Hacks for Keeping Your Clothes Fresh

How long does it take for your whites to start to look less white and more murky grey? Doesn’t it seem like you spend ages trying to find ways to make your clothing look as good as the day you bought it?

Ensuring our clothing looks good can be tricky, especially if you feel like you’ve tried every trick in the book. Add to this the pollution problem, and it’s easy to see why we’re struggling to keep on top of looking after our garments without doing damage to them or to the environment. 

If you feel you’re running out of ideas to keep everything fresh, you’re in luck. Here’s a roundup of some inspired ideas and hacks to help you to look after everything from your plain white tee to your trainers. 

Use What You Have

Before you start investing in expensive cleaning products, have a look around the home to see what’s in the cupboards. From foodstuffs to bathroom essentials, you’re sure to have everything in your clean-clothing arsenal already. 

For example, if you’ve shrunk your sweater, grab your hair conditioner and pour some into warm water. Take your sweater and place it in the solution you’ve created and gently stretch the fabric back into shape. 

Should you be seeking the perfect fluffy towels, combine half a cup of baking soda and some white vinegar with half of your usual amount of washing powder in the usual detergent tray. Wash on your hottest setting and you should end up with fluffy towels.

DIY Tricks

As well as using what you have in your cupboards, there are lots of tricks to keep everything looking good. Most of us know the trick of taking our clothes in the shower with us to reduce the wrinkles in our shirts or linen trousers, but did you know you can also remove creases in your linens by popping some tennis balls in the dryer? 

Similarly, if you find grease or oil stains on your clothing, scrub chalk over the stain to soak it up. Other stains that may appear during these winter months especially are caused by road salt on leather shoes. To remove these stains, soak a soft rag in a solution of two parts warm water and one-part white vinegar and gently wipe over the stains. 

Keep Whites Bright

Keeping things white can be a battle, especially if you’re not a fan of adding bleach when washing your garments. To tackle the grey, add half a cup of baking soda for brighter results and leave them to air dry.

To keep your trainers looking fresh, remember to never put them in the washing machine. Instead, hand rinse white laces in warm water and use an old toothbrush to scrub the awkward corners. Again, vinegar is perfect for removing small stains, while white nail polish is great for covering scratches. Investing this time can keep your footwear looking fresh. 

Do you know any cool tricks for keeping your clothes pristine? What do you do to prolong the life of your favourite pieces?