Clothing Care: Washing Tips and Garment Restoration

Properly washing gym clothes and ski gear prevents damage and odors. Learn how to break in leather boots fast, restore stiff cotton sweaters, and remove scuff marks from patent leather to keep your wardrobe in top condition.

Mature man in blue hat, looking away

Acrylic vs. Wool Hats

When you want to stay warm, a nice winter hat can help keep your body at a balanced temperature. Winter or cool season hats are not only available in variety of styles, but are made from different types of material. Acrylic and wool are two popular options to keep you comfortable in any chilly, cold environment.

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How to Dry Tennis Shoes in the Dryer

Tennis shoes experience a lot of wear and tear, depending on the activities you are involved in. As a result, you must clean them regularly to keep them looking and smelling good, but it can take a long time for them to air dry. If you need to wear them the same day you wash them, toss them into the dryer.

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How to Pull a String Through Sweatpants

It happens to the best of us. We pull a comfy pair of sweatpants out of the dryer only to find that the drawstring has slipped out. If the pants have elastic, there really is no need to re-thread the string unless you feel it somehow adds to the style of the pant.

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Man relaxing at home with cup of coffee

How to Remove Rust or Water Marks on Cotton T-Shirts

It’s disheartening to pull your cotton T-shirts from the wash only to find they’re covered in rust or water marks. Rust and water marks can be caused by mineral deposits in your water, from the zippers or accessories on other clothing, or from the water used to wash the clothes sitting too long in the pipes.

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mid section view of woman ironing a shirt

How to Transfer on Cotton and Polyester Blends

Heat transfers can liven up an outfit and transform an ordinary shirt into a memorable keepsake. Fear of ruining expensive transfers or garments, however, can make the process appear to be more dangerous and complicated than it really is. Cotton and cotton polyester blend fabrics are perfectly safe for heat transfers.

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The Last HOL(P)E

The Best Ways to Stretch Pants After Washing Them

It’s daunting to take a pair of pants out of the dryer, only to find they’re now a size or two smaller. Whether your pants shrunk when you washed them or you bought them just a bit too tight, you don’t have to give them to charity or pitch them in the trash. Try some home remedies to stretch the pants to fit.

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Boots on grass background/A vintage boots on grass,selective foc

Ways to Break in Steel-Toed Boots

Steel-toed boots are a popular option for anyone working at potentially hazardous work sites, such as construction zones, or for those who require extra protection for their feet. Work boots, such as the steel-toed variety, are also particularly slow to break in.

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How to Set Tie-Dyed Cotton With Vinegar

Tie-dying cotton clothing is an activity that has been enjoyed for generations. Children and adults alike can enjoy creating colorful T-shirts, while no two designs are identical. Tie-dyed materials must be set with care in order to preserve their design.

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portrait charming young woman glasses

How to Get Scratches Out of Eyeglass Lenses

If you've ever dropped your glasses, you probably looked on horrified as they bounced across the floor or pavement. Eyeglass lenses can take plenty of abuse, but even with a scratch-resistant coating, accidents do happen.

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Elegant shirt detail

How to Make Cotton Shirts Larger

Cotton is a robust fabric, and while some cotton shirts are pre-shrunk, others are not. If you have a cotton shirt that is too tight, you can stretch the shirt out to make it larger.

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Male cyclist leaning on mountain bike

How to Keep Your Pants From Chafing

Chafing occurs when a coarse fabric rubs against your body. Although common during vigorous exercise, chafing can also occur during work or if you wear an uncomfortable pair of pants on a date.

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Handmade red earrings with jewels. Vintage style

How to Keep Fake Jewelry From Discoloring

Costume jewelry delivers sparkle at a cheaper price than real precious metals and gems but without proper care, fake jewelry can discolor and lose its shine. Besides losing or changing color, costume jewelry is more susceptible to dings and stains.

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How to Get an Ink Stain Out of a Nylon Jacket

Ink stains are a common issue that unfortunately, many cannot seem to conquer. There are several home remedies that involve the use of hairspray or other alcohol-containing products. However, these can often cause even more damage to a nylon coat.

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Clerk and customer at dry cleaners

How to Clean a Polyester Coat

Polyester is among the most durable and heavily used synthetic materials today. Since its invention in the 1940s, polyester has been noted for its resistance to wrinkles and stains and used as both fabric and filling for outerwear such as jackets and winter coats.

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Businessmen's Wingtip Shoes

How to Fix Nicks in Shoe Toes

Shoes take a beating the moment you wear them out of the house. Over time, the toes of shoes may become nicked, which greatly diminishes the appearance. This is especially true for leather or patent leather shoes. With one easy-to-find product, you can repair small nicks in the toes of your shoes right at home.

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How to Fix Cuts in Polyester Clothes

Durable polyester fabric, predominantly featured in athletic wear and weather-resistant garments such as jackets or winter coats, can tear under stress.

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People working Batik dye Mauhom color

How to Dye a Cotton-Polyester Mix Fabric

While many dyes are made specifically for natural fibers, with the right dye, you can dye fiber blends, including cotton-polyester mix fabrics or garments.

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How to Get Stains Off of White Shirts Without Using Bleach

There's no beating old-fashioned liquid chlorine bleach for its whitening power, but it's not the only option for removing a stain from a white shirt. A number of potentially less damaging products act as stain removers both before and during the wash.

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