New Uses for Clothing

Have one special button? Thread it onto a thin chain or a delicate piece of ribbon for a standout necklace.

Let everyone know you march to the beat of your own drum; use colorful ribbon in place of shoelaces. Change when the mood strikes.

Give roomy heels and ballet flats a perfect fit (so you don't pull a Cinderella) by filling in the toe area with some cotton balls.

Turn a tangle of ribbons into a neat presentation. Hang coordinating colors over the prongs of a tie hanger.

It's a cinch to keep belts organized and visible: Coil them into spirals and stack them on top of one another in a large clear vase. (Put favorite belts at the top for easy access.)

Time for your lingerie drawer to step into line. Cut shoe boxes in half, along the length or width, and fill the resulting compartments with folded briefs, socks, or stacked bras.

Roll up pairs of stockings or leggings and wrap hair ties around them to keep the rolls from unraveling. It will be easier to find a specific pair on mornings when you're, well, tight on time.

Remove coffee and tea stains from the insides of cups by rubbing with a salted citrus peel.

Here's a fanciful and fun way to serve cubed cheese, cherry tomatoes, and more: Place large buttons on a tray, spear the hors d'oeuvres with toothpicks, then anchor the toothpick ends in the buttons' holes.

Revive a forgotten flickerer. Slide a dusty candle inside a stocking and roll it around.

Cooking up a storm? For easy access, attach a button to the front of an apron so you can hang a pot holder or a looped dish towel from it.

Protect wood floors. Slide socks onto the legs of chairs and tables so they don’t scratch the floor when you rearrange the room (yet again).

Help strappy garments stay on hangers. Affix a circle to each end.

Quickly clean the interior of your purse by running a lint roller over the lining. Submitted by: Dotchie

Travel is best done in pairs (think of Lewis and Clark or Thelma and Louise). To keep a set of earrings together on your next overnight jaunt, fasten them to a button so they won’t get lost in your suitcase pocket.

Hang bras, hosiery, and other small items that can't go in the dryer on a mulit-level pant hanger for a compact drying rack. Submitted by: Bettys187

Wipe fine-grit sandpaper over a sweater in one direction—gently!—to lift pesky pills.

Temporarily replace a broken zipper tab by threading a paper clip through the hole. A safety pin also works. Submitted by: Katie12

Fall for new shoes, not in them. Rub medium-grit sandpaper over the bottoms to give slippery soles some traction.

Help a purse or boots to keep its shape with tissue stuffed inside.

Avoid ironing while on the road. Pack clothes between layers of tissue paper and they’ll arrive wrinkle-free.

Sprinkle a little on the shirt’s underarms and collar, then iron to prevent sweat stains on white shirts. The powder forms a barrier that keeps oil and grime from seeping into the threads.

Has your deodorant left its mark? A baby wipe works to lift those hard-to-remove stains.

Prep a pleated skirt for ironing by sliding a bobby pin onto each pleat at the hem to hold them all in place while you press. (Be sure to remove them afterward!)

Release a stubborn zipper by lightly rubbing a candle along the teeth on both sides to smooth the way.

Kiss that smudge of Really Red good-bye. If the fabric is machine washable, saturate the spot with hair spray, let it sit for 10 minutes, then dab with a damp cloth or sponge to remove. Launder as usual to wash out any residual stain and spray.

Hold small coats in place on adult-size hangers. Use clips with rubberized grips to help items stay put. Not only will you have an organized coat closet, but you'll save money by not having to buy special kids' hangers.

Use clips to prevent silky sleeveless shirts and dresses from slipping off the hanger. And you can say goodbye to wrinkled sundresses on the closet floor.

Don’t let your too-long belt tail get caught between your legs. Keep it in line with a small bit of Scotch. Neat.

Stop static cling on clothes—or tame flyaway hair—by rubbing a sheet over the problem area.

Remove small stains from suede by gently rubbing the file (either side) across the problem area a few times to get rid of the splotch and refresh the nap.

No time to drag out your iron and ironing board? A straightening iron works perfectly between buttons where a regular iron doesn’t fit. And it smooths collar creases and minor wrinkles. So you can look perfectly pressed when you're pressed for time.

Adjust the fit of—and add a touch of sparkle to—a loose blouse or shirt by pinning it in back with a brooch. Or turn a cardigan into a form-fitting wrap sweater: Pull one side across the body and pin it in place.

If fabric-softener sheets make your clothes smell nice in the dryer, just think about what they could do in your dresser. Slip a few fresh ones between folded clothes.

Rely on waxed dental floss for temporary but durable clothing repairs, such as sewing on a button or reattaching a strap.

Banish static cling in the winter with a quick spritz of hairspray on the areas that are bunching.

Thread a needle quickly by spraying the string’s end to prevent it from fraying and raising your frustration level.

Rematch separated socks by stashing singles in a lingerie bag in the closet to await their mates.

Remove dust from candles by running it through the leg of an old pair of panty hose.

Restore a favorite, well-worn cardigan to form by lightly running the stone across the surface to lift off any unsightly pills.

Slip a (clean) patterned kneesock over the bottom of a bottle, then knot the top to create a decorative carrier. Better yet, offer your hostess two bottles so she can later enjoy toasty toes.

Rest your soles. Store shoes on the tiers of a stool in the closet.

Lightly run the hook side over a pilly sweater to smooth it out.

Preserve the shape of tall leather boots by placing a bottle into each one's shaft for reinforcement.

Protect your hands from an extra-hot latte by stretching a wristband around the coffee cup so your fingertips don't get burned. (Your tongue is another matter, so sip with care, for goodness' sake.)

Keep track of your earrings while you hit the gym (or the spa). Place the studs through the holes on the watch strap and then attach their backs.

Make a smock for a budding artist. Fashion shoulder straps from rickrack or ribbon and stitch the ends to the front and back of the skirt’s waist.

Fix a fallen hem when there’s no time for a trip to the tailor.

Ward off wrinkles in silk scarves by wrapping them around the tube between wearings.

Why keep pretty printed scarves and beloved beads tucked away? Dispatch a ladder to artfully display some of your favorite things―and to introduce color and patterns into a room.

Stash swimsuits or sports bras in a mesh bag, thread a hanger through one of the holes, and hang in your closet. Finding all those little bits and pieces will be a cinch.

Keep shoelaces from coming undone by creating your own version of waxed laces: Just use the balm to coat the strings where you loop and knot and they won’t budge.

Once the sticks are gone, fill a matchbox with a few sewing essentials: needles, thread, buttons, and a few safety pins. No more need to panic when a button emergency strikes on a business trip.

Save your shades from scratches by slipping them into a spare mitten before stashing them in your purse or glove compartment.

Unstick a stubborn zipper by rubbing the teeth on both sides with a pencil—graphite is an excellent lubricant.

It will never be a fashion trend, but tying bags over your shoes can keep you from tracking mud into the house when you come in, or protect slippers from dirt, snow, or rain when you run out to fetch the paper from the front lawn. (Be careful when walking on smooth surfaces, as the plastic won't give you any traction.)

Add an instant nonslip surface to your child’s socks. Just dot on some paint, let dry, and—voilà—traction on slippery floors. And, of course, fewer puffy eyes (from sliding into the bookshelf).

When you’re wearing a French-cuffed shirt, substitute a snip of ribbon for cuff links to keep your sleeves closed. Just slide a piece of ribbon through and tie a knot on each end. They’ll stop your arms from getting a chill and add a little color to a wardrobe staple.