Clothing Conundrum: Super stylish yet slightly shredded
Eco-Repair It: Torn jeans are the style, but there is such thing as inappropriate. Use the most destroyed pair of jeans to harvest patch fabric. Sew on patches reinforced with heat activated batting. Iron the patch to lock it in place even beyond the new stitches. Patched pants make a unique fashion statement and look oh-so vintage.
Clothing Conundrum: Super stylish yet can't be fastened
Eco-Repair It: Missing snaps and buttons can cause some items to meet their demise too early. If you still have your button, sew it back on. Contact the clothing manufacturer to request a button for boutique items. If you have no matching replacement, try these options: Remove all the buttons and wear the item open or purchase new buttons from a similar manufacturer or a vintage shop and replace them all.
Clothing Conundrum: Super stylish yet waxy
Eco-Clean It: Place a paper towel over candle wax or other sticky substance. Run a hot iron over the paper towel until the wax soaks into the towel. Also works great for carpets and throw-rugs.
Clothing Conundrum: Super stylish yet might be moldy (has that attic/old-lady-house smell)
Eco-Clean It: Soak article in water with enzyme cleaner at 1/2 strength for several hours or overnight. Launder as usual in washing machine with your regular natural detergent.
Clothing Conundrum: Super stylish yet slightly stained
Eco-Clean It: For greasy stains, spray on a little of your enzyme cleaner, rub in, and let penetrate for 5 minutes. For ink stains, rub dry salt over fabric then soak in salted water to pull out ink. Peroxide will remove blood, grass, red wine, and other tough stains from whites. It should be dabbed on with a cotton ball and used ONLY for whites. Launder with your natural detergent after working on the stain.
Reuse: the 2nd R
- Reuse keeps goods and materials out of the waste stream.
- Reuse advances source reduction.
- Reuse preserves the "embodied energy" originally used to manufacture an item.
- Reuse reduces the strain on valuable resources such as fuel, forests, and water supplies, and helps safeguard wildlife habitats.
- Reuse creates less air and water pollution than making a new item or recycling.
- Reuse results in less hazardous waste.
- Reuse saves money in purchases and disposal costs.
- Reuse generates new business and employment opportunities for both small entrepreneurs and large enterprises.
- Reuse creates an affordable supply of goods that are often of excellent quality.
Keep Your Old and Used Clothes Looking New
Issue 1 | September 2009