10
votes
Washing face towels
If you are acne-prone, you should change washcloths and towels very frequently, possibly every day, not just when you feel they are getting "dirty".
My personal "hack" for a similar situation1 was ...
- 3,288
7
votes
What causes these marks on my chinos, and how can I get rid of them?
These problems are actually connected.
The first problem is that the cotton used is very likely short staple, so as not to say cheap, low weight, low quality cotton. That represents a systemic ...
- 686
4
votes
Sweaters of the same material with different ironing indication
Clothing manufacturers often put in cleaning and ironing instructions which are way too careful for the fabrics so people will not return the item when it has gone wrong in the wash.
I own white 100 % ...
- 2,424
4
votes
Accepted
How to fix jeans where the belt loops have pulled out?
Use any suitable cloth as a backing (used under the surface) for the jeans. A small square of any stiff fabric would be useable.
A hack would be to use an Iron-on patch inside your jeans. If you don'...
- 14.2k
3
votes
How to cut piece of fabric in a way that won't unravel the rest of the fabric?
The tiny piece you're holding in the picture is not a piece of fabric, it's (for lack of a better word) a "braid" of threads that extends from the seam. This is a very common thing in cheap ...
- 3,015
3
votes
How to remove bonded-printed content from a ripstop fabric?
The rubberized printing responds well to several applications of felt marker. In your case, choose a permanent marker in dark blue. Use a hatching stroke at 45 degree angle to completely cover the ...
- 481
3
votes
How to remove blue gel pen ink from cream colored jeans
I've often used lighter fluid to remove ink from carpets. Try a small amount in a discrete area to be sure it doesn't damage the jeans. But it works well on ink. WARNING - Keep away from flames until ...
- 31
2
votes
Accepted
How do I soften a new set of 400 thread count organic cotton sheets?
First of all: 400 thread cottons that are "scratchy" should be returned.
Second: Maneesh's answer is way better than the current votes reflect. Vinegar is the most effective and safe for most cotton ...
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2
votes
How do I soften a new set of 400 thread count organic cotton sheets?
I suggest you the following methods:
Wash with Baking Soda and Vinegar in a washing machine(as you have not specified about vinegar, I feel you should try this combination: washing soda and vinegar). ...
- 1,937
2
votes
How do I get soot out of my clothes blankets and pillows?
Use mouthwash in your wash, I used it in the bleach cycle. It only takes 2-3 capsful and works wonderfully!
You can also use mouthwash to clean plastic things. I used a Mr.Clean sponge with a mix of ...
- 31
2
votes
Accepted
Are there any sure fire ways to soften up cotton?
Cotton's 'softness' is prescribed by which cotton they use to it weave from. The only way to soften up 'tough-as-old-boots/scratchy-as-nails' cotton is to thrash it until it loses a lot of its ...
- 2,256
2
votes
Accepted
What causes faded lines in jeans?
As noted in other answers, this is caused by abrasion.
It is not really caused by bleaching - this would result in a more even fade - although it could be a contributory factor.
Cause: Your washing ...
- 2,256
2
votes
Are there any sure fire ways to soften up cotton?
I soften new Levi's with this easy "friction" method: First off you wash in real hot water and vinegar. Next you turn the wet jeans inside out and run them over on an asphalt driveway with ...
- 21
2
votes
What causes these marks on my chinos, and how can I get rid of them?
The colour is being abraded away in the washing machine. It's gone permanently, I'm afraid.
The only thing that will get the colour back is to dye your jeans back to the original colour. Otherwise, ...
- 1,511
1
vote
Sweaters of the same material with different ironing indication
One more reason for differences in cleaning and ironing instructions is that manufacturers want to safe as much money as possible in the manufacturing process.
It's a well-known phenomenon that ...
- 3,015
1
vote
Are there any sure fire ways to soften up cotton?
Sand it with high grit sandpaper. Either by hand or a small electric hand-held sander. You can start with a lower grit to really break down the fibers then move up to a higher grit to “polish” and ...
- 11
1
vote
What causes faded lines in jeans?
As virolino correctly stated, the lines are the creases that form in the washing machine and the color fades quicker along these lines because of the friction.
In my experience, turning the jeans ...
- 3,015
1
vote
What causes faded lines in jeans?
According to my own observation, jeans are not mass colored - they are colored only on one side, the inside remains white-ish.
What you see there are the wrinkles formed during washing - and they lost ...
- 2,790
1
vote
How do I properly clean my watch bands?
You may have an olfactory sensitivity to either one or more of the components used in the manufacture or created by your modification technique for exposing the back of the Apple watch.
If you cannot ...
- 14.2k
1
vote
How to cut piece of fabric in a way that won't unravel the rest of the fabric?
The two methods by Elmy work.
As someone who has sewn all her life, I would use a third method. I would undo that sticking out 'braid' and stop its unraveling just before it reaches the fabric and use ...
- 2,424
1
vote
Cheap non-toxic hydrophobic (spray) coating for fabrics?
3M makes a spray for this purpose "Scotchgard". It's been around for decades. You'll need to re-apply it every year or so for the water resistance to persist, and especially after ...
- 111
1
vote
How to fix jeans where the belt loops have pulled out?
Take them to a tailor and have them professionally repaired. Many dry cleaning establishments have a tailor on staff.
Sometimes a lifehack is not the best or even the cheapest solution.
- 369
1
vote
De-pill the clothes?
an electric hair clipper works fine for de-pilling cloth items. use the "closest" adjustment setting on the clipper, without any of the hair guides that snap on to the clipper head.
- 1,342
1
vote
How to remove blue gel pen ink from cream colored jeans
I'd use the same pen to mark another scrap of cloth of the same material blend as your jeans, or mark the jeans somewhere out of sight in normal wear and:
try ordinary household bleach, dip something ...
- 2,794
1
vote
How to remove blue gel pen ink from cream colored jeans
You said that you have already run the jeans thru your washing machine... but did you put them in the dryer? It is likely a lost cause if you did as it would have set the stain.
BUT! On the chance ...
1
vote
How do I keep my cashmere scarf from unraveling?
If your scarf is not yet protected, you can make a very fine stitching on the edge of the fabric.
This can be done on a machine or by hand.
A narrow zigzag stitch over the outer two threads of the ...
- 2,424
1
vote
What causes these marks on my chinos, and how can I get rid of them?
I agree with a lot of what had been said before. The marks are in there for good unless you're willing to redye the pants.
For a new pair, to prevent this from happening again, wash them inside-out, i....
- 111
1
vote
How to make a 100% cotton shirt repel moisture?
In the heat you need to sweat. A lot. Or you overheat. That sweat needs to evaporate to cool you. Completely waterproofing a shirt blocks that water transport. Making you sweat even more because there ...
- 686
1
vote
How to make a 100% cotton shirt repel moisture?
There are many commercial products to "waterproof" cotton, such as Nikwax Cotton Proof, Scotchgard and Kiwi Camp Dry, my personal experience has been that these treatments are temporary (often removed ...
- 6,093
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible