I'm about to buy new bed sheets etc, and the advice I've read is as follows:
* satin is nice and soft, but wears faster than plain weave (aka percale when above 200 thread count), so don't use satin for bed sheet, but for the duvet cover and potentially the pillowcase. Percale may have a more hotel'y feeling of "crispyness".
* use percale/plain for the bed sheet since that'll wear evenly
* look for extra long cotton fibers since that'll last longer. It's classified in ranges, such as "long staple" or "extra long staple", but often not typed out. Instead some opt for saying "combed cotton" meaning they removed shorter fibers through "combing"
* "egyptian cotton" says nothing, it'll include all cotton made in egypt, which is not by default good. "Supima" cotton is actually a trademarked name for Pima cotton fibers upholding some level of quality that's supposedly good.
Four types of cotton: Gossypium [Hirsutum, Barbadense, Arboreum, Herbaceum]. Most grown is Hirsutum. Barbadense == Pima, and certified Pima at some minimum fiber length etc == Supima trademark.
Many hotels don't own their sheets, they rent as a service including washing. I've read many use a small amount of synthetic fibers in the mix.
Ideal thread count range is about 300-600, lower doesn't necessarily give the percale feel, and higher is just marketing blaha which doesn't really notice either.
He. Turned out to be quite the post. Let's stop there. Guess you can tell I'm nerding down on the topic.
And ++ to air drying. Hot temperatures + tumbling creates a ton of wear.
I'm wearing a 15yo t-shirt as I speak and it's in great shape. I have several in closet that are 20yo. I don't take any particular care other than always washing on cold and using low temperature drier.
My polo shirts depending on material do seem to wear down, on the collar in particular. They seem to be from different material than most t shirts.
For me it is one of two things the stitching just comes undone and ends up tearing the fabric. Or the fabric is just threadbare.
I do have to agree though with the quality. It has really dipped in the past 10 or so years I would say. Especially in things I used to consider durable, like jeans. I recently bought a shirt about 3 years ago, elbows blown out stitching coming undone. Not low end cost stuff either...
There is a difference though for making holes. If I just whip out a pair of scissors and go to town that hole will get larger and larger until the garment is unusable. I usually get the same if I get them naturally. But holes that are put in at the factory they seem to put some thought into it and they last a decent amount of time and do not grow as badly. Have not dug to much into it because I prefer it without so I have not looked into how to DIY.
- Air-dry clothes when possible instead of the dryer. - Only wash clothes when they're actually dirty. - Using cold water in the washing machine may help as well.
https://www.maids.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-washing-your-clo...
Buy better quality. I know it's hard since most clothing is "fast fashion" crap that is designed to be worn three, four, five times tops. Thin material, thin yarn, it simply breaks down physically.