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I Tried Clothing Hacks to See If They Actually Work

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter.

Like most college students, I love anything that makes life simpler and less expensive. I also tend to take advice from the internet more than one probably should. One day while journeying through the depths of Pinterest, I stumbled upon clothing hacks. Intrigued, I decided to test out five of these popular hacks to see if they actually worked. Here’s how it all went down.

1. Using a straightener to iron clothes

This tip seemed relatively self-explanatory. Basically, a straightener on a low heat setting will iron most fabrics, from collars on shirts to wrinkles on skirts. This hack might help you save time and money if you normally opt for a tailor, or if you just don’t own an iron or steamer. Let’s see the results.

Collegiette-approved!

2. Stretching out shoes with socks and a hair dryer

I’ll admit it. This one seemed too good to be true, but I still decided to give it a try. The instructions were simple: just toss on a pair of socks, stuff your feet into your too-small shoes, and aim a hair dryer at the tight areas. For maximum benefit, flex and stretch your feet as you blast them with hot air. Let’s see the results!

Collegiette-approved!

3. Removing deodorant stains with dryer sheets

We all know this struggle: You’re getting ready to leave, you put on some deodorant to keep you feeling fresh and fabulous, and then no matter how hard you try to avoid them, white deodorant stains manage to find their way onto your clothes. Apparently, dryer sheets will provide a quick fix for this frustratingly common problem. Let’s see if it works.

Collegiette-approved!

4. Using moisturizer as a substitute for shoe polish

Again, this one seemed way too good to be true. I also regrettably didn’t realize until after I put lotion on my boots that I would be in a lot of trouble if this one didn’t work. (Quick tip for those interested in trying out life hacks: test them out on less valuable items.) So, did I ruin one of my favorite boots? Let’s see the results.

Collegiette-approved! (Thankfully!)

5. Putting jeans in the freezer to remove odors

According to Pinterest, putting your jeans in the freezer will remove smelly bacteria overnight so you don’t have to worry about spending too much money on laundry or accidentally shrinking your jeans in the dryer. (Disclaimer: We are not suggesting you don’t wash your jeans regularly. This could help reduce the number of times you have to do that. Please wash your jeans). This hack is great if you’re anything like me and typically wear the same pair of jeans for two or three consecutive days before finally deciding to wash them. How did it go, you ask?

 Collegiette-approved!

To my surprise, all five of the clothing hacks I tested turned out to be successful. I can’t speak for all clothing hacks, but I can certainly bet that these five could help save you a lot of time and money!

All images courtesy of the author.

Julia is a senior at the Isenberg School of Management at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is pursuing a major in marketing with a strong focus on advertising. Some of her favorite things include photography, filmmaking, and long yoga sessions followed by even longer naps. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @juliagordy!
Contributors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst