Sherri's Helpful Hints

SHOE CARE TIPS

• The appearance of old scuffed and worn brown leather shoes can be improved by the application of scratch polish sold for use on polished wooden furniture.
• To clean suede shoes - instead of using a wire suede brush which takes off the top layer of the leather try using masking tape.
• To clean nubuck leather use a very fine sandpaper - brings it up like new.
• To clean patent leather shoes rub in petroleum jelly and leave for a while to soak in, the buff up with a soft clean cloth. This will not only keep them shiny but also prevent them cracking.
• To keep leather soft and supple, apply a little castor oil and leave to dry, then clean in the usual way. Castor oil is also useful for waterproofing the underneath of leather soles.
• If crepe soles become sticky, put talcum powder on them and this will resolve the problem.
• Boot zippers getting stuck - run a lead pencil down the zipper and they will run smoothly.
  

CLOTHING HINTS AND TIPS

• If clothes are creased after travelling, hang them up by the shower and the steam will help remove creases.
• When pressing a silk tie, never press from front as the seam will make an impression on the front of the tie will be difficult to remove. Place a piece of card inside the tie, turn face down, cover with a cloth and press. Remove card and there you have it.
• Clean dirty white shoes and handbags by dabbing with cotton wool and nail polish remover.
• When velvet clothes become shiny and/or "seated", spray item with a fine mist, brush up against the pile with a nail brush and leave overnight. It is probably safest to test this on a hem first.
• Use a piece of white chalk to remove marks from white material.
• When hanging up trousers place one leg behind hanger and bring through over hanger from back to front. Take second leg through hanger from front to back. This will lessen the creasing and keep then firmly on the hanger.
• To prevent jacket bottoms from turning up, cover an old coin with material and insert inside hem, this will weigh it down and prevent the edge from turning up.
• Snags in woollen clothing can be hidden by taking a needle and thread and making a loop. Put needle down through material next to snag, place the offending snagged wool through the loop of thread and continue to pull the needle through to the back of the material. This will pull the snag through to the back of the garment where it cannot be seen.