Shrunken sweaters, static cling, deodorant marks, scuffed shoes… I could go on and on! There’s a nearly endless list of wardrobe malfunctions and clothing catastrophes that like to crop up from time to time to cause chaos. But before you throw in the towel and burn the offending piece of clothing, stop! Take a break, as well as a few deep breaths, and read this post first. :-) There’s almost ALWAYS a cure for what ails you and your clothing, and today I’ll be sharing a couple dozen of them!
So without further ado, here are 25 ways to fix common clothing catastrophes and wardrobe malfunctions. (And if you have a clothing fix that isn’t listed here, I’d love to hear about it in the comments section!)
Related: 8 Clever Clothing Hacks That Will Help You Beat The Heat
25 Solutions To Common Clothing Catastrophes
1. Stains
If you’re in need of an all-purpose stain remover for everyday clothing stains, look no further! My very favorite stain remover is one you can make right in your own home! I’ve used it to remove all kinds of different stains, and it hasn’t failed me yet!
Related: How To Make My Ultimate Stain Remover Spray
2. Buttons
Dab a bit of white glue on the threads of the buttons on your dress shirts. This will help prevent the threads from fraying, and will keep your buttons on longer. If you don’t have any white glue, clear nail polish works just as well!
3. Zipper Fix
If you have a pair of pants with a zipper that just won’t stay up, here’s an easy fix. Attach a key ring onto the edge of the zipper, then pull the zipper up and hook the key ring around the button of the pants. The key ring will keep the zipper in place! (You could also use a paperclip if you don’t have a key ring to spare.)
4. Static Cling
To get rid of static cling, spray the inside of your clothing with a light layer of hair spray. Another option is to run the long side of a wire hanger over the outside and inside of your clothing, or you can rub your clothes down with a dryer sheet!
More Ideas You'll Love
5. Shrinking
Accidentally shrink a favorite piece of clothing? Follow the link below to learn my favorite trick for “unshrinking” clothes. It’s easier than you’d think!
Related: How To Unshrink Your Clothes In 3 Simple Steps
6. Wrinkles
No time to drag out an iron and ironing board to fix a wrinkled shirt? A straightening iron works perfectly for smoothing out collar creases and minor wrinkles. It also fits between shirt buttons nicely! You can look perfectly pressed, even when you’re pressed for time. (Another option is to make my simple homemade wrinkle release spray! Check it out at the link below.)
Related: Homemade Wrinkle Release Spray
7. Leather Shoes
Use the inside of a banana peel to erase scuffs on your leather shoes, then buff them to a shine with a paper towel. To erase water stains on leather shoes, use a toothbrush dipped in white vinegar. (For more tips on caring for leather shoes, check out the post below!)
Related: How To Clean And Care For Leather Shoes
8. Too-Tight Shoes
Use a hair dryer to help you stretch out a pair of too-tight shoes. Pull on a pair of thick socks, then put the tight shoes on too. Point your hair dryer at the shoes for a minute or two, then keep the shoes on until they cool off.
More Ideas You'll Love
9. Glasses
Whether you’re wearing reading glasses or sunglasses, it’s really annoying to have them slipping off your face! Just grab your trusty hot glue gun to add some extra grip. Apply a line of hot glue to the inside of each arm of your glasses, near the back where they rest above your ears. When the glue dries, the glue will add some extra grip and keep them from sliding. (And you can peel the hot glue off whenever you want without damaging your frames.)
10. Sweat Stains
Because of the proteins present in your sweat, sweat stains on your clothing can be tricky to remove. But with the right ingredients and method, it’s easier than you’d think! Check out my post on removing sweat stains from clothing by following the link below. (And to help prevent sweat stains in the first place, spray the underarms of your shirts with lemon juice before you wash them.)
Related: How To Remove Sweat Stains The Easy Way
11. Shoe Polish
Remove scuffs and add serious shine to your favorite boots with my homemade shoe polish. It contains all-natural beeswax, which also helps to repel water and mud! Learn how to make it by following the link below.
Related: How To Make Your Own Beeswax Boot Polish
12. Dingy Whites
Are your whites not so white anymore? My favorite method for whitening whites is surprisingly simple, and incredibly effective – much more effective than just using bleach! Get all the details from the post below.
Related: Make Your Own “Miracle” Laundry Whitening Solution
13. Pilling
I wrote a whole post about ways to get rid of pesky pilling on sweaters and other clothing. Check it out at the link below!
Related: How To Save Your Sweaters From Pesky Pilling
14. Sneakers
Clean the hard surfaces of dirty sneakers with a magic eraser. It’s an easy way to make shoes look brand new!
15. Suede
You can clean dirt off of suede shoes with a
, stale bread crust or pencil eraser. For more detailed instructions on how to clean and care for suede, read the post below.
Related: How To Clean Suede
16. Hems
Hold up the hem of your pants or skirt in an emergency using paper clips. For a more permanent solution, check out this post about how to hem jeans while still keeping the original hem.
17. Pantyhose
Use clear nail polish to stop a run in a pair of pantyhose. You can also prevent the run in the first place by spraying pantyhose with a bit of hair spray before wearing them.
18. Ink Stains
Ink stains don’t have to be a death sentence for your clothes. You just need to know what stain removal methods work best on ink! Get the details below.
Related: How To Remove Ink Stains From Clothing With No Effort
19. Bleeding Denim
A new pair of jeans can quickly become a nuisance if the dye starts transferring to your hands, furniture, and other clothes. Use the methods in the post below to lock the dye into your denim and stop the messy dye transfer.
Related: How To Stop Denim Dye From Bleeding
20. Stuck Zipper
To keep zippers from sticking (or to loosen one that’s already stuck), lightly rub the zipper’s teeth with a small piece of wax paper. The wax from the paper will help the zipper move smoothly, and reduce the chances of it getting stuck again.
21. Extra Grip
If you need a bit of extra grip to power through a slippery trail (or just to get across an icy parking lot), grab a zip tie! Loop the zip tie around the toe of your shoe, with the fastener facing down towards the ground. Clip the excess length, and the clasp will give you that extra traction you’re looking for.
22. Ring Around The Collar
Apply cream of tartar directly to stains around shirt collars. Dampen the collar area with water, sprinkle with cream of tartar, then rub the powder into the stain. Launder as usual.
23. Treating Stains In A Pinch
Club soda is well known for its stain-removing abilities. Dab club soda onto a stain with a clean cloth to help absorb the stain before washing the item.
Related: 10 Ways That Club Soda Is The Ultimate Folk Remedy
24. Deodorant Marks
Wipe away deodorant stains with an old pair of panty hose, without leaving tissue bits behind.
25. Keep Clothes Fresh
Hang a bag of chalk in your closets to keep your clothes smelling fresh. Chalk is excellent at absorbing moisture and odor.
One tip that wasn’t mentioned. I’ve used the skinny hair elastics before with my pants. Loop it on the buttonhole stitched part of Jeans flaps. Great for if I’m having one of my “fat” days. I’ve also used the Alcohol tip for ink spots on clothes. Just put a white washcloth or old rag between layers so ink doesn’t bleed through to the other side.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Any ideas on how to remove demin color transfer onto a white nylon purse?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would mix some water with Dawn Dish Soap and blot the stain until it’s gone.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hey Jillee,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you also have a product that will cover a spot thats looks like it has been bleached? Both my coworker and I have a slacks that have these spots on the legs, but don’t use bleach. Any ideas?
Try dabbing some white onto the stained area until it’s soaked with vinegar. Let dry, and repeat if necessary. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Another use for hot glue…….. If I have rings that are too large, especially in winter, I dip the back side in clear hot glue. This makes the rings fit better. It doesn’t show badly, won’t harm the ring, and can be peeled off if you don’t need it later. I haven’t tried it with costume rings, so not sure about the finish on those.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you have any way to get rid of a water stain on a sofa?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What fabric is the sofa made of?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you have a solution for 30 yr. Old formula stains on a fragile christening dress
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These are all great tips! I’m confused on one, though.
I’m not clear on how dabbing Elmer’s glue onto a button will help keep it on longer/keep the threads from fraying. Elmer/s (school glue) is washable. The minute the shirt is washed, there goes the button protection.
Clear nail polish would last through several washings, yes, but not the glue…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for all the wonderful helps and hints. I wonder if you have suggestions for making dingy rayon, nylon, etc white undies bright again. I’ve been careless about separating these from colored clothes and now they are so drab and yucky. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Yes! Here’s a post all about whitening whites: http://jillee.co/1TRtKOf
Please log in or create a free account to comment.rubbing alcohol works just fine for removing ink on fabric… no poisonous aerosol hair spray fumes needed! save the planet and do not use aerosols.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you!!! I will be trying some of the other hints, but I have just paid to have 4 pairs of jeans hemmed and they are still to long – the tailor pinned them, not me. That hint is going on my closet wall – since I retired I rarely wear anything other than jeans and a shirt. I think I know most of the tricks of the trade at 70, but you always manage to find some new things. Again, you have my heartfelt thanks!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Clean your Chuck Taylor/Converse tennis shoes (the rubber part) with acetone nail polish remover. Makes them look new every time.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for these tips.
However, I wonder if anyone else is having the same problem as I for the last week or so a garbled sound on the site. I’ve tried switching the sound off on the video, which doesn’t even appear to be running, but it is very annoying. Anyone got any ideas?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Kate! We’re trying to fix that problem – sorry for the annoyance!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jill another trick for removing static from your clothes especially when you get out of the car is to rub lotion on your clothes……static disappears, and we ladies all keep some sort of lotion in our cars right?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How can I get wax off of my chiffon blouse. A good amour if wax felt down the front of the blouse
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Rather than using white school glue or nail polish to keep button threads from loosening, I like to put a dot of super glue on the thread. Seems like the Elmer’s glue and the nail polish can be laundered away too easily.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m having trouble getting perspiration odor out of my partner’s dress shirts. So far, the best technique is to wash them in vinegar and baking soda, added to the wash detergent. Is there a better way? His shirts are expensive and I want them to last as long as possible.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I found that treating the stains/underarm area with ammonia (buy in the cleaner aisle at your supermarket) to be very effective. I used it full strength, just pouring it on, allowing to sit for 15 minutes, then washing as usual. Not only did it remove the odor, it also removed the yellow stain from his favorite white shirt.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillie, where did you get those leopard print sneakers that I saw in this post?? I have to have a pair as I’m obsessed with all things leopard!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.And also I do have something sticky on a pair of black pants, not sure if its gum or what. But I’ve washed the pants not knowing that there was something sticky to it. Can it be fixed somehow??
They came from Target a few years ago. :-) Try this for the sticky stain: http://jillee.co/2awRhEC
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I sat on a chewing gum and is stuck on my leggings. I have tried to get rid of the stain but not been successful. Can you help
Please log in or create a free account to comment.With suggestions.
My husband and I were “professional” chaperones for our children’s choirs and bands back when they were in school. I would always carry a small stapler and a black Sharpie in my purse for last minute hem uh-ohs. I have literally stood back stage and stapled hems as the girls walked out on stage. Simply staple the hem with the bar side of the staple on the inside of the dress and the teeth side out. This prevents the staple from catching in hose. Then I would touch the black Sharpie to the shiny teeth showing on the outside of the dress and off they would go.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.To remove grease stains from washable clothes, rub the spot with a dry bar or regular Dove soap. Rub soap into spot well and then wash as usual with regular laundry detergent.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve never tried dry soap. I’ve always use Dawn dishwashing detergent and it works well.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I keep a tide stain pen and shout wipes in my purse for on the go stains.Walmart is the only place that seems to carry these. Also baby wipes take out a lot of stains.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We seem to be getting white marks on our clothes . I’m not sure if it’s a bleach mark or from my teenagers acne medicine. Any solutions ?
Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.i’ve heard the acne medicine will leave marks on towels, pillowcases etc so it could be true for the clothes. wash his/her’s separately to avoid and see if this is causing.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Try cleaning you washing machine – the white marks could be caused by residue in the machine. http://jillee.co/2ouTRAl :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s the benzoyl peroxide which is a common ingredient in acne medicines. It’s basically a bleach. My grandson ruined all my tools and wash cloths with it. To prevent it from happening again I bought white towels and wash cloths for him to use. Works great as long as he doesn’t grab the colored ones to dry his face and hands on(which unfortunately he still does occasionally – and it only takes one time to ruin a towel)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I got liquid make-up on a pair of white, cotton pants & can’t get it out. Will your stain solution get it out?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Try facial soap; it does a great job of getting mascara off my white washcloths. Decades ago, a department store clerk taught me to get customers’ makeup off clothing with a cotton ball lightly moistened and rubbed across a bar of plain WHITE soap, then gently rubbed across the makeup stain.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes! :-)
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