General Clothes Care

Did you ever wonder what is in laundry detergent? You look at the list of ingredients and you still don’t know what is in there. With this simple (and inexpensive) recipe you can make your own...

If you do not catch mold growing on a leather coat, it can expand quickly and weaken or rot parts of the coat. Removing mold from a leather coat, no matter how severe the infestation appears, is a...

Breathable, comfortable, earth-friendly and easy to care for, Tencel is the trade name for lyocell, a fabric manufactured by Lenzing from wood pulp. Tencel fibers are used for clothing, sheets,...

Men in the 1970s wore polyester leisure suits with extremely wide lapels. John Travolta popularized white leisure suits in the movie "Saturday Night Fever," but they also came in a variety of...

Dyeing leather shoes a darker color is easy and can be done with materials under $25. Bear in mind, you will not be able to dye rubber or plastic parts, and dyeing works well only on smooth...

Ed Hardy canvas sneakers are like updated, stylized versions of the plain Converse sneakers. They usually feature elaborate designs, and are ideal for a cool, casual style. Like all shoes, Ed...

A shirt can be redone to fit better through the shoulders. Since the neck opening is fixed, it cannot be made smaller through the neck. But, it can be made larger. The neck can be made somewhat...

You can clean the embroidery on a leather cap quite easily and with gentle cleaning agents that you find around the house. You do not need specialty chemicals, but you must use very mild cleaning...

Owning leather jackets, shoes or other clothes items can be a great investment. Leather can last longer than most fabrics, is more durable and can be easier to keep clean. Many of us spend...

It can become expensive to keep getting your favorite leather jacket or skirt cleaned every time you get a mark or stain on it. Sometimes you cannot avoid taking leather garments to a...

Leather looks great whether it's used in clothing, furnishings or accessories. At least it looks great until it gets stained, dirty and dull from repeated use. You can't machine-wash it, and...

The Stan Smith by Adidas has become a classic sneaker over the years. Its smooth lines and sleek design look good with almost any kind of outfit. Whether you're playing tennis, skateboarding or...

Leather shoes are usually quite expensive, so buying a pair for every occasion can get difficult. A very inexpensive route for changing your look is to dye your shoes of choice with another...

Work boots must protect your toes from being crushed, provide ankle support and keep your feet dry. The leather of work boots is thicker and tougher than that of shoes and doesn't require a high...

Suede gloves are popular for warmth and also for gardening as heavy work gloves and for hockey gloves. Suede is wonderful to touch, but it's difficult to keep supple and clean. Water, dirt, sand...

Boots, shoes and handbags constructed from real crocodile skin are valued for their beauty, resilience and the prestige they bring to the wearer. Items constructed from crocodile leather are...

Leather shoe laces are commonly found on boat shoes, particularly on the Topsider brand. Although they may look classy, they often present a problem. Thick leather laces tend to come untied,...

There are different types of faux suede. The most luxurious is Ultrasuede®, which is fabric sold for making clothing or upholstery. Ultrasuede can cost as much as $68 per yard and is heavier...

If you live in a humid part of the country and store your clothing in a closet, it is important to monitor the moisture level. Moisture can wreck havoc on clothing and cause damage such as mold...

Bra straps can be annoying for many women because the straps may fall or they may get jammed. If you want to shorten your bra straps, you can remove the strap completely and sew them back to your...

Whether storing guest coats on a special occasion or for out-of-season or excess clothing, garment racks are "must-haves" for neatly storing away hanging garments when closet space is scarce....

Founded in 1962, St. John has produced luxury knit clothing that is still popular today. Designer Marie Gray and her husband, Robert, have turned the brand into couture, worn by celebrities such...

Velcro fasteners have been around since 1952, and yet their basic function remains the same. The hook and loop fastening is easy to use and popular in everything from shoes to organizational...

Pigskin leather is a medium-weight, inexpensive leather used for many items including jackets and book covers. The leather tends to dry out quickly and needs to be conditioned with a leather...

Although suede is actually leather that's made from calfskin, pigskin or goatskin, it's more difficult to maintain than regular leather. The napped texture, which is soft to the touch, can be...

Water shoes get stinky quickly, as they are synthetic--most are made of neoprene and rubber--and don't breathe like natural materials. The odor is caused by microorganisms, such as bacteria and...

Clothes almost always obtain wrinkles; to get them out, you can use an iron or a fabric steamer. Conair's steamer comes with a detachable creaser that can give clothes a professional-looking finish.

Getting a fitted baseball cap to fit your head exactly how you want can be frustrating. Once you find the correct size that you should wear, it still may not rest on your head how you would like....

Leather belts retain their good looks and function well if you properly care for them. Sunlight, perspiration, grime and spills all can take a toll on leather belts. The two aspects of leather...

Fleece is a construction of sheepskin or wool fabric, and fleece slippers are warm and soft to keep your feet cozy in the winter months. After a while, the inside of the slippers can become dingy...

If you have an important meeting or function to attend and no time to bring your dress pants to the dry cleaners, you will have to learn how to press them at home. All you need to iron dress pants...

Because leather products are cured with water before they are made into the finished product, getting them wet and cleaning them with water is a good thing. With a few ingredients you can find in...

Shoe shining not only improves the appearance of your dress shoes and boots but is also necessary in maintaining their condition. Polishing your shoes regularly and properly will protect them from...

Use beeswax as a natural leather cleaner, conditioner and preserver. Over time leather loses moisture, which causes it to crack and peel. Beeswax cleans embedded dirt, restores moisture and adds a...

Chaps have come a long way from their origins. Originally designed by Spanish settlers in Mexico, "chaperajos" were long pieces of thick leather armor that were draped over the legs during horse...

Silk is a natural fiber that originated in China. Its manufacture involves collecting and processing the cocoons of silkworms. There are many benefits of silk thread, as it has many desirable...

Leather jackets have been a staple of wardrobes in the United States ever since their popularization in the 1950s through acting icons like Marlon Brando. While leather is highly durable and long...

Seagrass is a plant that grows near marshes and is native to Pacific Ocean climates. The plant is used to make a variety of items including hats, rugs and even clothing. The most common item...

For men who wear suits regularly, wrinkling can be a big problem. A rumpled suit tempts most people to take it to a dry cleaner. Dry cleaners use chemicals that may erode fabric, weakening the...

A pair of shiny new boots can be expensive, so you will want them to last and keep looking good. Unfortunately, boots do not stay new and shiny for very long. Getting scuffs on boots is almost...

Squeaking rubber shoes are a common problem. Especially if you purchase less expensive shoes. Shoes made from leather squeak much less often, but ones made from rubber, plastics, and other...

Galoshes had gone the way of spats and fedoras, but, like the fedora, they are coming back. Thanks to space-age materials and sleeker designs, galoshes are better than ever. Basically rubber...

Unlike some types of shoes that can be simply thrown into a washing machine, leather footwear requires special care. The suggested solutions for removing leather shoe odors are wide and varied....

Ralph Lauren polo shirts---knit shirts with collars---are popular for both men and women and have become accepted attire for many casual work places and for casual days at more formal offices....

Crocs have become very popular footwear. Further fueling the Croc trend is the ability to personalize Crocs with different charms. These charms are called jibbitz. Jibbitz come in a wide variety...

If you're intimidated by the idea of purchasing silk garments, you shouldn't be, and once you're worn silk, you'll be convinced. In spite of its beauty and luxurious feel, silk is a sturdy,...

Wearing velvet can make a person feel attractive, and the material can add a luxurious feel to drapes or upholstery. Once reserved only for royalty because of the care that had to be taken in both...

Ugg boots are casual boots made of soft sheepskin, with a warm and comfortable fleece lining. Although genuine fleece is slightly water-resistant, sweaty, dirty feet enclosed in these boots may...

Polishing your shoes can give your wardrobe a sophisticated, together look. But shoe polish can leave behind some very hard-to-remove stains on your hands, regardless of the brand of polish you...

Running in squishy, wet shoes can cause blisters and damage shoes. Some running shoes are made with a waterproof coating that help keep feet dry. Owners of untreated running shoes or shoes whose...