If you are a fan of “Downton Abbey,” you may have seen the movie that picked up where the show left off out in theaters here recently. Having two small children, I may never go to the movies again, but I have started re-watching the PBS series in the midst of all the movie buzz.

What struck me in this re-watching is how often the costumes are re-worn from episode to episode. Even though the show features an aristocratic family of the Edwardian era, the upper-class characters do not have a limitless wardrobe. They very often wear the same dresses and suits from scene to scene. In fact, one episode mentions that the dressmaker had arrived for the youngest daughter of the family because it was “her turn” for a new frock, which leads me to believe that, in real life during this time period, even Lords and Ladies had to wear the same gowns and tuxedos year after year. These days, with clothing becoming ever more disposable, it may seem nearly impossible to keep your more wearable garments in top form from week to week, let alone year to year. However, with the right care and investment, you can maintain the quality of your clothing for years to come. Here are some of the basic and not-so-basic tricks of clothing care.

The best way to ensure your garments hold up is to buy pieces in durable fabric. Cotton/polyester/rayon blends, aka tri-blends, especially for t-shirts, is a very resilient material. For knitwear, look at the weave of the garment. If the threading goes up, down, left, and right, this is the most stable and won’t lose shape over time. For pants, those with a bit of lycra will continue to look good, even after years of wear.

No matter the fabric, the best thing you can do for your clothes is to wash them less frequently. Yes, NOT washing your clothes will keep them in shape. Of course, I’m not advising you to wear dirty clothes, but the more you wash garments, the more they lose their quality. Instead, let your clothing “air out” after each wear. Also consider wearing undershirts, camisoles, slips, and tights to act as a barrier against your skin and your clothing, which will reduce the number of times they need to be laundered. At the end of the day, hang your garments on a drying rack, preferably in a cool/dry room, and be sure to empty your pockets and give the fabric a good brushing.

Brushing, you may ask? Nowadays, obscure but once commonplace clothing brushes (beyond your standard lint roller) are the perfect cleaning tool for pieces that have been worn, even gotten a bit dirty but don’t really need a proper wash. A quick Google of “garment brush” will give you results and instructions on how to use this apparel tool. There are even specialty brushes for outerwear, wool pieces, and velvet. Garment brushes, along with lint brushes, are best used not only after wear, but also when taking pieces out of storage. A good once over to remove dust and debris is all you may need to revive a winter coat or sweater. This is also a handy tool for dry-clean only garments, as well as common shirting and pants, especially denim and corduroy trousers.

Speaking of denim, you should only ever wash your jeans if they are visibly dirty. To get rid of odors, hang them in the bathroom before your shower, and the damp steam will refresh them. Then hang them to dry, either on a clothesline or a drying rack. In general, it’s best to avoid the dryer, particularly for delicate and cotton garments. Too many cycles of tumble dry can lead to cracks in clothing, which reduces the strength of the fabric and causes pilling.

Once your garments have been aired, brushed, and steamed, if applicable, close zippers and other fasteners before putting them away. Also, tie up any loose strings or sashes to prevent tangling. Basically, hang things up like they do in the store. If your garment is bound for the dresser drawer, be sure to fold along the seams to avoid unwanted creases and to help it maintain its shape.

Lastly, learn basic apparel repairs. Being able to stitch a hem or a tear at the seam and replace a button or loose thread will help your clothing last longer and save you money. Of course, for major repairs and alterations, you’ll need a tailor or seamstress.

For loungewear and gym clothes, things that are always against your skin, especially when you have a tendency to sweat, you’ll want to launder them often for hygienic reasons. And yes, this may seem like a lot of maintenance, but caring for the clothes you have is a lot less work than shopping for replacements every time something wears out.

Of course, it would be grand if we all had valets and lady’s maids like Lord and Lady Grantham to brush, hang, and steam our garments after each wear, sew minor repairs, and properly fold and store them. But alas, that only happens in movies.