The advent of fast fashion has made it easy to buy replacement clothes if your outfits get damaged.

But fast fashion also has massive impact on the economy and the environment. Endless warehouses dull of clothes get dumped each year and people are buying more clothes than they can use. However, there is a silver lining: consumers are becoming more aware of their habits.

According to a recent survey of over 5,000 clothing consumers, 62 percent wear their clothing for at least a couple of years, longer if possible. If you want to keep your precious clothing purchases wearable and presentable for years, here are a few useful tips to make it happen.

Not every clothing brand is made the same and home are of shoddier construct than others.

A women’s hoodie by Guess would undoubtedly have superior craftsmanship compared to the same type of clothing from some bargain bin. Be discerning when you make your purchases. Check the stitching, the way the buttons are attached and of course the quality of the fabric. The quality of the material and craftsmanship is crucial in determining how long your clothes will last.

Stains can be more than unappealing on clothing.

Certain stains not only embed into the fibers of your clothing but also degrade it, decreasing how long they can last. For this reason, you should always carry a stain remover pen in your bag or purse when ever you leave the house. This means you can treat and weaken stains like grass pulp or spilled wine on your clothing before they have the time to soak in.

While this can seem confusing, your clothing undoubtedly gets damaged the more times you wash it.

All that tumbling, washing and chemical soaking weakens fibers and stitches, and the fewer times your clothes are subjected to that, the better. This of course depends on the level of dirt they’ve been exposed to.

If you only wore a dress indoors and didn’t sweat at all, you can wear it a couple more times before washing. But if you wore clothing outdoors and worked up some perspiration, best to put it in the wash.

Delicate items such as underwear, nightgowns and scarves can all be ruined by your washing machine.

Instead of lumping them together into one load, you must hand wash them. This allows you to control the amount of detergent you use, how hard they get scrubbed and how long they soak for. This can ensure that your delicates aren’t handled too roughly.

Every piece of clothing has a label on the inside that directs you on how to wash them properly.

Read these labels carefully as they will be instrumental in ensuring you don’t inadvertently wash your clothes the wrong way and damage them.

There are lots of guides on how to decode the symbols on clothing tags that can make this process a lot easier. Memorize these symbols and you can be surprised how much longer your clothes can last.

Improper washing methods aren’t the only things that can damage your clothing.

Storing them in your closets and drawers the wrong way can be just as damaging. Don’t just lump your clothes in the back of your closet. Fold them properly, according to their specifications and pack them away neatly.

Be sure to pat them down and rifle through them to ensure things aren’t still attached to them when you store them. Your mockingjay pin can rip holes into your jacket or a piece of candy in your jeans can attract insects. Remove such items quickly and you can save your clothes.

Finally, don’t forget to switch up your clothing.

Wearing the same clothes over and over again, even if they are your favorite items of clothing, will repeatedly expose them to stress and washing. Make the most of your wardrobe and wear as many items of clothing you have as possible. This means that you have a fresh new look every week and that your clothes won’t get too ragged quickly.

Your clothes are more than just a way to express yourself and protect your body from the weather.

Clothing are investment, they can help you secure jobs, get dates and build your confidence. Use these tips to ensure that your clothing investments last longer and that you can also protect the environment.