Keeping clothes in shape

• Put a stop to static cling

Lack of humidity in the air is the main cause of static electricity in your clothes. Men have to worry only about trouser legs clinging to the skin, while women wearing nylon pantihose experience the problem much more often. Try one of these methods to keep clothes static-free:

1. Spritz with hairspray Spray a little hairspray along the underside of trousers or skirts. Or spray a paper towel and wipe the hairspray on the inside of the fabric.
2. Dampen with water Wet a paper towel or your hand with water and run it along the exterior of pantihose and the interior of a skirt or pair of trousers. Or you could use a spray bottle to mist the inside of the clothing.  
3. Separate with a coat hanger Move a hanger up and down between the inside of clothes and pantihose or a slip.

• The incredible shrinking waistband

It’s not that unusual to find that an elastic waistband has shrunk or expanded when you’re putting on trousers, shorts or a skirt that you haven’t worn for months. For a quick fix: open the waistband on the inside of the garment. Cut the elastic inside the band and insert a piece of taut elastic from the waist of an old pair of pantihose or a section of a stretchy headband. Attach the insert to one side of the cut elastic with a safety pin. Stretch the insert to the fit you want and safety-pin it to the other side of the original elastic. Cut off any excess for a flatter appearance and then smooth down the waistband with your fingers. Cover any telltale bulge with a jumper, T-shirt, blouse or jacket.

• A little glue to keep buttons on

Buttons on new clothes will stay put longer if you dab the threads above the buttons with a little clear-drying glue. Use a cotton bud to apply it neatly.

• An iron-free crease solution

Lay the creased garment on a flat surface (a benchtop or dresser top will do). Hold a hair dryer a few centimetres above the shirt and aim the hot air at the crease while smoothing it out with your other hand. After a few minutes the crease should either be less noticeable or gone.

• Banish mustiness with vodka

What can you do when you pull out an outfit you haven’t worn for a while and it smells rather musty? Pour a little unflavoured vodka into a spray bottle and lightly mist the outfit. The alcohol kills the bacteria that create odours without adding an unwanted smell of its own.

• Let appliqués save the day

When a favourite garment — particularly a summer skirt or dress — seems beyond repair because of holes or stains, don’t automatically get rid of it. Consider hiding the damage with a series of carefully chosen appliques. They not only hide problem areas but also provide a new decorative look. Many appliques are iron-on these days, so you don’t even need to sew.

• Rid woollens of pills

Pilling can ruin an otherwise perfect jumper. Use a razor or an electric shaver to cut the fuzzy pills off, taking care not to make a hole in the weave. Other handy tools for de-pilling are an emery board, a pumice stone and the rough side of a piece of Velcro. With any of these, take care to rub very lightly in just one direction until the pills disengage.

• Keep a zip moving

If a zip has become stuck, take a closer look at the teeth. If there is any lint or dirt between them, brush the teeth with dry toothbrush bristles, then rub them lightly with the stub of a beeswax candle. The zip should now glide smoothly on its waxed track. If a zip has too much zip and comes undone on its own (usually at the most embarrassing moments), use a cotton bud to coat the teeth with hairspray after you’ve put on the garment and zipped it up. Hairspray will hold both sides of the zip together just enough to keep them from coming apart.