Like New! 10 Simple Hacks to Make Your Favorite Clothes Last Longer (11 photos)

We all have favorite pieces in our wardrobe that we wish we could wear forever. Keeping your clothes looking fresh and extending their lifespan doesn't require spending a fortune on expensive detergents and stain removers. British fashion expert Clemmie Fieldsend shares top tips on how to revive your favorite outfits using cheap household items you already own.





Proper care is the key to making your clothes last. Store shelves are packed with expensive color restorers, bleaches, and stain removers, but fashion editor Clemmie Fieldsend knows how to keep your wardrobe in top shape using budget-friendly hacks.

Here are simple hacks to keep your clothes looking like new.

Use Vinegar to Brighten Whites



You don't need expensive bleach to bring your dull whites back to life. A mix of baking soda, laundry detergent, and white vinegar works wonders. Add half a cup of baking soda directly into the drum, your usual dose of detergent, and vinegar into the fabric softener compartment. The results are brilliant!

Neutralize Odors with Vodka





Outerwear can absorb unpleasant smells after a long day out, especially if it gets wet in the rain and doesn't dry properly. Puffer jackets and heavy coats often shouldn't be machine washed as they can lose their shape. To refresh them, turn to vodka. Fill half a spray bottle with a mixture of vodka and lemon juice: the lemon provides a fresh scent, while the vodka kills odor-causing bacteria.

Remove Sweat Stains with Aspirin



Yellow underarm stains on shirts are caused by aluminum in antiperspirants reacting with sweat. Never use bleach to get rid of them—it will only make the stains worse. Instead, crush a few aspirin tablets and mix them with a little water to form a paste. Rub the paste onto the stain with an old toothbrush before washing. The salicylic acid breaks down the stain completely. Alternatively, soak the shirt in a mix of water and lemon juice to lift sweat marks.

Keep Colors Vibrant with Black Pepper



Color-protecting laundry products can be pricey, but you don't need to waste your money. A simple staple from your kitchen spice rack will do the trick. Adding black pepper to your wash cycle keeps your bright clothes from fading. Pepper dissolves and lifts leftover soap residue from fabrics, which is the main culprit behind dull colors.

How to Unshrink Jeans



Did your jeans shrink in the wash? There’s an easy way to restore them to their original size. Wet them thoroughly, then gently stretch the fabric outward to expand the fibers. Lay them flat to dry, and they'll fit like a dream again.

Use a Salad Spinner for Lingerie



Delicate lingerie often loses its shape when washed in a machine. To prevent this, use a manual salad spinner. Place your bras, panties, or hosiery inside, add a tablespoon of detergent, fill halfway with cold water, and spin the handle until clean.

Fix a Broken Zipper with a Fork



Many people take clothes to a tailor when a zipper breaks, but repair costs can sometimes equal the price of the garment itself. Luckily, you can fix a detached zipper slider at home using a simple kitchen fork. A viral TikTok video demonstrating this clever trick amazed users and racked up hundreds of thousands of views.

Simply slide two tines of the fork into the openings of the zipper slider to hold it in place, then feed the zipper tracks back into it. Slowly push the slider forward to reengage the teeth.

Polish Leather with a Banana Peel



Bananas can restore the natural shine to genuine and faux leather items. Rub the inside of a banana peel over your shoes or jacket, then wipe away any leftover residue with a soft, clean cloth. Half a raw potato works surprisingly well for conditioning leather, too.

Use Socks to Preserve Bra Shape



A good bra is an investment and deserves proper care. To keep its shape, never fold one cup into the other—this ruins the padding and bends the underwire. Instead, lay your bras flat behind one another, just like in retail displays, with the hooks fastened. Stuff the cups with rolled-up socks to help them hold their shape.

De-Wrinkle Clothes with Rubbing Alcohol



For a quick and cheap way to un-wrinkle clothes without an iron, mix one cup of cold water, a teaspoon of fabric softener, and a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Shake well, hang the garment up, mist it lightly, and let it dry. This spray also works wonders on crumpled bed sheets.

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