You finally figured out that dressing your child in trendy outfits is a complete waste of money- they outgrow the outfit in the blink of an eye! Used clothing is definitely the way to go for your rapidly growing children, especially when the economy is destroying your family budget. But how do you make those hand-me-downs last longer?

Repair any tears, holes and lost buttons before they have a chance to rip further. This should always be done before the article of clothing goes into the washing machine. If the damage is minor, you can repair the clothing with a simple needle and thread, which doesn’t require the skills of a professional seamstress. Otherwise you can take the piece of clothing to a dry cleaning or private clothing shop that can perform on-site alterations. Make sure you ask for a quote before they begin the job, so you can decide if it is worth fixing from an economical standpoint. If fixing the article of clothing costs more than the clothing itself, consider tossing it altogether.

Also wash out stains from clothing immediately, before the stain has a chance to set into the material. If stain is recent, you can usually get it out using soap and warm water. Quickly fill the sink with warm water and let the article of clothing soak for a few minutes before applying the soap. Once it has been soaked thoroughly, work the soap into a lather using your fingers- the stain should wash out rather quickly.

Consider applying patches to the clothing before your child wears them. One common area that frequently rips is the knees of jeans and other pants- especially if your child frequently plays outdoors. (Other stress areas include elbows and pockets.) To get the most use out of pants, purchase iron-on patches from stores such as Wal-Mart or Target, and iron the patch on the inside of the knee. Patches applied on the interior of clothing provides an extra level of protection and helps extend the life of your clothing.

A great way to make these clothes last longer is to keep your children’s clothing, even when they have long outgrown them. Pass them along to your younger children, or keep them until your other kids can grow into the clothing. This advice holds true for hand-me-down articles- as long as they are holding up and in good condition, there’s no reason to toss them. New babies or younger children could wind up with a complete wardrobe- without costing you a penny!

Posted in Home Budget

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