Make your clothes last longer using things like aspirin, vodka or vinegar

Virgin Radio

21 Jan 2022, 17:01

Cleaning can be costly as well as time-consuming, but these household hacks will cut down the cost.

The Sun fashion editor Clemmie Fieldsend shared some top tips that will make your clothes last longer and give them a boost without breaking the bank.

If you have a favourite white t-shirt or underwear that needs brightening up, skip the bleach.

Chances are you have what you need in your cupboards already.

There may well be some bicarbonate of soda, laundry detergent and white vinegar lurking at the back somewhere.

For dazzling white clothes, simply add half a cup of bicarbonate of soda to your washing machine drum, add the detergent as normal and the vinegar to the machine’s drawer.

If you have a coat that can't go in the washing machine and it desperately needs a freshen up.

Don't despair or think about throwing it away. If you have any vodka leftover from the festive celebrations, it can be put to good use.

Half-fill a spray bottle with vodka and lemon juice, and spray away.

It works as the lemon adds a fresh scent, while the vodka combats smells and bacteria.

If you have a sweat stain on a shirt, it's usually caused by the aluminium in many deodorants reacting with your perspiration

.Bleach will just make them worse, so try simple aspirin instead.

Make a paste by crushing some aspirin with water, and apply it to the stain with a toothbrush before washing it.

The salicylic acid from the aspirin should work.

Alternatively, you could try soaking it in a half lemon juice and half water bath.

Stop brightly coloured clothes from fading by adding black pepper to your wash.

It acts to exfoliate and breaks down the soap residue that can cause colours to fade, and is also less abrasive.