As good as new

It’s the first day of London Fashion week today. So in the interest of every Mummy and Daddy out there I am doing a blog to make sure our little ones look their best when out and about.

As a Mum myself, I know how sad it is when your little ones favourite outfit rips, tears of becomes too badly stained to wear. So here are my easy quick and fast top tips to mending, renewing and rejuvenating our favourites.

Chemical free cleaning

Keep your whites white.

To freshen up baby clothes, add one cup of vinegar into your detergent dispenser during the final cycle. It will break down the Uric acid and soapy residue on the clothes and leave them soft and fresh.

*For blankets add two cups during the rinse cycle.

Getting stains out

Egg, rinse in cold water then wash well.

Baby food, soak in warm water for 4 hours before washing as normal

Grass, for washable fabrics (not wool or silk) rub alcohol ono the stain as a pre-rinse. Allow to dry then  sponge with cool water. Work some  detergent into the stain. Rinse again and leave to dry then wash as normal. Vinegar can also be used as a pre-rinse.

Mending clothes

Rips and Tears in woven

To mend ripped clothes, patch or mend making a feature of the tear.

Rips and Tears in knitting

Here is a simple PDF from Martha Stewarts magazine explaining how to mend a knitted item. Easy then me explaining!

Taking up or mending a fallen down hem.

Simply buy some hemming tape from your local haberdashery shop or department store (the lightweight iron on stuff)

 Unpick the old hem stitching and press open. Make your little one put on the item if you are making something shorter so you know the length it needs to be. Take off and press all around using steam creating the new hemline you want.

Trim any excess fabric, leaving a hem about 1 to 2 inches wide for skirts, about 1/2 to 1 inch for sleeves or trousers. Press the hem all around, making sure it is smooth and even.

Cut a length of fusible web strip as long as the hem measures around the garment. Place the web between the hem and the garment fabric, sliding it under the turned-in edge.

Following the directions on the package, fuse the web in place, pressing firmly with the steam iron, bonding the two surfaces together. Use a pressing cloth between the garment and the iron, and do not touch the web directly with the iron.

Simple

 *All helpful hints found from the following sources.

Cabbages and Roses- Guide to Natural Housekeeping

Martha Stewarts Living, Jan 2011

http://www.blogher.com/monster-mending-super-fun-knee-patches

Mrs Beatons Cookery and Household Management

http://www.stainexpert.co.uk