DIY Network

Clothes Care Clothes Care From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-118

Today we're talking about things that adorn the body: clothes and jewelry. When it comes to clothing, keeping fabrics clean is vitally important to making them last. And being stylish can cost a lot in upkeep, so it's wise to know what fabrics look good and are easy to clean. We're also taking a look inside a jewelry store to see how professionals care for precious gems.

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Sometimes clothing requires more than just cleaning: sometimes it needs maintenance. So let's answer a few questions:

Q: How do you fix a snag in a sweater?

A: Push the snag back through the fabric with the loop of a needle-threader.

Q: How do you remove fuzzy "pills" from sweaters?

A: Gently shave the sweater, or go over it with fine sandpaper. Work down the sweater in a straight line, using a gentle touch.

Q: How do you reinsert the drawstring in the hood of a child's jacket?

A: Drawstrings should be removed from children's clothing: they can catch on objects like playground equipment and cause serious injury to a child. If the drawstring is in adult clothing, pull it completely out, attach a safety pin to the end, then thread it back through the clothing. Remove the pin when the cord is back in place, and tie knots at the ends to prevent it from working out again.

Q: How do you keep buttons from falling off clothing?

A: Put a dab of clear nail polish in the center of the thread after the button is sewn in place. Dental floss can be used as the thread for hard-to-keep-on buttons. If the thread needs to be colored, use colored thread over the dental floss.

	Figure A
	Figure B

Zipper Repairs

• If a plastic zipper won't stay in place, fold the material back and spray the zipper lightly with hairspray. Hairspray is an adhesive and will keep plastic zippers from sliding open.

• If the zipper continues to fall, consider adding a button, a snap or a dot of hook-and-loop tape at the top to give it the extra help it needs.

• Metal zippers that keep sliding down can often be repaired by rubbing graphite (pencil lead) over the teeth (figure A).

• If metal zippers won't unzip easily, rub the teeth with candle wax, paraffin or soap (figure B). This lubricates the teeth and gets them moving.
  

Tip: Turn colored clothes inside out before washing and drying to reduce friction that can cause fading and pilling.