I’m a super cleaner and these are the ways to make your kids’ school uniform look brand new including vodka on stains
WE’RE halfway through the school year, which is when kids’ uniforms can start looking tatty.
Here, with less than six months until the summer holidays, parenting blogger Fiona Naughton tells how you can avoid forking out for replacements.
USE WASHING UP LIQUID ON WHITES: School shirts start off looking pristine but repeat washes can turn them grey and grubby.
Fiona says: “Adding a squirt or two of washing-up liquid to your washing machine drum will instantly brighten them up.
“I use it in all my white washes but be careful not to put too much in or you’ll get too many suds. A third of a cap-full will do the trick. You can also add a cup of distilled white vinegar to your dark wash to prevent jumpers, skirts and trousers from fading.”
SPLASH VODKA ON STAINS: Food, paint and black ink are difficult to shift but don’t chuck stained shirts in the bin just yet.
Fiona says: “Pesky black whiteboard markers can be removed with a splash of vodka because it’s the alcohol that does the job. Put white kitchen roll under the garment, splash vodka on to the stain and blot with kitchen roll. Add a little more vodka before putting it in the wash.
“To remove ballpoint pen, use hairspray. Spray on the stain, wait 30 seconds for it to do its magic then wipe off with a damp cloth. Grass stains will come out with a rub of a white vinegar and baking soda mixed into a paste before going in the washing machine.”
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VINEGAR FOR SCHOOL BAGS: Kids’ bags and pencil cases can get grubby but there’s no need to fork out for replacements.
“Wash them with a cup of white vinegar in the drum to eliminate odours from spillages and crumbs,” Fiona explains.
“Cleaning them in the washing machine rather than the sink ensures you get all the niggly bits that end up stuck in the nooks and crannies.”
SNIP TROUSERS INTO SHORTS: If trousers are fraying at the knees, don’t throw them out. Snip them into shorts for the spring ahead.
Fiona says: “When they go at the knee I simply cut them just above and you don’t have to sew — just leave them as they are. I’ve found the fabric on school uniforms to be hardy enough not to need a new hem. For girls who wear pinafores to school, add an extra button to the bottom of each strap to allow for growth.”
USE KEY RINGS ON COATS: Fiona’s solution for fixing awkward zips is attaching a key ring to the pull.
She says: “If zips are starting to get stuck on coats, attach a key ring so pulling them up and down is easier. If the zip goes altogether use poppers or velcro strips so they can still fasten.
“You can buy iron-on velcro from Poundland or your local haberdashery. And buy poppers for around £5 online from Amazon. They come with a handy tool to help you do the job — a lot cheaper than buying a brand new coat just as the weather is about to pick up.”
COOKING OIL ON SCUFFED SHOES: Shoes are expensive and while using shop-bought polish prolongs the life of the leather, rubbing them with vegetable oil does the same job.
Fiona says: “Make sure to clean shoes first then smear with oil, leave for a couple of minutes before wiping off any excess with a cloth. This method won’t necessarily make them shine as the oil soaks into the leather but it will help keep them in good nick. To bring scuffed shoes back to life simply colour in with a black marker pen. For shoes with a patent finish, paint the fronts with a clear nail polish for an invisible protective layer.”
NAIL POLISH ON BUTTONS: Sewing on new buttons is a fiddly job so paint them with clear nail polish to stop them from falling off in the first place.
Fiona says: “The polish seals the threads and prevents them from unravelling, which avoids then having to find identical replacement buttons. And if your child’s uniform has an emblem, remember to wash the garment inside out to stop it from catching or fraying.”
FIX HOLES AND TEARS: “Rather than buying more school socks, which often come in packs of five or seven, you can repair them cheaply using interfacing fusable fabric,” Fiona explains.
“You can buy these sheets of mending fabric from eBay to Amazon or the local haberdashery for as little as £1. The strips have glue on one side and come in different colours including black and white.
“All you need to do is cut it to the required size and iron it on to cover any holes. It’s great for hiding those pesky tears that appear in fabric from general wear and tear.”
IF THERE’S NO HOPE . . .
PTA SALES: School PTAs will often sell off lost property and unclaimed uniform at low cost.
LOOK ONLINE: Pick up pre-loved second hand uniforms for cheap or free on local Facebook groups, Vinted, Freecycle or Gumtree.
GET COMMUNITY HELP: Google to find a venture close to you that allows you to swap or inherit uniforms. The Community School Clothing Scheme helps kit out kids with uniforms for free.