Why is it that your favorite clothes seem to take the brunt of wear and tear more heavily than your other clothes? Well, don’t worry, we have good news! Contrary to popular belief, a tear or stain doesn’t mean a clothing item is ruined. It’s actually easy to give them a new lease on life. A little ingenuity and some easy tricks are all you need to help them look new again.
We have put together a list of 11 nifty tricks to bring your clothes back to life.
Mending a crotch hole in your jeans
To mend a crotch hole in your jeans, turn the jeans inside out and cut away the excess threads so the hole is clear. Place a denim patch over this hole and iron it using a pre-heated iron for about 30 seconds. Turn back the jeans from being inside-out and use a sewing machine to sew the patch.
Turn your boring white T-shirt into a colorful masterpiece.
Pinch your t-shirt at the point where you want the center of the concentric circles to be. Then fold the t-shirt as shown in the first photograph. Tie it using rubber bands. Apply dye colors between the banded sections. Cover the fabric with plastic and let the color set for 4 to 6 hours. After 4 to 6 hours remove the rubber bands. Wash it in the washer on the highest heat setting and use a small amount of non-bleach laundry detergent.
Remove sweat stains with lemon juice or baking soda.
Mix lemon juice and water and scrub the mixture over the yellow sweat stains. If the stains are tough, instead of lemon juice use baking soda and make a paste by mixing it in water. Scrub this paste into the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then toss the garment into the washer.
Spray a small amount of vodka on your clothes to eliminate strong odors.
If you are running short on and can’t wash your favorite shirt before wearing it again, don’t fret. If it has a strong, lingering smell, just spray some vodka on it and let it dry. The alcohol will kill odor-causing bacteria.
Remove foundation stains with a little bit of shaving cream.
If you accidentally smudge your makeup onto your shirt collar while taking it off, or rub it off on someone else while cuddling with them, just put a dollop of shaving cream on the spot and toss it into the washing machine.
Remove water stains from your leather boots using a soft toothbrush and vinegar.
If your shoes have water stains or have been ruined because of water or snow marks, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently rub it over the stain to remove it.
Fix a stuck zipper with a cotton swab and petroleum jelly.
Dab a bit of petroleum jelly (even beeswax will work) on the sticky area using a cotton swab and the zipper should slide easily.
Use a nail file to remove dirt from suede.
Use a nail file to remove the stubborn dirt from suede.
Use hairspray to remove a lipstick stain.
Spray some hairspray over the stain. Let it sit there for a few minutes and toss it in the washer.
Use baking soda to eliminate odor from your sneakers.
Pour a little bit of baking soda into your sneakers after a workout. The baking soda will soak up all the sweat and eliminate odor.
If your sweaters won’t stop shedding, toss them in the freezer.
To stop your favorite sweater from shedding, toss it in the freezer before you wear it.