15 Smart Household Tricks to Return Old Clothes Back to Life

Depending on how often you wear it, a T-shirt should last from 6 months to 3 years. However, it is possible to make the clothes serve you much longer than that, even if they are your favorite items, you just need to know a few tips and tricks that will prolong their life span.

We at Now I’ve Seen Everything are happy to give you all the information you need right here.

1. Getting rid of oil stains

If there is an oil stain, try to clean it with lighter fluid. Pour some onto the stain, and wait until it evaporates. You may need to repeat this procedure several times before a stain vanishes. Then wash the item as usual.

2. Removing white deodorant stains from dark clothes

When using deodorant frequently, it can leave white stains on dark clothes that can be removed with regular wet wipes. Simply wipe the area of the clothes with the stains and they will disappear

3. Getting rid of pills on your clothing

Grab one of your razors from the shower along with some masking tape. Be sure to do this slowly so you don’t accidentally slice a hole in your clothing.

1. Wash the garment.

2. Shave parts containing pills.

3. Use a lint roller or tape to pick up the pilling.

4. Dealing with dark clothes

To make sure your dark clothes don’t fade, it’s better to wash them at a low temperature and on the shortest cycle. It’s also recommended to use a liquid detergent: a powder detergent may not dissolve in cold water completely.

There is another tip to protect your dark clothes — turn them inside out before washing and dry them the same way.

5. Preventing a sweater from itching, losing its color, and being eaten by moths

A wool sweater is a product that sometimes causes inconvenience and requires delicate care. If you place a folded sweater into a plastic bag and into a freezer, it will pill and shed less. Moreover, low temperatures kill the larvae of moths. You can get rid of itchiness by wetting the sweater and putting it into the freezer for 10 hours. After that, you’ll need to de-freeze it in warm water and dry it off.

6. Making sure denim looks great

Washing your clothes in a wrong way can lead to their damage, but washing them not often enough is also not an option. For example, the fibers of 100% cotton jeans relax during wearing, causing jeans to stretch over time. Regular washing will help prevent this.

You can shrink denim by washing it in very hot water.

7. Using liquid washing detergent

We should admit that washing powder is perfect for removing hard stains, that’s why using it in some cases is quite sensible. However, in other cases, liquid washing detergent wins over it.

First of all, it is better for the preliminary processing of stains. Secondly, it leaves fewer traces on clothes. And, thirdly, it is safer for the washing machine thanks to its better solubility properties compared to washing powder which can clog the system.

8. Getting rid of static that clings to clothing

Static clinging can be stopped by using a metal item. In order to stop clothes from clinging to the body, you’ll need to loop it through a metal hanger before putting it on. You can also use a clothespin by attaching it to the inner part of the clothing item or rubbing a thimble against the whole area of the item.

9. Removing marker’s stains

To remove a stain from markers, use glass cleaner. Put a napkin under a spot to prevent the rest of the fabric from becoming soaked. Spray glass cleaner onto the stain, and leave it for 5 minutes. Then wash your clothes as usual.

10. Making your buttons hold longer

If you want to prevent your buttons from falling off, just stitch them with dental floss. It’s a good trick, especially for buttons that get heavy wear.

11. Removing makeup stains

To remove lipstick or foundation stains, take a piece of white bread, and roll a ball. Pat the ball on the stain, avoiding any smearing. It’s recommended to do this right after a stain appears. Then wash the clothes as usual.

12. Using a brush to clean clothes

Even though adhesive lint rollers make it easy to remove hairs from clothes, they are not that harmless. Rollers can leave a synthetic adhesive residue on the fabric, which attracts even more hairs and dust. This residue can also cause fading of clothes.

It’s better to use a brush made from natural materials instead of a roller.

13. Preserving clothes during washing

Take a few extra moments before you throw everything into the hamper or washing machine to zip and button your clothes. This prevents closures from catching on other clothing and keeps buttons from pulling or loosening. If you don’t, you run the risk of catching, pulling or tearing fabric, damaging the locking mechanism, and pulling buttons during washing.

14. Using dishwasher powder for washing clothes

To make clothes look new, it’s recommended to mix detergent and dishwasher powder in equal measures. Add this mix into the washing machine, and wash your clothes as usual.

15. Ironing linen clothes

Linen is almost impossible to iron when completely dry. If you don’t want to ruin the fabric with an iron, sprinkle it with water 5 to 10 minutes before ironing, especially the collar, cuffs and pockets.

Before wearing, let linen clothing dry for 10-15 minutes, otherwise it will quickly wrinkle again. And if you decide to use a wrinkle relaxing fabric spray, it’s best to test it on an inside hem first: some products can leave stains on linen, especially dark ones.

16. Restoring faded clothing with salt

Add 1/2 cup (150 g) of salt to the wash cycle. Once you’ve placed your clothes and detergent in the washing machine, pour about 1/2 cup (150 g) of salt into the drum. In addition to restoring colors, it can also help prevent new clothes from fading in the first place.

You can add salt to every load of laundry if you’d like.

Regular table salt or ultra-fine pickling salt works well for this, but avoid coarse-ground sea salt as it may not dissolve fully in the washing machine.

Salt is also an effective stain remover, especially with blood, mildew, and sweat stains.

Do you have your own tips for how to care for clothes?