Whether you want to fix older clothing pieces or a pair of new jeans that doesn’t fit quite right, clothing hacks are here to save the day.
And I honestly really love clothing hacks and tips; they can come in handy right when you’re about to trash your favorite shirt or pants. And down below, I’ve made a small but super helpful list of some great fabric hacks to save your clothing.
They really are a great way to also save you money and time, and keep your favorite outfits around just a bit longer.
So whether you want to be a bit more thrifty or you’re just not ready to throw out that cute blouse, these fashion hacks are your best friend.
1. Get Rid of Makeup Smudges with Shaving Cream
I really love this find from The Krazy Coupon Lady’s list of clothing hacks. Apparently, shaving cream is a sure fire way to get rid of those annoying makeup smudges.
I wear foundation regularly, so this should come in handy. 👌
2. Never Lose Socks With a Lingerie Bag
So apparently lingerie bags aren’t just for washing lingerie (I actually didn’t even know these things existed), but they’re also a great way to keep your socks together. No more missing socks!
3. Fix Torn Jeans With a Cute Patch
Ripped jeans can still be stylish, but that doesn’t mean you want all of your jeans to have tears. So if you have a cute pair of jeans with a hole, try fixing it up with a cute patch.
It’s a fun way to get creative and make your outfit pop.
4. Use a Safety Pin to Reinsert a Drawstring
I love my hoodies, but I really hate it when the drawstring comes out or gets displaced. But thankfully, there’s an easy trick for that!
Just attach a safety pin to the end of the string to help pull it back through. Now there’s no reason to toss the jacket or for moments of serious frustration as you try to pull it through.
5. Cover Old Scuffs by Creating Caps on Your Flats
I’m a flats kind of person, which means I wear out my shoes fast. I’ll wear sneakers when I have to, but these are my go-to shoes. So this hack for revamping an old pair of flats is a great way to save money, but also give your shoes a new look.
GET THE TUTORIAL HERE6. Remove Sweat Stains Naturally
Apparently, just using vinegar, baking soda, salt, and hydrogen peroxide, is all you need for getting rid of sweat stains. So no need to throw out your favorite shirt when you probably have all of the ingredients to get rid of the stain in your house already.
GET THE TUTORIAL HERE7. De-Shrink Your Shirt
Water, hair conditioner (or baby shampoo), and towels. It really is that simple when it comes to de-shrinking and saving your favorite shirts!
8. Make Your Favorite Jeans Your Size
Now you have no excuse not to buy that awesome pair of jeans that’s two sizes too small. And if you’ve gained a little bit of weight, no problem, this fabric hack is perfect for that too!
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9. Prevent Your Jeans from Fading
I’m a big believer in black jeans. They go with nearly everything and make you look pretty good. But the one thing I don’t like about them is that they fade way too easily. Thankfully though, vinegar is a great way to lock in the dye and keep them looking nice.
10. Crochet Hooks for Fixing Snags
I love this simple repair for such a common clothing mishap.
When your sweater gets a snag, just use a crochet hook to push through and pull the snag inside. It’s a great way to keep your piece looking pretty and new, and not needing to find just the right replacement button.
And to get the full tutorial so you do this technique just right, click the button below!
GET THE TUTORIAL HERE11. Freeze to Stop Shedding
If you have any wool or cashmere tops that are constantly shedding, then just put it in a big plastic bag, put it in the freezer overnight, and it’ll stop the shedding.
12. Use Clear Nail Polish to Stop Runs in Your Tights
A run in your tights is one of the easiest ways to ruin your outfit’s look for the day. So if you notice a small run or hole, quickly use some clear nail polish to stop it from going further and save your tights.
13. Use a Razor, Scissors, or Pumice Stone to Remove Pilling
Whether it’s that super cute sweater you love to wear during the fall, some thick leggings, or a nice shirt, pilling will always ruin the look.
So if you wanna keep that piece around longer, then either use some scissors, a razor (my personal favorite), or a pumice stone to get rid of the pilling. It’s honestly one of the best techniques in clothing repairs!
14. Use Rit Dye for Faded Black Clothes
If some of your favorite black clothing is starting to fade (or is already faded), just buy Rit Dye (under $10 on Amazon) for a quick fix.
Now you don’t need to run to the store to get some new black jeans!
GET THE TUTORIAL HERE15. Fix a Loose Button With Clear Nail Polish
Make sure a button’s thread doesn’t start to come loose by putting a bit of clear nail polish on top of it. Now you don’t have to worry about your favorite outfit missing a button!
16. Unstuck a Zipper WithVaseline, Crayon, or Soap
Get that stuck zipper unstuck by using Vaseline on a cotton swab, using a bit of soap, or by rubbing a crayon on both sides. It’s an easy fix and a bit of handiwork that’ll save your favorite jacket!
GET THE TUTORIAL HERE
17. Use Baby Powder on Oil Stains
Have a shirt that got splashed with oil while cooking? Well there’s no need to stress because just a bit of baby powder will take care of it!
I’ve done this one myself before and it really does work. You just need to leave it on there overnight (or longer), but that oil stain will come out!
GET THE TUTORIAL HERE18. Freeze and Scrape Gum Stains
We all know the pain of removing gum from our clothing. So a quick solution is to put your jeans in a big plastic bag, leave it exposed so it’s not touching other parts of the fabric, and let it freeze for one hour. Then you should be able to scrape it off!
GET THE TUTORIAL HERE19. Use Lemon Juice + Baking Soda to Remove Sweat Stains
Lemon juice with water is really great for removing armpits stains. But for tougher stains, use a lemon juice and baking soda paste and let it soak for an hour before washing.
GET THE TUTORIAL HERE
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.
These are great tips! Here’s my laundry tip. For clothing stains apply some laundry liquid on it directly and then wash as normal. There’s no need to buy the special stain remover spray.
The Boo has a lot of sweaty white-t’s, and his Mom suggested that we soak them overnight in bleach, baking soda and vinegar (did not know to use hydrogen peroxide) & the sweaty pits faded. I will add peroxide next time. With our newborn – we definitely use the lingerie bag & it works!
Thanks
Bev take bar of soap and rub it on a zipper work’s wonderful
or candle wax to smooth zipper track
Another trick for pulling string thru sweatshirt is putting the string thru a straw and then weave thru sweatshirt
Thanks for the awesome tip Jm! 🙂
The safety pin hack I have known since I was a little girl. My grandma was a genius in these small but useful tips.
A Sharpie marker is like a magic fix! If you accidenyly spill bleach or spray your shirt or whatever with cleaning solution…a Sharpie in the same color fills the area in. Not for large bleached ateas, but small spots fix like a dream!
This is so true K! 🙂
My husband does laundry at our house! We both do laundry. I wash my clothes and linens and he washes his clothes and the towels. He even does housework when I’m busy or at work. That way when everything is done, we both can relax or take in dinner and a movie.
Great tips…I especially love the one about giving flats a new life by painting the tips. What a great way to keep a favorite pair of shoes around a little longer! 🙂
Thanks Haylee! And I like that tip too. 🙂
I remove stains for my sneakers and synthetic bags (not sure about leather bags) with nail polish remover.
Thanks for this awesome tip Amaka! 🙂
Why should only ‘girls’ do laundry. I am a man and do them also. This is not right..
Hey Ronald! I totally agree! I only phrased it that way because my blog is primarily geared towards women (the title is meant to grab the attention of other women). I hope this makes sense. 🙂
Remove deodorant by rubbing the same material together. No need to wet anything just grab bottom of shirt and rub part of shirt where deodorant is and whala no white marks… saw on MTV yeeeeaaars ago.
Awesome tip Jess! Thanks! 🙂
Graphite from a standard pencil will also work great on zippers or other tight places that have friction. Simply rub the pencil lead across the metal where the friction is happening
Thanks for this awesome tip Pam! 🙂
I dye my favorite clothes with Rit Dye or bleach & change the color of something that I don’t like. It takes practice & dedication, as you have to reset the washing machine a few times before you rinse, then you have to bleach the machine right after, so the dye gets washed off.
Thanks for this awesome tip Elizabeth! I’ll make sure I try it out! 🙂
When my favorite jeans get too faded I redye them with Rit dye. One box denim blue and one box of navy blue.
Thanks for this tip Audrey! I’l be sure to use this! 🙂
I keep my clothes white with detergent, Biz, & bleach. But, always start with new clothes.
Great tip Myra! Thanks! 🙂
Bleach seriously damages the fibres in clothing and shortens their life span