lil' bits of this-n-that: Clothes Will Last Longer & You'll Save Money By Following These Tips

Skip the fabric softener which leaves behind a chemical coating each time you use it and makes colors fade and fibers weaker. Add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle which softens clothes by balancing the pH levels. Or you can use some dryer balls to fluff and soften.
Don't bother turning clothes back when left inside-out. Leaving items that way will keep them from fading and protects them from stains by soap. Take clothes straight from the dryer and hang inside out for protection from dust and lint in your closet.
Next time you find one of those silica gel packets in a shoebox, stash it in a clothing bin you have stored and they'll be kept fresh and dry.
Joey Green, author of Fix-It Magic says skip on the pre-treaters! You already have these effective stain erasers in your home. For perspiration mix 1/2 cup hot water with 2 crushed aspirin, and let it penetrate into the stain for two hours before washing. The salicylic acid in aspirin is a natural bleaching agent!
Saturate an ink mark with hand sanitizer, which will cause the ink to dissipate, then blot with a paper towel. Repeat until the stain is gone.
Rub a dab of petroleum jelly into a lipstick stain to break up the wax, then launder as usual.
Hand washables can be washed with baby shampoo more effectively and the cost is much less than those "special" detergents.
Most clothes don't need the full wash cycle your machine automatically does. Not only does it waste water, but a longer wash cycle means more agitation, which is how clothing gets frayed and buttons and seams weaken. Instead, let the wash cycle go for only a few minutes, then manually switch to the rinse cycle. (revealed by Steve Boorstein, author of The Ultimate Guide to Shopping and Caring for Clothing.