The average person throws away 81.5 pounds of clothing per year. As people continue to buy clothing at faster rates, individual items get less wear before winding up in the landfill. One easy way to reduce the amount of clothing you throw away is by repairing your clothing. Here are 5 easy ways to repair your clothes instead of throwing them out.  

1. Fusible Webbing for Holes  

Ever get those tiny holes in your clothing that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere? This is often due to insects such as moths that lurk in your wardrobe. But don’t think you have to throw the whole item of clothing away over these little holes.  

Instead, try the fusible web trick. First, you can apply fusible webbing over the hole from the inside of the item. Then, place fusible interfacing on top of the webbing. Once you iron over the webbing and interfacing, your clothing should be good as new! For a visual depiction of this process, check out this TikTok tutorial by itssewcontagious here: Mysterious Holes In Your Clothes? 

2. Repairing Other Holes  

If you have holes in clothing with more stubborn material such as denim, sewing the hole up is actually much easier than you may think. One really simple technique to sew up the holes in your jeans is called darning. 

When darning up a hole there are only a few steps: 

1. Stitch across the hole forming parallel stitches 
2. Switch the direction of your sewing and repeat the step above perpendicular to the first set of stitches  
3. Tie a knot or finish it out with a few extra stitches 

Here is also a great video if you are not sure how to stitch very well yet: How to Invisibly Fix a Hole in Your Favorite Sweater - YouTube 

3. Fixing Stains 

Many people give up on their clothing after it’s been stained, but stains are often easier to get out than you may think. First and foremost, do not wash your clothes immediately. Before washing, you should treat the item with stain remover. For a more sustainable option, try a stain bar instead of a spray such as the Natural Laundry Stain Bar by Etee.  

If the stain is really intense, try soaking the garment before using the stain remover. This will reduce the need for multiple washes and will save water. If you are still concerned after soaking the item and treating it with stain remover, try using warm water during your wash. For more information on stain removals, check out the American Cleaning Institutes Stain Removal Guide.  

4. Fix Unravelling Thread 

There is nothing more frustrating than when your favorite sweater or t-shirt starts to unravel. But don’t fret! Oftentimes, getting rid of a loose threat is a quick fix.  

1. First you need to find thread that is the same or a similar color to your garment  
2. Next, tie the new thread to the unravelling one and cut off the excess thread you don’t need  
3. Then you use the new thread that you attached to create a new hem. Check out this Hand Sewing Tutorial if you are unsure of how to make a hem with a needle. 
4. Finally, make a knot at the end! 

5. Fix Buttons

If your buttons are constantly falling off or coming loose, it is helpful to keep a few matching two-hole buttons at home. Two-hole buttons are the easiest to sew on, and don’t require a ton of time.  

To attach a two-hole button simply run your thread through two holes in your garment, tying a knot at one end to keep it in place. Then, run the thread through the two holes in the button, and repeat. Two holes in the fabric, two holes in the button, until you feel the button is secure (likely three times). Then, you simply tie a knot and you are good to go.  

If you are looking for a guide on how to sew buttons with more holes, check out this How to Sew a Button video by YouTuber Treasurie.  Get

Rewarded for Spending with a Lower Carbon Footprint

If all else fails, consider shopping secondhand! Click here to get your FutureCard Visa Card and start saving on eco-friendly purchases like secondhand clothing.