the most out of our money and the things that we need, like clothing. Reality is that most people will spend money on clothes, whether we buy them for the full retail prices or whether we buy for cheap at local thrift shops, the bottom line is that clothes are a necessity and most of us make sure that we have them…in abundance.

That being said, regardless of how much you pay for your clothing, you want it to last. In fact, the longer the clothing lasts, the less money that you ultimately have to spend to replace it. That’s when maintaining clothes becomes a way for you to save money for your family.

Use these 5 simple tips to make the most of your wardrobe. Keep your hard earned cash in your pockets a little longer by doing the following:

Keep all clothing away from hot water! Cold water keeps your clothing from fading better than hot or warm water. For some people, this will be a little tough because hot water is thought to be wonderful against germs in the wash. Washing your clothing in cold water will also help to reduce shrinkage in some clothing. Plus, you will save money by reducing the amount of energy that you need for washing your clothes. Not only could you see a major saving with having your clothes longer, but you may also enjoy a saving, cost-reduction with your energy bill!

You can get rid of germs in the wash by using vinegar. Vinegar are a perfect compliment to your laundry routine. It will eliminate odors like when you leave the clothes in the wash too long and will naturally freshen your clothes. More than just a “deodorant” for clothes, vinegar actually kills the odor causing germs. In an economy crisis, who would want to be stinky and broke?

Don’t iron on the highest setting and if you do, use a “pressing cloth”. A pressing cloth is an extra piece of fabric like from a sheet or old cotton shirt. Instead of ironing directly on your clothing, use the pressing cloth to keep your fabric from being abused by the iron. It’s a very simple concept, but it will be a major breakthrough for your wardrobe maintenance.

Consider not washing so much. Unless you stink or are playing hard outside, your clothing may not be as “dirty” as you think. Items such as jeans don’t need to be washed after every use. In fact, they hold up better when you don’t wash them after every use. Too much washing will cause your clothing to develop holes, fray at the edges, and even with using cold water, too much washing will make them fade! Buy for cheap a box of dryer sheets from a local dollar store. You don’t need the name brand. Instead of using the whole sheet, cut it into four squares. Use one square for freshening a few clothes, instead of washing a whole load. Another option is to put the square into your closet and drawers to keep clothes fresh between use.

Use undershirts and camisoles to protect your pits! The armpits of your shirts can really get overused and subjected to buckets of sweat and thick, clumpy deodorant. By using undergarments, you could eliminate the need for scrubbing your pits and this could, indeed, add life to your shirts. Buy for cheap some camisoles or tee-shirts for a $1 or less at a thrift store or yard sale. Your shirts will be lovelier and you will look like you never broke a sweat during this economy crisis!