When you've noticed that you repeatedly wear holes in the elbows of your shirt sleeves, it's important to find a way to prevent it from happening again so your shirts will last longer. Not only is replacing damaged clothing is time-consuming, it's also expensive. By treating your shirts more carefully and avoiding certain habits that create undue stress on the elbows, you'll be able to get the most wear from your garments.

Sit without resting your elbows on a table or desk. Resting your elbows on a hard surface places stress on the material of your shirt sleeves as the material is trapped between your elbow and the table.

Apply lotion to your elbows daily to prevent rough skin from rubbing against the fabricate of your shirt. Reducing any friction or stress on the material is a positive preventative measure.

Wash your shirts on the delicate cycle in cold water with a mild detergent. High temperatures and harsh detergents can cause undue stress on the fibers of your clothing. Add fabric softener to the rinse cycle as well to keep the material supple.

Dry your shirts on a hanger or a wooden clothing rack. As material absorbs the heat of the dryer and endure the non-stop tumbling, it incurs additional, unneeded wear and tear.

Place patches on the elbows of your clothing. Suede patches add a distinguished look to clothing, especially sweaters.

Purchase shirts made from a thicker, heavier material. The thinner the material of your shirt, the more quickly you'll wear holes in the elbows.