How to Care for Your Pre-Loved Clothes (and Make Them Last Even Longer)

About Wilton

Wilton London was founded by scent-obsessed Sam, who combined a love for luxury candles with an aversion to the harsh smell of traditional cleaning products, and created his own blends. Starting with fragrance-free detergents and expertly mixing in essential oils, he began receiving requests from friends and family, and the rest is history.

They’ve replaced synthetic dyes, microplastics, and vague scents like “Moonlight Harmony” with essential oil blends that smell genuinely good.

Made in the UK, and with sustainability at the core, Wilton’s products are crafted using only naturally derived ingredients. As a certified B Corp, carbon neutral, and Vegan Society registered brand, responsibility isn’t just a buzzword, it’s how their business operates. Did we mention that their products are biodegradable, cruelty-free, and packaged in recycled, recyclable bottles too?

We’ve been testing the scents ever since we met the brand, and the team at Reskinned are very much converted. Think, closing your eyes and being transported to a luxury spa every time you’re hanging out your laundry.

We invested in modern eco cleansing processes like ozone cleansing for Reskinned exactly because we know that when you buy something pre-loved, you don’t always want to receive it smelling like someone else’s laundry detergent.

With Wilton London, you can now choose your very own signature scents, so your scent-free pre-loved pieces will become unmistakably yours.

Why we partnered with Wilton

At Reskinned, our mission is to give clothes a second life, and making sure they look and feel great for longer is a big part of that. Our team takes pride in all the small details: removing bobbles from jumpers, fixing loose stitching, and adding those thoughtful touches that make your clothes feel fresh when they reach you.

Wilton shares that same commitment to care. Their gentle, effective laundry products are the perfect companion for the clothes you love, helping them stay soft, clean, and well-loved for longer.

Just like us, Wilton is on a mission to make sustainability the norm, not the exception, and to show that caring for the planet can go hand-in-hand with quality and style.

Q&A with Sam Whigham, Co-founder of Wilton London

Q: Why do clothes need gentler care products, especially when they’ve already been worn and washed before?

Because once fabric’s been through a few spins, it’s not as tough as it once was. The fibres start to wear down, colours can fade, and seams get more delicate. Using harsh detergents just speeds that all up. Gentle care products - like ours - help keep clothes feeling softer and lasting longer, without stripping colour or wrecking the shape. It’s like giving your clothes a bit of a spa day, really. Think about your clothes like your hair, you use conditioner to keep your hair soft and in good condition - why not use fabric conditioner for the fibres of your clothes?

Q: What’s the one laundry habit you wish everyone would stop doing?

Overloading the washing machine. It’s tempting to stuff in as much as possible, but it actually stops your clothes from getting properly clean. Plus, it wears them out quicker. If you want to extend the life of your clothes, especially pre-loved or sustainable fashion pieces, give them space to move in the wash.

Q: What makes Wilton’s formula different from typical high street brands?

Unlike most supermarket detergents, Wilton London’s eco-friendly laundry formulas are made with plant-based cleaners and elevated fragrances. Our products are kind to your clothes, your skin, and the planet. And because our scents are designed by perfumers, your laundry smells proper lovely - not like generic “fresh” or “spring breeze”. Our formulas are non-toxic and we avoid harsh and unnecessary chemicals like synthetic dyes and optical brighteners. They’re no good for you, and certainly no good for out planet.

Q: What’s the one Wilton product every wardrobe needs and why?

Its got to be our Cedarwood Laundry Liquid and Fabric Conditioners. If you know, you know. The scent it leaves behind a subtle, woody fragrance. Not overpowering and lasts for ages.

Q: Do you have any tips for keeping clothes smelling clean without overwashing?

Most items don’t need washing after just one wear - but they’ll often benefit from a bit of a freshen-up. Although I’m not a big fan of the tumble dryer (it definitely shortens the life of your clothes), it does have a role here. A 20-minute tumble on a cool setting can do a world of good to revive a piece of clothing. Alternatively, pop the item outside for the day - the windier and sunnier, the better. Just watch out on very bright days, as too much direct sun can speed up the fading of brightly coloured items.

Q: What’s your go-to outfit that you’d never want to ruin in the wash?

Well, controversially, I’m quite relaxed about putting things in the wash that say they can’t be machine washed. I think fabric manufacturers can be a bit overcautious with care labels. So I’ll put almost anything in the machine - as long as I use the right settings (gentle and cold, always!).

But I do have one overshirt I bought in Tokyo. It’s made from a beautifully soft silk and hand-embroidered with a stunning Japanese pattern - that baby is going nowhere near my washing machine.

Top Tips for Caring for Your Pre-Loved Clothes

When you take care of your clothes, you’re taking care of yourself and taking care of the planet. Here are our top tips to keep your clothes looking and feeling good for as long as possible.

Wash at 30°C or colder
Most detergents are just as effective at lower temperatures. In fact, hotter washes can cause clothes to fade and wear out faster. Washing cold is gentler on fabrics, helping your wardrobe last longer, and it uses far less energy, which is better for the environment too.

Skip the dryer
High heat can shrink, fade, and weaken fabric, especially when it comes to vintage, delicate, or pre-loved pieces. Air drying is much gentler and helps preserve the shape, colour, and texture of your clothes. It also saves energy and lowers your carbon footprint in the process.

Spot Clean to save on washes

You know the feeling, freshly washed white t-shirt, and then that rogue drop of coffee that makes you immediately look scruffy. It doesn’t need to go straight back into the laundry basket. Instead of doing a full wash, just gently dab the stain with a little diluted Wilton detergent and rinse the area in the sink. 9/10 times the stain will disappear and you’ll be back to your freshest self.

Use fabric conditioner wisely
Wilton London’s plant-based fabric conditioner helps protect natural fibres, reduce bobbling, and keep clothes soft, all without harsh chemicals. But when it comes to fabric conditioner, less is more. Overusing it can affect the breathability of your clothes, especially activewear.

Rotate what you wear
It’s easy to reach for your favourites on repeat, but wearing the same item day after day can cause it to stretch, lose shape, and wear out much faster. Giving your clothes a break between wears helps them recover and last longer by building a small rotation of go-to pieces to extend the life of each one.

Fold knits, hang wovens

It might seem like a small detail, but how you store your clothes actually makes a pretty big difference. Knitwear can stretch and lose its shape on a hanger, so it's best when folded neatly on a shelf or in a drawer to avoid those gaping necklines or shoulder seams that end up around your elbows. Woven fabrics, like shirts or trousers, are better hung to avoid creases and keep their structure. Plus, you’ll save time on ironing when you store them correctly.

What to Do When Your Clothes are Past Their Best

Even the most loved clothes have a lifespan. And while we believe in keeping clothes in circulation for as long as possible, we also want you to feel great in what you wear, not stuck with stained, ripped, or worn-out pieces out of guilt.

The good news?

The end of a garment’s life doesn’t have to mean landfill. With Reskinned’s easy-to-use takeback scheme, you can send us your old clothes and we’ll make sure they’re repurposed, recycled, or given a second life, responsibly.

You can send us any clothes from any brand via the Reskinned takeback programme, and we’ll give you a voucher for £10 off your next order. But make sure you check out our partner brands too, for even more vouchers for the brands you love.