Patching, Repairing and more – Re-wear hacks for old clothes from Vanish

So much used but still wearable clothing ends up in landfill every year. This doesn’t have to be the case, though. You can give your worn-out clothes a new lease of life by reviving old fabrics, patching holes and upcycling garments into something completely new. It’s the perfect way to prolong the life of your favourite pieces, save money by not having to buy new, and help save the planet. With a little help from Vanish, you can get to work treating stains, mending wear-and-tear, and learning how to repurpose clothes to help them live longer lives.

How to fix clothes that are stained

It’s easy to think that stains and odours make your clothes un-wearable, but the super-boosted formula in our Laundry Boosters helps your clothes live longer. It breathes new life into your favourite garments by removing stains, eliminating odours and keeping colours bright. As well as working wonders on everyday fabrics, such as cotton and polyester, our Gels are also safe to use on delicates, like wool and silk. What’s more, it also provides deep hygiene action*, to give older garments a thorough clean in the wash. Here’s how:

*removes stains for a hygiene boost.

INSTRUCTIONS

Apply 2ml of gel and rub into the stain using the top of the dosage cap.
Leave the gel on the stain for 10 minutes maximum.
After soaking, wash in machine as normal. Dose your usual detergent and add a 50ml dose of Vanish Gel.
Use a dose in every wash to help your clothes live for longer!

Repairing clothes through fabric patching

If that rip isn’t a fashion statement, you might want to learn how to fix a hole in jeans – or how to repair a hole in trousers, leggings, a t-shirt or dress, for that matter. That’s where patching clothes comes in.

You can choose a patch that’s a similar colour and material or make a feature of it by going for an embroidered patch – like many people who are sewing a patch on jeans for aesthetic reasons, not because they’re repairing jeans. If you’re not confident with a needle and thread, then an iron-on patch is easiest. Follow these simple steps:

Repairing clothes through fabric patching

INSTRUCTIONS

Tidy up the hole by cutting off loose threads.
Choose a patch that’s 1.5cm-2cm bigger than the hole (or cut to size, rounding off the corners).
Place a piece of scrap fabric underneath the hole, inside the garment, to stop the front and back of your clothing sticking together.
Iron on the patch according to the instructions, moving the iron to apply even heat.
Either remove the scrap fabric from inside or, if the patch is holding it firmly in place, just trim away the excess.
You can reinforce the patch by sewing around the edge, too.

How to reuse old clothes

There comes a time when an item of clothing is so well loved it can’t stand up to being worn in the same way anymore, regardless of how well you’ve been removing stains, reviving colours, and mending clothes with patches. At this point, garment repair can take the form of garment upcycling. Repurpose old clothes into something new, such as a:

Coin purse
Tote bag
Hair accessory
Cushion cover (perfect for old jumpers/shirts)
Patchwork quilt (an ideal new life for baby clothes)
Draught excluder (re-using those laddered tights)
Denim shorts (mending jeans through shortening the legs)
Shirt dress (repurposing old shirts)

General advice

Please refer to the packaging for specific product usage and advice.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS. Store the product only in the original container and always fasten the lid.
Do not expose product to direct sunlight.
Before use check for colour fastness by testing a hidden area of the fabric, rug or carpet.
For best results it may be necessary to repeat parts of the process.