11 do-it-yourself tricks to refashion clothes

Worn soles and heels are beyond our skill set and who has shoe polish lying around? We can still quickly reboot our sandals, flats and sneakers. First, buff off any dirt and street crud with

a soft cloth. Water stains from the beach or walks in the rain? Dab spots on leather and dirty white sneakers with a 1:1 ratio of water and white vinegar on a cotton ball and let dry.

Remove dirt on leather sandals or kicks with a sudsy mix of water and dishwashing liquid or hand soap, scuffs on patent leather with petroleum jelly on a Q-tip. Polish dry, dull leather

shoes with a dab of moisturizer, body lotion or hair conditioner to restore gleam and a supple texture. Sprinkle insides of stinky shoes and sneakers with baking soda (or cat litter) and

leave overnight. In the morning, remove all residue. Done! 9. TREAT CLOTHES BEFORE WASHING We're not exactly sloppy but while sitting on the couch nibbling pizza or sipping a glass of

wine, stains do happen. If you don't have a stain stick, wipe or enzyme presoak handy, these retro DIY prewash tips work well. Dab grease stains (like pizza, butter, salad dressing,

makeup) with a dry paper towel (not water!) and immediately apply baby powder, cornstarch, salt or even artificial sweetener to absorb the oil, or try a sudsy mix of dishwashing liquid to

prevent the stain from sinking in. Blot red wine or tomato sauce with a white cloth, napkin or even a slice of bread (you'll see the red lifting), then sprinkle with salt, sugar or

powder, brush off and repeat. After each of these treatments, launder as usual in cold water. No bleach or fabric softener left? A cup of white vinegar added to the wash cycle can brighten

and soften fabrics and neutralize food and perspiration odors. Mariakray/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images 10. HAND WASH ITEMS YOU USUALLY DRY CLEAN Hand washing silk, linen, wools,

cashmere and some synthetic blends labeled hand wash will take time since you need to air dry them, but if not now when? Do one item at a time, keeping whites, pales, brights and darks

separate. Fill your sink with cold water and some mild detergent or shampoo and swish it around till sudsy. Dip a Q-tip in the water and do a colorfast test on a small, not too visible spot

on the item. No dye transfers? You're OK. Let your item soak for 20 minutes. Drain, refill with cold water and dip till no more suds appear. Lay the item on a towel and roll it up to

gently press out excess water (no squeezing or wringing!). Then unroll and move it to a dry towel and reshape. No hanging to dry, please. If you find holes in your sweaters, quarantine them

in sealed plastic bags till you can wash them. Deep clean and vacuum (this removes larvae and eggs) your closet ASAP. 11. CLEAN YOUR COSTUME JEWELRY Real jewelry gets attention, but fakes

hardly ever do. Those beads, baubles and faux gold or silver pieces we stack, dangle and pile on for a dose of color and joy can get sticky, dull and grimy. Separate rings, bracelets,

necklaces and earrings into groups. Use an old toothbrush or a Q-tip dipped in white vinegar or some sudsy water (a drop of shampoo or hand soap does it) and lightly go over each item before

rinsing with another Q-tip dipped in cold water. Be sure to dab dry once more to prevent excess moisture from loosening stones, strings or links.