Buying new clothes all the time can get expensive. Yet, there is nothing worse than having to wear old and dated clothing items. That’s why we’ve gathered together all of the best tips that we could find for keeping clothes, shoes, and other accessories looking nice.
These simple tricks will help you to take your worn-out clothing items and revitalize them, giving them new life. From techniques for getting rid of odors to strategies for fixing broken zippers, this list has all of the tips that you’ll need to save your old clothes. Try out a few of them and let us know what you think!
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pxhere
1. Get rid of persistent smells in your clothes by freezing them.
Put your clothes inside a Ziplock baggie and toss them in the freezer. Let them sit in there overnight. By the morning, all of those unpleasant odors will be gone.
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pxhere
2. A hair straightener can take small wrinkles out of clothes.
If there are just a couple of tiny creases, there is no need to bust out the iron and ironing board. Simply use a hair straightener to press out the wrinkles. It will get the job done quickly and efficiently.
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Petr Kratochvil
3. Blood spots can be treated with cold water and salt or ammonia.
Add two tablespoons of either salt or ammonia to a glass of water and mix it. Dip your rag in the mixture and then rub the bloodstain out. Alternatively, you can let your clothes soak in it. Make sure to use cold water as hot water can actually cause the stain to set.
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Bru-nO
4. Static electricity can be removed from clothing with a dryer sheet.
If your dresses are always sticking to you, try rubbing the underside of the garment with a dryer sheet. The static will move from garment to the sheet due to the positively charged fabric softener. It also coats the clothing slightly to prevent future static buildup.
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Mike Mozart
5. Window cleaner can shine patent leather.
A few sprays of a cleaner like Windex to your patent leather shoes will help to make them glossy again. It doesn’t take much. It will buff up the coated leather and have it looking brand new.
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Ajay Suresh
6. Underarm stains can be removed with lemon juice.
Squeeze the lemon juice on the stain. Then sprinkle some table salt on the area and rub it with a rag. If you let the clothing dry off in the sun afterward, it will work even better.
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stevepb
7. A nail file is very effective for cleaning suede shoes.
It can be used as a tool to gently buff off dirt stains. You want to use a very fine grain nail file. Go slowly and don’t scrape too hard.
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Marco Verch
8. Shaving cream is able to remove foundation stains.
If you have light clothing that accidentally got smudged with a bit of foundation, just spray shaving cream on it. It serves as a pretreat before washing it. Let the cream soak in and toss the item in the washer.
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J.accurate
9. Get salt stains out of leather boots with vinegar.
Brush off the boots. Wash them with a bit of soap. Then mix equal parts vinegar and cold water in a spray bottle and apply it to the spot. Wipe clean with water afterward.
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pxhere
10. Stretch narrow shoes with a bag of water.
It sounds crazy but it works. If you have shoes that are too narrow and tight on your feet, fill a ziplock baggie full of water and stuff it into the shoe. Then place the shoes in the freezer. The water will expand as it freezes and stretch the shoes.
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pxfuel
11. Dish detergent can remove grease stains.
Apply the dish soap to the spot as quickly as possible. Let it sit for five minutes. Then rinse the stain and soap out with lukewarm water.
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Trevor Owens
12. White wine will treat a red wine stain.
It’s a surprising claim. However, pour some white wine on the spot that the red wine stained, then apply some baking on top of it. Let it sit for two or three hours and wash. The stain will disappear.
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PhotoMIX-Company
13. Soaking jeans in vinegar and salt prevents them from fading.
The more times you wash jeans, the more their color fades. However, the first wash or two is always the worst. Help to set the black and blue colors in new jeans before washing by soaking them in a bath of water, one cup of vinegar, and one tablespoon of salt.
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peakpx
14. Place magazines in knee-high boots to help them hold their shape.
The magazines can be rolled into a circle and placed in the tops of the boots. They will press outward, holding the boots in their proper form. This technique will keep any folds and creases from developing.
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Zuissii
15. Soak old t-shirts in salty water to rejuvenate them.
It will take items that are starting to feel old and rough and make them soft again. Mix a quart of water with a half cup of salt. Let the items sit in the mixture for three days. Then wash as normal.
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Piqsels
16. Coat the heels of your feet with deodorant when wearing different shoes.
One of the worst parts about getting new shoes is breaking them in. They can be uncomfortable for a while. However, you can prevent chaffing and blisters by applying deodorant to your heels. That way your shoes will stay blood-free.
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Walker Tottman
17. Use hair conditioner to clean silk items.
Rinse the item in a cold water bath filled with hair conditioner to clean and soften it. Alternatively, you can use white vinegar. The vinegar is especially useful if there are stains that you are also trying to remove.
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pxhere
18. Remove lipstick stains with hairspray.
Apply the hairspray to the spot streaked with the lipstick. Let it soak in for a few minutes, then wash it off. You shouldn’t try this with dry-clean-only items though as they are more sensitive.
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ClamyCosmetic
19. Pilling on clothing can be removed with velcro.
The velcro will stick to the pilled area. Gently pull away to remove the pilling. This technique works with most materials However, it is not recommended with delicate fabrics like wool.
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Ryj
20. Stretch flat shoes by putting on thick socks and blowdrying the shoes.
Put on the thick wool or other material socks and place your feet inside the flats. Blow dry the spot of the shoes that feels the tightest. You will likely have to do it for several minutes to stretch them out.
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Element5 Digital
21. Scrub the soles of white shoes with a toothbrush to clean them up.
Combine two parts baking soda to one part detergent. Use this mixture and a toothbrush to scrub all of the yellow stains off of the soles of your shoes. It will make the soles look sparkling white again.
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goodfreephotos
22. Scuff marks can be cleaned off of suede with a pencil eraser.
Any ordinary eraser will do. Use it to make the scuffs and scratches on suede leather shoes and jackets completely disappear. Just pass the eraser over the area a few times and watch the magic happen.
Source:
Alex Morfin
23. The graphite in a pencil can fix a broken zipper.
If your zipper is stuck, rub the end of a pencil over it to grease it and get it moving. Graphite is a fantastic lubricant. Apply it to the teeth on both sides of the zipper.
Source:
Juliancolton
24. Scrape fuzz off of a sweater with a razor.
The same razor that you use to shave your legs can be used to remove fuzz that is pilling up. Flatten the sweater as much as possible and firmly drag the razor over it. The fuzz will shave right off.
Source:
David Monniaux
25. Tighten loose sunglasses with clear nail polish.
If the hinges and arms of your sunglasses are getting a little loose, there is no need to buy brand new ones. Just apply a dab of the nail polish on the hinge. It will tighten up the area so you can get some more use out of them.
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pxfuel
26. How to get make faded black jeans look new again.
Check out the video below to bring new life back to your faded black jeans.
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