We all have clothes that are worn, tattered, and just plain old. They’re usually our favorite items of clothing and have only gotten to look so bad because we like to wear them so much. Other times, there are some unfortunate mishaps like spills and incorrect washing methods. So goes life. But don’t give up hope! There is (usually) something you can do. Perhaps, we can help.
If you have some clothes that you would like to spruce up, you found the right slideshow! Scroll through the slides and see what you can do about those holes, snags, torn seams, color bleeding, and more! Give some of these a try and tell your friends if they work for you.
Keep in mind, some of these are going to be a bit more simple to do than others. But don’t worry. We’ve included tutorials to help you every step of the way!
One of the most common culprits of clothing repairs. If you have a slightly large hole in one of your favorite pieces of clothing, there is a fix for that. Try any one of
these methods to close that hole right up.
If you know how to backstitch, you can repair a torn seam. If not, find out how to do so
here. You’ll be happy you did!
Sometimes we grow tired of our clothing being a certain color. Other times, we accidentally stain them. So why not change it up? It’s a bit time-consuming but worth it if you can spare the time. Learn how to do it
here.
If you need to learn how to sew on a button, you’re in luck! After all, it’s not a difficult as you might think. Learn how to do it
here.
5) Wrinkles (dryer method)
Put ice cubes in your dryer to remove wrinkles from your clothes. Put the dryer on medium heat and leave them in for 15 minutes. The ice becomes steam which removes wrinkles.
You can also use a damp sock instead.
Learning how to hem opens up a world of possibilities. Literally, there is so much that you can do. You can learn how to start
here.
If you have a sewing machine lying around, use it to learn how to blind hem a stitch. It’s faster than doing it by hand. See how it’s done
here!
8) Repair cut or tear in fabric
If you need to mend a shirt, you don’t have to take it into a seamstress. You can do it at home following
these instructions. All you need are scissors, iron, thread in the color of the shirt, and fusible interfacing.
A pill is a fuzzball or a lint ball. We get them pretty often and they can get pretty annoying. To fix this, you’ll need a razor and masking tape or a lint roller. Then, wash the garment and shave the part with the pills. Lastly, use the roller or tape to remove the pills.
Have an old shirt that just doesn’t look very cool anymore? Or maybe there’s a stain or another form of damage you’d like to hide? Add a logo to it. See how to apply a no-sew logo
here.
If you’re not careful, you can scorch your clothes when ironing. To avoid this, first, use the temperature recommended. Next, use another cloth on top of the clothing when you iron.
12) Excessive color bleeding
To cut down on excessive color bleeding of your clothes, try soaking them in a vinegar or salt solution before washing. Just make sure that the salt or vinegar dissolves in the water completely.
13) Permanent creases in clothes
If you fold your clothes the same way for years, you might notice deep creases forming in them. Try folding the clothes another way once in a while. Watch those creases fade!
Hats can lose their shapes fairly quickly. To get it back, boil water in a small pot and place the hat on top of the pot. The steam rises and shapes the hat.
If you’re having problems with a zipper, you’re not alone. They might separate after you’ve zipped them up. Or maybe the zipper opens unexpectedly. Find out how to fix these common problems
here.
There isn’t too much that isn’t repairable. If there is an unsightly stain on your favorite shirt or a larger hole, learn to work with it. Get rid of the damage completely by making a cutout lace shape!
See how it’s done!
17) Remove bleeding dyes from clothes
Try this
product to wash off those extra dyes so they don’t bleed when you don’t want them to. It also prevents the dyes from resetting on other areas of the same piece of clothing once it’s been washed out.
18) Sweaty, smelly clothes
Sweating is natural and we all do it. But nobody wants that smell to linger on their clothes.
Learn how to get rid of that sweat smell from your clothing for good.
Though it may not be considered a repair, it sure is a nuisance. But there is something that you can do. A lint roller or tape should do the trick but did you know simply wiping a dryer sheet on the clothing will also?
To prevent lint, try some of these steps.
20) Buttonholes are too big
Over time, the holes for our buttons might start to get larger. When this happens, it becomes pretty unsightly. See how to fix them
here.
21) Shining after ironing
Sometimes your clothes will have a shiny mark after ironing. Though some people like shiny things, it’s not ideal to have them ironed onto your clothes from improper ironing. See how to avoid them
here.
22) Water-stained clothing
Water stains can be oh-so irritating! To get ride of them, try
this out. Hopefully, it works for you!
This happens quite often. To fix faded clothing, try salt. It can also
prevent fading! Use table salt and not coarse salt like sea salt because it might not dissolve in the wash. Just add 1/2 cup of salt to the drum after adding your detergent.
This typically happens when the garment is too tight or on loosely woven fabrics. When this happens, replace the stitching line after reinforcing the area. Learn how to do this
here.
26) Permanent pleats coming undone
There isn’t much that can be done here. Thus, the best thing to do is to take care of the clothing as instructed to avoid unnecessarily damaging the pleats. For example, tumble dry the fabric rather than drying regularly.
Mothballs! As cliche as it sounds, they work. Invest in them to prevent getting avoidable holes in your clothing. Unless, you like this look…
All you need is baby shampoo, or conditioner, for this. Just place your clothes in a tub of warm water, add 2 tablespoons of the shampoo or conditioner, and let sit for 30 minutes. Finally, place the clothing flat on a towel, roll it up so it’s damp, unroll it, and lay it flat to dry.
Or after washing, stretch it.
29) Patches coming undone
Patches are pretty cool but they require care. If the patch is damaged, try getting a new one or replace it with another one of equal size. Find out how to attach patches
here.
Embroidery is pretty eye-catching. Once it becomes damaged or scuffed, it’s pretty much an eyesore. When this happens, you’ll have to carefully and patiently take out the embroidery and replace it.
Here are 10 easy embroidery designs to get you started.
31) Beading has come undone
If the beading is coming undone in your clothes, there’s a solution! Try removing the stitching (carefully) and then restitch the beads. If you need a bit of help, learn how to do it using these
instructions.
32) Damaged beads/sequins
Unlike stitching the beads back in, you will need to replace them. You might have to go out and purchase matching beads or sequins first. If you don’t have any luck, try making something of your own.
Here are some ideas and how to make them.
There isn’t anything worse than watching a perfectly white shirt turn off-white. To restore your white clothing, use bluing agents. Laundry bluing adds a very light trace of blue to the fabric making it appear more white.
Is your elastic waistband rolling over? If so, make a small vertical stitching that keeps the elastic inside the waistband in place. Then,
stitch in the ditch over a seam across the waistband.
35) Pant hem is worn or torn
If your pant hem has been damaged, simply reinforce the hem area. If the hem is beyond repair,
make a separate cuff in the hem.
If your pockets start to come undone, you might be in a bit of luck. Usually, they can be stitched back on. But if the welt pockets are coming apart, try covering them up with a patch or some embroidery. Learn how to welt pockets
here.
It happens. If you have enough seams in the dress, just loosen the side seam and restitch them. If you don’t have enough seam allowance, you’ll have to buy matching fabric with the same care instructions. Then, insert it into the seam to add more width.
Our bodies change over time. If you lost some weight but still want to wearn an older dress, you might be able to remove the excess fabric by adding a
dart or two. Or you can make a new stitching line on the inside.
39) Dress/pants too short
To do this, you will need to lengthen the hemlines. You can either add ruffles to the hems or make a slip extender to wear under the clothing. See how to lengthen a skirt
here.
40) Pulling and loosening in the washing machine
Not zipping, tying, or buttoning your clothes can lead to pulling, knotting, and tigthtening of clothes in the washing machine. It can completely damage your clothes. Simply fasten your clothing before throwing in the washer.
41) Pants, dress, skirt, or top is too long
If you need to shorten some clothing, you can do so! If you need to shorten dress tops and skirts, just cut out the extra portion and sew the hemline again. For jeans, check out how to do it
here.
42) Straps are too long/short
You might have to remake the straps or add adjusting sliders yourself. But don’t worry. We’ll point you in the right direction. See how to do it
here.
This happens over time with washing and drying. Sometimes we might be pulling on our shirts a little too much for whatever reason. Or they just naturally stretch over time. Learn how to fix it
here.
44) Keep those buttons on!
Buttons fall off of clothing sometimes. But instead of sewing them back on with regular string, use dental floss. It’s stronger and looks just fine. Nobody will even notice.
To get your shoes smelling like normal again, put at least 1 tablespoon of baking soda into each shoe. It can really help! Oh, and of course, wash your feet and socks regularly!
46) Keep your collars straight
Not everybody is great at ironing their clothes. And let’s face it, the collar can be a tricky part to iron. Instead of using a regular iron, use a hair straightener. Be careful not to burn yourself or the fabric! Also, make sure there isn’t any product on the straightener!
If you have a tiny hole in your shirt, you don’t have to try and sew it. Instead, turn the shirt inside out, cover it with some fusible bonding web, fold a portion of the shirt over it, and iron over it.
If you sit in gum, don’t panic. Grab an ice cube and rub it over the gum until flattened. Then, peel it off.
Apply toothpaste, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and rub it in. Toss it in the washer. It’s gone!
50) Wrinkles (shower method)
Old clothes tend to be wrinkly. Try hanging them up during a hot shower. Wrinkles-be-darned!
Fix that hole in your pantyhose before it turns into a run! Take off the pantyhose, turn them inside-out, grab some clear nail polish, stretch the pantyhose, and apply the polish over the edges and the hole. Once dry, apply a second coat on the other side and you’ll be on your way.
It sounds like a lot but it isn’t. See for yourself!
52) Replace drawstring in a hoodie
Missing drawstrings are a drag and they’re quite difficult to get them back in. Try sticking a safety pin through one of the ends of the string and run it through with your hands. You should be able to guide it along the way.
This one is easier than you think. Put a paper towel over the stain and iron it. Irons really are a great tool to have!
If you have a thread sticking out of your favorite shirt, grab a bobby pin and stick it through the thread. Next, pull the thread through the shirt to hide it. Lastly, remove the bobby pin.
We usually get these when putting on a shirt. But surprisingly, the washer doesn’t seem to get to them every time. Next time, try using baby wipes to remove the stains.
Now this repair may seem like a stretch (no pun intended) but it might help when you’re in a bind. If you can’t seem to button your pants, take a hair tie and pull it through the buttonhole. Then, hold the ends together and pull it over to the button to fasten.
57) Missing back(s) to earrings
If you lost or damaged a back to your favorite earrings at work or school, just cut off a small piece of an eraser and use that in the meantime. Another tip, it looks better if you use white instead of pink!
58) Toe smudges on black shoes
Ugh, it’s the worst when your nice black shoes get smudges on them. For a quick fix, color the smudge in with black marker.
The sooner you take care of this, the better. But it’s worth a try on old clothes. Spray the stain with shaving cream and then scrub gently with a sponge. Finally, toss the clothes in the washer. That’s it!
If you have an old belt that is too big for you, you don’t necessarily have to buy another. Instead, unscrew the fastener on the belt and cut the belt. The fastener should have holes. Take that part and place it over the belt and make those holes in the remaining belt. Lastly, screw the fastener back on.
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