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Thread: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

  1. #1
    God/dess Pretty_Penny's Avatar
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    Default cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    we all know that looking your best requires spending some money. i have noticed, however, that many dancers are willing to throw away shoes or clothing that still has a few months, or even years left of good wear to it. this is a thread for us all to share some tricks we've learned about repairing our own stuff. here are some of mine:

    problem: lace trimming that won't stay down. this can be a tricky problem to fix on fabric that isn't easy stitchable such a sheer fabrics, mesh, etc.
    fix #1: super glue it. yeah, i know it sounds ridiculous, but it works. buy the paintable kind of glue and apply a very thin layer to the underside of the lace, press it down for a few seconds and TA-DA! it's washable as long as you use a delicate cycle
    fix #2: fabric glue it. this is a little "safer" than super glue, since it's meant for fabric, but i've found it usualy doesn't hold as well either.

    problem: scratched up shoes, white showing through the black, silver showing through the white, etc.
    fix: for black shoes, use a black sharpie. ghetto? sure, but i PROMISE you can't tell -and- it'll save you buying another 60-100 dollar pair of shoes just because you have a scratch. for white shoes, use a white out pen. it's less noticable than the paint on kind. i assume you could use other colored acrylic paints or markers for other colors of shoes, but you'd have to be carefull with matching the color.

    problem: stains that you've already fucked up. this means you didn't take the proper care to get the stain out and already washed it (thusly setting the stain in).
    fix: if you've tried getting it out, and nothing is working, and you're about to toss the item, go buy some RIT color remover. it's possible that it will fade the item you're washing. it even says on the box "fades most fabircs" but amazingly, i've found that this almost never happens. what does happen, is that it gets the stain out. my point is, if you're ready to toss it anyway, the color remover is like 2-3 bucks and widely available at most drug stores, department stores, etc. why not give it a shot? it usualy works best on stains like markets, nail polish, cranberry juice, anything that "dyed" the fabric. organic stains are usualy easily treatable with regular stain removers first.

  2. #2
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    Get your shoes resoled when the bottom traction part comes off. it's under 10 dollars from a good cobbler, and it makes your shoes like new!

  3. #3
    God/dess Pretty_Penny's Avatar
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    ^ oh hell yeah. i was suprized to found out that they do a lot of stripper shoes, esp. when you live in an area with a lot of clubs.

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    God/dess scarlett_vancouver's Avatar
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    White electrical tape work better on white shoes...it's not noticeable, and it's replaceable. White-out gets really grotty after a while.

    Turn plastic shoes with ankle straps into slip-ons when the ankle strap (inevitably) breaks.

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  5. #5
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    Ha, I buy the ones with the ankle straps b/c the front part is narrower, then cut the straps off to wear them. I have tiny feet, and the wide front slide part dwarfs them....

  6. #6
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    I've tried the Sharpie trick on a black pair of shoes and it wore off in a couple of days.

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    Uhhh don't use super glue.. it EATS nylon. o.O;


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    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    I'm reviving this thread in hopes of getting some help.


    2 problems.

    I have a shirt that has NO label... so I dunno what type of material it is, or how I should care for it... but it's off white and has a stain that wont come out. Should I try bleach on something that is off white?



    (this one is not really repair... kinda of PREpair... heh.)

    And I was given a brat & thong set with that fluffy, feathery trim stuff on it. How do I hand wash that? Should I try to not get the feathers wet?
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    Do not wash maribou! Baby wipe down the fabric parts that need it. You can carefully wash the crotch-soak it with some Woolite or whatever, rinse, lay out to dry. I just did two shows with maribou trim and almost had to kill people for trying to wash it!

    For the shirt-what kind of stain is it? Bleach will likely turn the spots white white. Era plus is great for food, blood, anything organic. With that, stainstick and a bleach pen I can get out most stains, btu you need to be careful!

  10. #10
    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    Would a washcloth be ok for washing the fabric part of the bra?

    As for the shirt, I dunno what the stain is. I unpacked the shirt and it's there. It's a dark yellowish color... but not quite orange like rust.... I wish the stupid thing had a tag on it still. Grrrrr.


    Hahahahaaa sometimes I feel way lame for being so bad at domestical stuff.
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    Wash cloth should be fine, as long as it's not sopping. Maribou, among other fun attributes, tends to bleed color. You can Febreeze that part if it really needs it.

    Hmmm. For the stain...really I tend to wash everything as if it's black and delicate. Probably b/c most of my stuff IS black. Unless it seems like a fine fabric (linen or silk or something), you could test Stainstick or a stain removing detergent on the hem (inside) to make sure it's colorsafe and then soak the stain, in cold water and the stain remover. Cold water and stain remover does a lot. You might need to scrub a little with a wash cloth or toothbrush. Carefully. It's hard to tell with out knowing the sort of stain.

    As for domesticalness, I am the mad sewer, stainhelper, laundry doer. But the worst cook ever. I'm always calling people asking how to cook things.

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    Quote Originally Posted by PaigeDWinter View Post
    Would a washcloth be ok for washing the fabric part of the bra?

    As for the shirt, I dunno what the stain is. I unpacked the shirt and it's there. It's a dark yellowish color... but not quite orange like rust.... I wish the stupid thing had a tag on it still. Grrrrr.


    Hahahahaaa sometimes I feel way lame for being so bad at domestical stuff.
    For the shirt there's this stuff you can get at sewing shops called 'exit'. Rub it on the stain and wet. Perfecto.


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    Think like a man
    Act like a lady
    Work like a dog

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  13. #13
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    Quote Originally Posted by PaigeDWinter View Post
    I'm reviving this thread in hopes of getting some help.


    2 problems.

    I have a shirt that has NO label... so I dunno what type of material it is, or how I should care for it... but it's off white and has a stain that wont come out. Should I try bleach on something that is off white?



    (this one is not really repair... kinda of PREpair... heh.)

    And I was given a brat & thong set with that fluffy, feathery trim stuff on it. How do I hand wash that? Should I try to not get the feathers wet?
    I"ve found for alot of things that the Dryel kit works WONDERS! IT has a dry cleaning solution you rub on stains and it gets 95% of them out. Then toss in the dryer with the dryel sheet to freshen it up.
    And no...dont ever get feathers wet unless they are still on the bird(mine enjoy this immensely!!lol)

  14. #14
    God/dess LuckyOne's Avatar
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    2 things:

    If you don't have super glue, you can use nail glue.

    And on black shoes I have used black nail polish. It takes at least 2 coats but it works and looks good.

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    God/dess Zabrina's Avatar
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    I wish there was some way to get the cigarette burn holes out of a dress. Damn clumsy drunken ashers!

  16. #16
    Veteran Member Christian*Doll*'s Avatar
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    Default Re: cheap clothing/shoe repair tricks

    i have a good one for rhinestone shoes-

    before you dance in them paint all the rhinestones with clear nail polish a few times.that way they dont fall off or look dirty.
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