Hacks For Your Clothing, Jewelry, and Closet Storage-Hacks #18

This research junket for me — an accidental meandering, which is essentially a succinct summary of my entire life — has been Fun, FUn, FUN!

I have discovered cool or clever new tricks, hints, and tips … or the oddly hijacked term “hacks” of today’s vernacular.

This article focuses on jewelry, clothing, wardrobe, and storage organization. I hope you discover something useful.

✅ Blot spilled wine out of clothing

If out and about and you spill red wine on your clothing, find white wine. By lightly blotting the stained area, purportedly the red splotch will dissipate.

This is a suggestion I had not heard previously, but if used immediately, it might work. Indeed, it would be worth attempting the hack to avoid ruined clothes.

✅ Wash socks in delicate lingerie bags

This is utter genius in my humble opinion! I recently learned of it but wish I had known of the trick decades ago. For you fellas, this is a lingerie laundry bag:

Are we not all familiar with the lone sock that seemingly sprouts feet and troddles off mid-way during the laundry process, never to be seen again?

The comedian Jerry Seinfeld (now 70-years old so perhaps unfamiliar to legions of youngsters) does a delightful bit about how the devious sock clings desperately to the dryer wall, escapes without discovery, and scampers off for an exciting life out in the world, leaving behind its angry and now lonely, useless mate.

This ingenious tip would solve not only the mysterious sock disappearance but also how simple would it be to sort and pair the socks when they exit the dryer all together in one pouch instead of scrounging for those hidden in pants pockets or fitted sheet corners?

I do not currently wash my own laundry — yes, that is appalling — but if I did and had a clothes dryer, this would be a no-brainer to implement post haste.

Because it is — now aware — so obvious and brilliant, I am curious. Is anyone already doing this?

✅ Improvise an iron when traveling

Despite the “slovenly look” seeming chic these days, many people, especially in foreign countries (i.e., for moi, defined as outside the United States), still appreciate looking presentable in pressed shirts.

For example, I live on Bali where EVERYTHING is ironed — from underwear to washcloths, towels, and bed linens to pants, shirts, and dresses (or jumpers, knickers, and jerseys, whatever those are).

However, I must add that ironing is not performed by me — but rather by the incredibly hard-working laundry ladies — for those without facilities at home, commonplace on the island.

Even if one properly rolls their clothes when packing luggage, often a wrinkled shirt still requires ironing when traveling.

If an iron is unavailable, place a towel down and use a curling iron or hair straightener as a substitute.

This is a simple, quick replacement for a steamer, too. A hair straightener works particularly well on collars or for fast touch-up at home also.

✅ Clean silver jewelry using baking soda

Cleaning tarnished silver jewelry is a colossal pain. Frankly, it is one of several reasons I prefer gold jewelry.

Old-fashioned baking soda is an oft-recommended household cleaning agent. Having tried various other cleaning methods, I decided to experiment with this hack.

The above photo is of a pile of badly tarnished jewelry, including a silver chain and several rings and earrings, evidence of my distaste for polishing.

Below are the post-cleaning results.

Overall, I was pleased with the results. It was far simpler than other approaches utilized in the past. Many of the rings have semi-precious stones, such as citrine, amethyst, onyx, and quartz; none were damaged.

Use an aluminum pan or aluminum foil placed in a glass baking dish or bowl. Foil is placed in the pan with the shiny side facing up. Add two tablespoons of baking soda. Place jewelry on top. Then, pour hot boiling water.

As the solution begins to sizzle, add another tablespoon or two of baking soda, the amount varying based on how much jewelry you are cleaning. After a few minutes, swish the water around a bit.

Allow it to soak for five minutes. Remove jewelry and note that most of the tarnish will have vanished. Rinse the jewelry with water. Dry with a soft or microfiber cloth. Polish off any remaining tarnish if necessary.

Enjoy your sparkly jewelry! If cleaning only a piece of two, you can use a Pyrex or another glass measuring cup and a small piece of foil.

I needed to use a silver polishing cloth on a few pieces. The silver chain required the most work because it was deeply tarnished.

✅ Treating boots that are too tight

Here are two different methods for expanding too-tight shoes or boots.

1. Saturate the tight area with leather stretch spray. Then cram either a boot stretcher or a can of soup, beans, or similar-sized firm item into the spot. Leave it for a day or two.

Try them on, and repeat as necessary until they fit how you want them to feel.

2. Use a blow dryer on medium heat at least about five inches away from the boot for a couple of minutes on the uncomfortable parts of the shoe.

After heating it up and making the leather supple, stretch the boot using a shoe stretcher or an object inserted inside for a day or two.

How clever, yes, instead of suffering through that miserable breaking-in period for new footwear?

✅ Break in new shoes without getting blisters

I recently ended up with blisters from wearing a new pair of shoes for too long. I wish had known of this hack.

Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to areas prone to blistering before putting on brand-new shoes that are not yet broken in.

References:

1. www.blog.easilydunn.com

2. https://www.overlookboots.com/blogs/boots/how-to-stretch-leather-boots

3. https://www.kurufootwear.com/blogs/articles/how-to-break-in-shoes

4. https://www.excludedfashion.com/blog/top-10-fashion-hacks-everyone-should-know8

5. https://youtu.be/7NkmctayIMw?si=djIUJmZw6Ih32ZJ2

6. https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/useful-home-hacks

Your time is valuable. I am honored you chose to spend some of it here. Victoria🙏😎

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