LOVE CARE
A guide to extending the life of your products and minimizing the environmental impact of use and washing.
At ELSK, we select our materials on the basis that they must be durable and that they must be able to withstand being used. We want the lifespan of our clothes to be long and that you are satisfied with the quality of the clothes as long as you have them. That's why we want to share some good advice with you on how you can treat your clothes.
It's no secret that we want to burden the environment as little as possible. When we choose materials, we have a strong focus on recycled materials and natural materials.
Wash and care
In general, you should avoid washing your clothes more often than necessary. There is no need to wash it every time you wear it unless it is dirty. Hang your clothes on a chair or on a hanger in the window or outside and let them get some air.
When you wash your clothes, don't just do half a load, but a full load. First of all, you save water and energy, but you also take better care of your clothes because the washing drum is full of clothes.
Wash your clothes at the lowest possible temperature, use the machine's Eco setting, choose the shortest wash cycle and use liquid detergent, as it dissolves better than powder.
When you wash fine materials, e.g. silk, viscose, wool and tencel, then turn inside out and use a laundry bag to protect the garment. We recommend that you wash your clothes in a Guppyfriend laundry bag when you wash clothes that, e.g. contains recycled polyester. When the clothes are washed, small fibers of microplastic break, which pollute and end up in seas, rivers and fish. The laundry bag makes laundry more environmentally friendly, as it collects the fibers that are released and reduces the release of microplastics.
Two good things to have on the go
The Pilo Fabric Shaver and Pocket Brush from Steamery are two great things to have on the go. The Pilo Fabric Shaver effectively removes lint from your clothes in a gentle way. In this way, you can take care of and maintain your fine knitted sweater.
The Pocket Brush is an alternative to the disposable lint roller. It gently removes dust and dirt from your clothes, it's easy to carry in your pocket - and you can reuse it time and time again.
Organic cotton
Organic cotton is free from harmful pesticides and other bad chemicals, and the cultivation of the cotton plants emits up to 94% less greenhouse gases – therefore clothes made from organic cotton are healthier for you to wear. We recommend that you wash your clothes, which are made of organic cotton, at 30 degrees to prevent them from shrinking. It is always a good idea to turn the garment inside out, especially when there is a print on the garment. Wash with similar colors and avoid tumble drying.
Wool
Clothes made of wool should not be washed as often. Wool has a self-cleaning effect and contains lanolin, which breaks down bacteria and odor. Hang it on a hanger in the bathroom where the air is humid or outside – it benefits from fresh air and that is often enough. You can also use Clothing & Shoe mist spray from Steamery.
If the woolen clothes are to be washed, make sure to use wool detergent and the washing machine's wool or hand wash program - and let the clothes dry flat on a towel. When washing fine materials, use Delicate Wash from Steamery.
Knit
Avoid washing your knitted jumper and instead put it in a bag in the freezer overnight – the cold kills bacteria and odours. If it is necessary to wash the clothes, use the same washing method as for clothes made of wool. To care for your knitted sweater, avoid hanging it on a hanger in the closet, but instead put it together in the closet or drawer so that the shape is preserved.
Hemp
Hemp fibers are very strong and long, so fabric made from hemp lasts well. It doesn't crease as much, nor does it fade easily. Clothes made from hemp can be washed both in cold or warm water, with a mild and environmentally friendly detergent. It is best to air dry because the high heat of the dryer is not good for the hemp fibers.
Tencel/Lyocell
Tencel is among the most environmentally friendly materials, and it is incredibly soft and comfortable to wear. The wood pulp dissolves and becomes small fibers that are spun into yarn. It is best to wash clothes made of tencel by hand, but it can also withstand a gentle wash at 30 degrees - at a low spin speed. When the fibers get wet, they lose more than half of their strength, so avoid wringing the garment. Lay the garment to dry, flat on a towel, so that it can absorb the excess moisture.
Seacell
Seacell is made from sustainable wood fibers and seaweed. It is environmentally friendly and is incredibly soft and comfortable to wear. All the wood used is FSC certified and the seaweed is harvested off the coast of Iceland.
The clothing reacts just like tencel/lyocell - therefore we recommend that you use the same washing method - wash by hand, either in cold or warm water, or a mild washing program at 30 degrees, and let the clothing air dry.
Use and reuse your clothes
You must remember to appreciate your clothes and when you no longer use your clothes, do not like them or, if your clothes are in pieces, think twice about what to do with them. Don't just throw it away. Start by repairing it before you buy something new - or pass it on for recycling. By repairing it or giving it for recycling, you extend the life of the garment.
At ELSK, we are launching RE.ELSK – a platform where you can buy ELSK clothes that are either used, 2nd sorting or samples. We encourage our customers to return ELSK clothing that they no longer use. We want to take responsibility for the clothes that we keep and those that are no longer in our hands. We want the lifespan of our clothes to increase, and as little as possible of the clothes to go to waste.
When you hand in your ELSK clothes that are at the back of the closet and that you no longer use, they are guaranteed to be useful elsewhere. We assess the condition of the clothes and if they are not too used or worn, we resell them on the RE.ELSK platform. If the clothes are in too bad a condition to be sold on, we recycle them into new items by the meter or send them to relief organizations - whatever, it gives others the opportunity to enjoy the clothes again.