Fast Fabric Fixes (NAPSA)—You don’t have to spend money on newclothes just because the old ones are worn, torn or stained. There are fast, easy and inexpensive ways to breathe new life into your family’s th on I wardrobe. Here are hints on how: Removerust stains: Mix lemon juice with salt to create oxalic acid. Apply it gently and a little at a time to the stain. Rinse thoroughly. Sock it to hole-ly hose: Darning socks and other knits can be easy with the help of a large needle and an old lightbulb. Put Clothes calls: Repairing dam- the sock over the bulb so that the hole shows. Surround the hole with small stitches, set far enough aged garments may be easier than manyrealize. won't unravel later. Use long, You don’t even need to sew to outside the damage that they loose stitches horizontally across the hole to create a framework for weaving. Turn the sock sideways and start weaving the thread in and out of the horizontal stitches. Keep going until the hole is repaired. Knee holes and tears: To repair a hole in a pair of pants, apply a line of fabric adhesive around the hole on the back of the pant leg and thin it with your fin- ger. Thinly coat a complementary patch and press it over the hole. One fabric adhesive that consumers have stuck with for generations was invented in the 1930s at the height of the Great Depres- sion. Called Tear Mender Instant Fabric & Leather Adhesive, it works on tears, rips and holes to create durable waterproof bonds. “With a little know-how and the right tools, it’s easy to do minor fabric repairs at home, far more affordably, with professional results,” says Jerry Cismoski, of the family-owned business. eA smart hemming way: repair a dropped hem. Simply apply a thin line of fabric adhesive to the hem side only. Smooth it out with your finger and press the hem back in place. On most fabrics, the adhesive will dry within three minutes and be machine washable in 15. Repairing belt loops and pockets: For a broken belt loop or ripped pocket, even on heavy fab- ric such as denim, you can apply a dot of fabric adhesive to both the back of the belt loop or pocket and the jeans. Press both sides togetherfirmly andlet dry. Leather fixes: Snags area drag on leather. For an easyfix, pour a drop of the adhesive into the openfiber of the leather and work it in with yourfinger. Close the snag off and rub the surface clean; the repair will seem seamless. Learn More For more information about making clothing last longer, see www.tearmender.com or call (773) 927-9442.
