As much as I look to high-end designers for styling inspiration and buy a designer piece on occasion, I buy mostly affordable clothing for myself and my family – especially for Narayan, who’s still growing. It doesn’t make sense to spend a lot on things he’ll wear only a couple of times, or for me to spend a ton on trendy pieces I’m typically not as excited about a few seasons from now, so instead, I spend extra time making sure all of our clothes are well-cared for from the start, regardless of the price-point.

I’ve mentioned my love of affordable, designer and even thrifted goods time and time again, so I was excited when Persil challenged me to try their

ProClean Power-Liquid detergent, which offers premium cleaning power without the luxury price tag. I’m always up for a challenge that could lead to keeping my clothes around even longer, so I happily accepted!

I’ve been using the Sensitive Skin formula for the past couple of months on all of our clothing and linens and it’s a huge step-up from other brands I’ve tried. I love that it’s dye free, perfume free and hypoallergenic – perfect for my

family’s ultra sensitive skin! With Persil, new clothing keeps its color much longer and the stain-lifting power is amazing! I’ve also used it on Narayan’s grass-stained pants and my own makeup-smudged shirts, and it takes most stains out in a single wash.

Keeping your clothes like new can be a challenge, especially if fabrics aren’t high end, but I’m here to tell you it can be done with the right product and proper care! My top tips for keeping your clothes like new, regardless of if they’re high end or mass-produced, are as follows:

1. INVEST IN A FRONT-LOADING WASHER.  

Did you know front-loading washers use a fraction of the detergent, water, and energy that top-load washers use? Once I found that out, I switched immediately! Even better, front-loaders don’t have the agitator in the middle that top-loaders do – which means less pulling on your clothes as they’re washed. My front-loader also takes up less physical space and makes unloading wet laundry so much easier.

2. USE A HIGH-QUALITY PRODUCT. 

As I’ve discovered as soon as I started using Persil, the right product definitely makes a difference and it doesn’t have to come with a luxury price tag. Persil delivers 10 Dimensions of Clean – it’s dermatologist tested, stain fighting, whitening, brightening, anti-graying, clean rinsing, odor fighting, cold water cleaning, includes fiber care and as I mentioned before, it’s hypoallergenic. I especially love that I can get Persil at Walmart, so I can just pick it up when I’m stocking up on other household supplies. (Click here to get a $2 off coupon towards your first bottle).

3. TREAT STAINS THE RIGHT WAY, RIGHT AWAY.

While Persil gets out most stains on its own, it’s always smart to give those stains an extra nudge before you toss your clothes in the machine. If I don’t have a stain treatment handy, I just use a wet washcloth and some petroleum jelly to rub out the spot before I start the wash.

4. ALWAYS FOLLOW CARE LABEL INSTRUCTIONS.

This might seem like an obvious point, but every time I’ve made a mistake with my wash, it was because I didn’t follow the care instructions. Even common materials like denim may need special treatment to maintain color and shape, so take a peek before throwing every new piece into the wash.

5. WASH CLOTHES INSIDE-OUT.

The less contact the outside of your clothes have with the washer itself, the better. Washing everything inside-out helps to keep buttons and zippers from snagging on the machine, and even reduces color fading over time.

6. DON’T USE CHLORINE BLEACH.

While chlorine bleach may seem like a good idea for your whites, the remnant bleach in your machine could actually fade your color clothes quicker. Opt for non-chlorine bleach or white vinegar instead – they’re less harsh on your skin, lungs and brighten your colors in addition to whitening your whites.

7. WASH EVERYTHING IN COLD WATER – EVEN YOUR LIGHTS AND WHITES.

If you’re using a high-quality detergent like Persil and color-safe methods for lifting stains, your lights and whites don’t need the extra blast of warm water. The heat can fade or shrink your clothes and causes your washer to use more energy – which leads to higher electric bills, which we all want to avoid!

8. AIR DRY WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

Again, the less you use the heat functions on your washer and dryer, the less energy you’ll be using and more money you’ll be saving each month. On top of that, line drying preserves your fabric’s fibers much longer than when they’re tumbling around in a hot dryer. Most of my wardrobe never sees a dryer, especially denim – laying flat to dry or hang drying is the best way to preserve the integrity of clothing, whether it’s high end or mass-produced.

Thanks to Persil for sponsoring this post, all tips and opinions are my own.