Unlike baby diapers, apparel pieces – even the inexpensive and low-quality ones – are not one-use disposable items. There are, however, practices that challenge the life of your apparel fabric to the limits. Don't let your apparel pieces die a premature death. Check out and be wary of the following blunders that can shortly kill your apparel pieces.

1. Wearing the attire everyday and changing clothes only when you can't stand the filth is a surefire way of killing your apparel. Not only is this killer a hygienic turnoff; the accumulated dirt and odor will be very hard to remove as well – even if you use the washing machine and tons of detergent.

2. Frequent washing significantly reduces the lifespan of your apparel pieces. Although your clothes are significantly cleaner and fresher-smelling, the fabric takes the toll of the wear and tear brought about by the washing and the action of the detergent as well. Do not wash the same piece twice in a day. Schedule your wash days to once a week.

3. Using too much detergent can shorten the life of your apparel pieces. Detergents do have amazing cleansing powers, but the ingredients can also “eat up” your clothes so that the thick apparel pieces you bought at the store could wear thin in even just a few washings. Before pouring an entire box of detergent inside the washing machine tub, read first the instructions on the box. Follow the prescribed proportion.

4. Letting your apparel pieces soak their time away inside a tub of stagnant water is yet another murderous attempt on your apparel's life. While soaking may soften crusty stains and dried dirt and blood, too much of the activity will make your fabric stink to the high heavens. You may soak laundry overnight but not over an entire weekend.

5. Twisting apparel pieces as if you're wringing the necks of your enemies kills the shape of your clothes and gives you the additional headache of ironing out the wrinkles. There are certainly other means for you to vent your anger; do not lash out at your innocent apparel pieces. If your facility has no spin-drier, do things the old-fashioned way and proceed with gentleness and care.

6. Leaving your turned-on iron resting on your clothes is guaranteed to cause nasty brown marks, burns and worse, even holes on the apparel. This blunder not only lowers the aesthetic value of your apparel but also downgrades the serviceable use of your clothes. Unless you are comfortable wearing pieces that speak of your carelessness and disregard for safety, you will no longer want to keep and wear burnt apparel. Since this type of blunder can start a fire, do not leave things like these unattended.

7. Allowing your pets to bite and scratch your clothes is a quick way to mutilate and murder your apparel pieces. The damage caused by claws and fangs is instant.

Beware of these apparel killers. Remember this: Stretching the life of your apparel piece is like stretching your money's worth.