Whether you’re trying to buy fewer clothes to save some money or to stick to a more minimalist lifestyle, keeping the clothes you already have in top shape is a great way to achieve either goal.
Luckily, there are many easy and cheap ways you can renew old clothes and shoes and probably even repurpose some of them. Check these 55 hacks and see which you can use to bring new life to your wardrobe.
People who like wearing dark clothes know the struggle of having deodorant stain them. Don’t worry, though, this unsightly problem can easily be rectified using some wet wipes. Just rub some on the area with stains and poof! You’ll have a clean slate.
#2 ‘Washing’ clothes in the fridge
Not only are wool sweaters expensive, but they’re also a bummer to wash as they need delicate care. If you don’t have the time to painstakingly hand wash all of your wool sweaters, you can take the easy way and fold them up in a plastic bag to leave in the freezer. This will help with the materials itchiness and even kill moth larvae which might be on the clothing.
#3 Getting rid of yellowing
Get rid of yellow stains of formerly snow-white items by soaking them in a mixture of boric acid and water. You can dial down the boric acid concentration for a milder solution.
#4 Easy way to make clothes more flattering
Don’t let static cling make your clothes fall weird on your body. You can get rid of static by looping the piece of clothing on a metal hanger before wearing it.
To wash off the tint of berries on a picnic blanket or your clothes, you can pour boiling water on the parts where the stains are. Make sure to stretch the fabric when doing so. A note though: this works best on fresh stains.
#6 Fresh-smelling clothes w/out washing
So, you just unearthed a cool shirt or pretty dress from your closet. Too bad it’s got this mildew smell from being kept away for so long. Good news! Spraying them with an alcohol and water (ratio of 1:2) will get rid of the awful smell. Easy Peasy.
#7 A new purpose for baby shampoo
It’s no secret that clothes, especially knitted ones, can sometimes shrink in the wash. To undo this, soak the item in a mixture of baby shampoo and warm water for about 30 minutes or more. Regular hair conditioner will also do the trick.
Make your old suede shoes looking new by washing off the grime that has built up on it. You can do this without damaging the material by rubbing steel wool on the dirty areas.
#9 Secure your fly at all times
Avoid embarrassing situations that an old zipper might cause by securing it with a coat of nail polish or some hairspray. The stickiness of the polish and the spray will prevent the zipper from sliding on its own.
Struggling to wash off the smell that your old running shoes have developed over the years? Kill odor-causing bacteria on it once and for all by keeping them in the freezer for 24 hours.
Keep the shine in your leather shoes and boots by cleaning them with a solution of vinegar and water. Using either an old toothbrush or a sponge, wipe the mold or other dirt off the shoe’s leather parts.
You can also get the same shiny effect by cleaning leather shoes using a glass cleaner instead of vinegar. Just spray some on the shoes’ surface and wipe them off clean with a soft cloth or toothbrush.
#13 Mending holey sweaters
You don’t need to be a seamstress to do some mending on your clothes. Closing holes on sweaters with a simple looping stitch will only take you a couple of minutes. Just be sure to use a thread of a color that matches with the sweater you’re fixing up.
#14 A simple solution for rust
Have you got pesky rust stains on your favorite jeans or shirt? Fade them with a solution of white vinegar or lemon juice and salt. Just soak the affected area with the liquid for 30 minutes.
#15 Fixing tarnished fake jewelry
Just because its fake jewelry doesn’t mean that you can’t save it from dirt and tarnishing. Get old costume jewelry looking new again by cleaning the pieces in hot water with salt and baking soda.
#16 Easy chain detangling
Don’t get too overwhelmed when you open your jewelry box to find your bracelets or necklaces all tangled up. A sprinkle of regular baby powder will help loosen the knots.
Want to revamp a boring old shirt. Turn it into a cool shirt with an acid design by spraying the edges with a water and bleach mixture.
A lot of people tend to gain a bit of weight as they grow older. Too bad clothes can’t grow with a person…or can they? You can actually stretch out jeans to make them fit better by spraying them with lukewarm water and then tugging at the thigh or waist area.
#19 Repurposing worn-out clothes
There are just some holes you can’t patch up. If you encounter one in your jean jacket, you can completely cut off the sleeves and turn it into a short sleeve jean blouse.
Recreate your own ‘branded’ clothes for less by ironing a design on a plain shirt or sweater. All you’ll need are some transfer papers, parchment paper and, of course, a clothes iron.
For rips that can’t be mended, you can opt to cut out the entire panel where the rip is found and replace it with a piece of cloth with a nice pattern.
#22 Following trends for cheap
Try new fashion trends without buying anything new by using old shirts to create new designs. A pair of scissors and some inspiration will take you a long way.
#23 Fast & creative revamp
Want to stand out from the sea of people wearing the same thing? Get your creative juices flowing and paint some of your clothes with all kinds of designs using fabric paint.
#24 Getting rid of immovable stains
Sometimes you just have to accept that there are stains you can’t wash off. That doesn’t mean you can’t get rid of them though. If the stain happens to be near the hem of jeans, you can just cut the hem into a new shape.
#25 No-sew transformation
For people who aren’t fans of sewing, you can still come up with some creative clothing transformations like this one.
#26 Snip, snip for a new hem
Another no-sew revamp project you can do is giving your jeans a new distressed hem using a pair of scissors, some tweezers and lots of patience.
Yes, you can turn a pair of leggings into a cute halter top swimsuit. Cut the leggings short into a bikini bottom. The rest of the leggings can then be sewed into the halter top.
Are you running out of shorts to wear during the hot summer months? Why not turn an old pair of jeans into shorts?
Another project you can do using old jeans is this one. Since distressed jeans are trendy right now, you can take an old pair or jeans and make some creative rips and holes.
#30 Removing creases from shoes
We all know how annoying it is when creases begin to appear on favorite shoes. To undo this damage, put some inserts into your shoes and literally iron out the creases with a piece of cloth and a steam iron.
#31 Beer and gold jewelry
Not a fan of beer? Well, you might just become one once you know the magic it has when it comes to returning the shine to some gold jewelry.
Shoelace aglets tend to break down over time. There is need to completely buy new shoelaces, though. When this happens, create new aglets using things like plastic straws.
Got scratches on your expensive leather coat? Don’t lose hope yet! You can probably fix it using some good old olive oil and an iron.
Create a new top out of old leggings by cutting the bottoms into a tube top and creating a halter design using the rest of the material.
#35 Revamping satin clothes
Got some satin that has been damaged in the wash? Good news, you can fix it in the same place. Just wrap the item inside pantyhose before putting it in the washing machine.
Bring a bottle of clear nail polish with you on the go to prevent runs in stockings or pantyhose from further running for the rest of the day. Paint around the area of the holes to stop them in their tracks.
#37 Drying shoes the smart way
Put small bags filled with cat litter to absorb the moisture inside wet shoes. No more smelly, damp shoes!
#38 Off-the-shoulder leggings
Get on the off-shoulder top bandwagon without buying anything new by turning some leggings into a top. You can even make a matching choker from the hem of the leggings’ leg holes.
#39 Get creative with knots
Who knew you could easily turn a regular cardigan into a stylish asymmetrical top by wearing the item the wrong way and then knotting the unused sleeve around the waist.
You can use the same principle with a pair of leggings and create an adorable and trendy one-shoulder crop top.
Take two formal dress shirts and turn them into a romantic blouse by buttoning the shirts onto each other. You can even create a belt out of the unused sleeves that remain in the back.
Take a risk and try wearing a tank top as a tight mini skirt. Just be careful pick a thick top so it won’t be see-through.
#43 The literal T-shirt dress
Take an oversized t-shirt and turn it into a cute tube dress without cutting it up. Tie the sleeves behind and throw on a cute jacket to complete the look.
People who don’t know how to sew will find this one a lifesaver. A couple of folds and cuffs can easily make an ill-fitting pair of jeans look better in a matter of seconds.
#45 The secret to better fitting clothes
Have you got clothes that are too big? Make them fit better by sewing some strategic darts where you need to shrink them.
Distressed jeans might be on-trend but wearing shirts with holes still isn’t a good look. Keep your shirts looking decent by closing tiny holes with a needle and thread. Make sure to sew the shirt inside out.
#47 Removing chewing gum from clothes
Having chewing gum stuck to your clothes is annoying, but it’s nothing a small ice cube can’t fix.
#48 Brushed back to white
As it turns out, toothpaste can also whiten things other than teeth. You can even use it to brush the dirt off a pair of running shoes.
There is no need to spend a fortune to buy new clothes for your summer holiday. A simple scarf can easily be turned into a nice, flowy summer dress without sewing.
Wire bras give amazing support, but they can turn pesky when the wire inside breaks through and starts poking out. Fix this by hot-gluing them back into the hole and covering it with a small patch of cloth.
Got a broken zipper tab? Take a paperclip and hook it in place of the old one. Instant fix!
There are days when we just can’t be bothered to put in much effort into a look. And this is the perfect clothing hack to remember for those types of days.
Wax stains are a pain to wash off clothes. Don’t waste your time trying to scratch off wax from your shirt or pants. Just use an iron and some tissues to melt the wax off your clothes.
Sweaters can form a layer of fuzz as you wash and wear them over and over. To get rid of these unsightly clumps, use a simple razor to literally shave them off.
Aside from helping in detangling jewelry, you can also use baby powder to clean it. According to people who’ve tried the hack, the powder helps in bringing back the shine of silver and gold pieces.
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Source: Brightside
Whether you’re trying to buy fewer clothes to save some money or to stick to a more minimalist lifestyle, keeping the clothes you already have in top shape is a great way to achieve either goal.
Luckily, there are many easy and cheap ways you can renew old clothes and shoes and probably even repurpose some of them. Check these 55 hacks and see which you can use to bring new life to your wardrobe.
