Thankfully, the best way to care for your Storm Creek apparel is also the best way to care for our environment! It shouldn’t surprise us that the two go together.
Caring for your garments properly is a big win for you in two ways:
- Your garments last longer so you get more wear out of them
- It minimizes negative impact on the environment which gives you that satisfied feeling of doing good
Here’s our comprehensive guide to keeping your Storm Creek apparel in top condition and being eco-friendly at the same time:
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Machine Wash Cold with Like Colors
Fun Fact: Washing 4 out of 5 loads on cold reduces CO2 output by 864 pounds!
When you use cold water to machine wash your clothes, you help save a boatload of energy that would otherwise be used to heat your water. So washing with cold water saves you money, whether your water heater is gas or electric.
Cold water is also more gentle on fabrics than warm or hot water, which helps extend their life. Cold water is better at preserving the vibrant colors than warmer temps. And did you know that some stains are best removed with cold water? Blood and sweat are a couple of common examples. In fact, hot water sets these stains instead of getting rid of them.
Cold water washing is safe for all types of fabrics. We recommend you wash all your Storm Creek apparel in cold.
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Don’t Use Bleach or Fabric Softener
Some laundry “care” practices just need to go away. Bleach and fabric softener are two of them!
First, both are harmful to the environment when leached into the groundwater. Second, neither is good for fabric. Bleach is a strong chemical that weakens the fibers and fades colors. Fabric softeners can leave a waxy residue that reduces the fabric’s moisture-wicking properties and breathability.
Instead of using these harmful products, you can substitute a half cup of white vinegar to naturally brighten your garments without harming the fibers. Wool dryer balls, vinegar and baking soda are all eco-friendly ways to keep your clothes soft and static-free. That is, when you use your dryer…which brings us to our next suggestion:
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Line Dry When Possible
It’s best for your Storm Creek clothes AND the environment to line dry your clothes rather than using a dryer. Of course, that’s not always possible, especially if you’re in a northern climate like we are. Or maybe you simply don’t have the space or your own yard.
When you can though, line drying is much easier on the fabrics than the heat of a dryer. It’s another way to help your favorite garments last longer. If you can line dry on a nice, breezy summer day your clothes will dry in a snap and smell wonderful from the fresh air.
Plus, just like machine washing on cold, line drying saves you money on energy use, thereby helping the environment at the same time. And something you may not know: While we’re so proud of all the upcycled plastic bottles we’ve saved from our landfills and oceans (over 36 million of them so far), the downside of polyester is that it eventually can release microplastics into the environment. Line drying helps eliminate that.
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Don’t Iron, Steam
Fun Fact: Steaming the wrinkles out of your clothes instead of ironing uses 50% less energy!
Steaming is also gentler on your Storm Creek clothes (and any clothes, really) than ironing. While steaming does use some heat, it’s not as harmful to fabric as the higher and more direct heat of an iron. And you won’t risk those unsightly scorch marks or shiny patches.
Steaming is especially good for performance fabrics like ours—and easy. You can even steam garments while they hang. All of this means your clothes will last longer.
Better yet: Take a look at our items that are made with wrinkle-free fabric, like our Naturalist Shirts and Influencer Shirts for men and women. Then you won’t have to iron OR steam! Perfect.
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Skip the Dry Cleaner
The typical dry-cleaning process uses harsh chemicals that are harmful to you and the environment. If you have sensitive skin, residual chemicals from dry cleaning can irritate it. And when these chemicals aren’t disposed of properly, they can cause a ton of harm to groundwater and the air.
Beyond its eco-impacts, the fabrics we use in our apparel will degrade faster if they’re dry cleaned. So to wear your Storm Creek clothes longer, keep them away from the dry cleaner.
Psst! If you ever are unsure, you can find care instructions on each product page! You're welcome.