Hints and tips for clothes, shoes, stains and brushes and how to pack and fix minor problems.

clothes and shoes

Hints and tips for clothes, shoes, fabric and everything else you wear.

Fabrics:

Hints and tips for clothes and fabric:

Always fold your clothes into your suitcase so the folds are across the garments. Hang up after unpacking, and the weight will pull out the creases. Stick a list of all you have packed into your suitcase, in order to return home with all your belongings.
Shiny patches on Suits or other garments can be removed if you brush them with a solution of vinegar
Burn marks can be removed with the cut sided of a onion and soak in cold water.
A zip fastener that doesn't run smoothly can be eased by rubbing a lead pencil over the teeth of the closed zip. Do this several times and the graphite will act as a lubricant.
To remove perspiration stains on clothes- sponge the area with vinegar. Make a solution of three crushed asprin and the same amount of cream of tartar, mix with a little water and apply to stain. Leave 20 minutes then waash normally.
Tshirt motifs fade after a few washes. When new soak the garment in a strong saline (salt) solution and they will last longer.
Use coffee and tea to stain lace, pantihose or undies.
Glue a row of pegs to your cuboard door to hold belts, scarves etc.,.
Static electricity can be helped by drawing a wire coathanger over the garment a few times.
White socks will come out white if boiled in water with lemon slice added.

If you find you’re out of shoe polish, rub your shoes with the inside of a fresh banana skin. Leave to dry, then polish with a woollen cloth.
Waterproof leather boots by first cleaning them thoroughly. then covering with thick soap suds. Leave to stand for 12 hours before wiping. A protective silicon spray will also waterproof and protect new shoes
Pen marks on vinyl can be removed with hairspray.
Castor oil is very effective on leather to polish and feed it.
Vaseline cleans patent leather, just rub off with a clean cloth for a brilliant shine.

Use 1 part lemon juice to 1 part water, do not overwet and sprinkle afterward with sulphur powder. Brush dry.

Wash bristle hair brushes In warm water with a spoon of washing soda and a few drops of ammonia. Tap the bristles gently up and down against the side of a washbasin without letting the roots get wet. Rinse and dry away from direct heat with the bristles facing down.
Remove hairspray build up on electric equipment with rubbing alcohol, from the chemist.

When shoe brushes become clogged with polish, wash them in hot soapy water with a dash of ammonia added.