How to Make School Uniform Last all Year

It’s not easy to keep school uniform looking fresh all year. The day-in day-out wear of uniform makes it subject to general wear and tear. However, school uniform that is well looked after and good quality should be able to survive the duration of the school year. To help parents and carers save on buying school uniform mid-year, we decided to share some helpful tips on making uniform last.

Check care labels

When laundering uniform it may sometimes be easier to just toss everything in the wash at once. However, by ignoring the advice of care labels you are likely to end up reducing the lifespan of your kid’s uniform.

Never wash whites with colours.

To keep white school shirts looking fresh, never wash them with colours. Even if coloured items have faded or have been washed many times, it's still important not to toss them in with whites to prevent them from fading.

Wash and dry on the correct heat setting

The care label on your kid’s uniform will advise you on the best temperature for a successful wash. Wash or dry at too high a temperature and clothes could shrink or warp, wash them too cold and you’ll find marks and odours are still present.

Try to avoid tumble drying

Tumble drying often can eventually take its toll on clothes. Line drying is kinder on fabrics and kinder to the environment. When you can, always opt for the washing line over the dryer.

Only Iron if necessary

To help parents and carers save time, many school uniform items are non-iron. Check the care label to find out if an item can be ironed, otherwise you may end up melting the fabric. If you find some of your non-iron items to be a little creased after washing, take care to hang them on the line as soon as they’re dry, or as soon as you take them out the dryer.

Keep stain remover handy

Keep a stain removal solution near the washing machine and quickly inspect items before you toss them in. This will save you from pulling a white shirt out of the wash, only to find a spattering of ketchup means you need to toss it back in again. Stain removers are also handy to use on the collars and armpits of shirts if you find they have become a little discoloured.

Establish a home change rule

Try to get your kids into the habit of changing out of their school uniform as soon as they are home. The less time kids are in their uniform, the longer it will last.

Encourage kids to take care of their clothes

Encourage children to hang uniform in their wardrobe if they intend to wear it again and toss it in the laundry basket if it’s dirty. Not only is this a good way to make uniform last longer but a great way to teach kids why it’s important to look after their possessions.