Revive Your Old Hoodie

There are many ways to restore a hoodie, from fixing the strings to restoring its softness and colour.

How to Restore a Hoodie

Restoring a hoodie's softness

Washing your hoodie can sometimes leave it feeling less soft than it was before. Here are some tips to help you restore its softness.

Washing Techniques

• Water temperature: Use the right water temperature for washing. Too hot and you risk shrinking your hoodie, too cold and it might not get as clean as you'd like.
• Detergent: Choose a mild detergent that won't strip away the fabric's natural softness or irritate your skin.
• Pre-soak: If your hoodie is particularly dirty or stained, try pre-soaking it before washing to help lift any stubborn stains.
• Avoid fabric softeners: Fabric softeners can build up on the fabric over time, making it less absorbent and soft.
• Turn inside out: Turning your hoodie inside out before washing can help protect the outer fabric and prevent damage to any printed designs or logos.
• Wash with similar items: Wash your hoodie with other similar items, such as clothing made of similar materials. Avoid washing it with items that have zippers or metal parts that can damage the fabric.
• Remove stains: Remove stains as soon as possible. Properly cleaning stains will allow the fabric to return to its original form.
• Use the right amount of detergent: Avoid using too much detergent as excess soap can build up on the fabric, making it stiff and less absorbent.
• Add vinegar: Add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to help break down detergent residue and remove odours.
• Run an extra rinse cycle: Running an extra rinse cycle can help remove any excess detergent or fabric softener residue.

Drying Techniques

• Air drying: Air drying your hoodie is the best option to keep it soft. The dryer can break down the fabric, leading to stiffness.
• Low heat: If you do use a dryer, opt for a low or medium heat setting. High heat can cause the fibres to break down, leading to stiffness and shrinkage.
• Skip the dryer sheets: The chemicals in dryer sheets can leave a coating on the fabric, making it less soft and absorbent over time. Try using dryer balls instead.

Natural Softening Methods

• Vinegar soak: Soak your hoodie in a bucket of water with a capful of liquid fabric softener overnight. Then, run the spin cycle in the washing machine to remove excess water.
• Baking soda: Add a cup of baking soda to your wash cycle along with your detergent to balance the pH level of the water and make your hoodie feel softer.
• Hair conditioner: Add a tablespoon of hair conditioner to the rinse cycle to soften the fibres of the hoodie.

By following these tips, you can help restore your hoodie's softness and enjoy its comfort for years to come.

Restringing a hoodie

Another method involves using a metal coat hanger. Start by putting a small hook on one end of the hanger, and then slide the hooked hanger into the hoodie's drawstring channel. Slide the hanger until it goes about an inch past the end of the drawstring, and then rotate it a full circle to try and grab the drawstring. Once the end of the drawstring is attached, slowly slide the hanger out. To prevent this issue from occurring again, tie a small knot at each end of the drawstring, ensuring that the knot is bigger than the hole of the drawstring channel.

A similar method involves using a drinking straw. Slide the straw into the hole where the drawstring should be, and push it through until you reach the drawstring. Then, attempt to stick the drawstring into the straw, and pull the straw out. The drawstring should come out with the straw. Once the drawstring is out, tie both ends into a knot.

Restoring faded colours

There are several methods to restore the colour of a faded hoodie. Here are some of the most common ones:

Using Salt

Salt is an effective way to brighten colours and prevent new clothes from fading. Add about half a cup of salt to your washer before putting in your clothes. Then, run a wash cycle without detergent. Salt is also a great stain remover, especially for blood, mildew, and sweat stains.

Using Vinegar

Vinegar helps to break up detergent or mineral buildup, making colours appear brighter. For a top-loading machine, pour half a cup of white vinegar directly into the drum, or add it to the fabric softener dispenser for a front-loading washer. You can also soak the clothing item in a solution of a cup of white vinegar and a gallon of warm water for 20-30 minutes before washing it.

Dyeing

If the colour of your hoodie has washed out, you may need to re-dye it. First, check the care label to determine if the fabric is dyeable. Then, choose a dye that is as close to the original colour as possible. Protect your skin and work area from the dye by covering your workspace and wearing old clothes and thick gloves. Fill a container with hot water (about 120-140 °F or 49-60 °C) and dissolve the dye and salt in a small cup of water before adding it to the bath. Add the hoodie and soak it for 30-60 minutes, stirring continuously. Finally, rinse the hoodie thoroughly in cold water, then wash it by itself in the washing machine on a cold cycle.

Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is effective at brightening white clothing. Simply add about half a cup to the drum of your washer along with your regular detergent.

Removing stains

Identify the Stain

Firstly, it is important to identify what caused the stain. This will help you to prevent getting similar stains on your hoodie in the future.

Rinse the Stain

As soon as you notice the stain, rinse it with warm water. The warmer temperature will help to loosen the stain from the fabric fibres.

Use White Vinegar

Next, apply white vinegar to the stain. This will help to break down the stain and prevent it from worsening. Leave the vinegar on the stain for about an hour.

Wash in Cold Water

After an hour, put your hoodie in the washing machine and wash it in cold water. Do not use hot water, as this can worsen the stain and cause the garment to shrink.

Check the Stain

After washing, check to see if the stain has been removed. If not, dab the area with hydrogen peroxide. This should cause a bubbling reaction, indicating that the chemicals are reacting with the stain. Leave this for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Prevent Future Stains

To prevent future stains, try to wash your hoodie before it becomes too dirty. It is recommended to wash a hoodie after 5-6 wears, or as soon as it becomes stained. You can also try to prevent stains by tying a knot at the end of each drawstring. This will stop the drawstrings from getting pulled out of the hoodie and becoming tangled with zippers and buttons in the wash.

Replacing a zipper

If the zipper on your hoodie breaks, it can be difficult to sew in a new one, especially if the hoodie is lined or made of stretchy fabric. However, it is possible to replace a zipper without having to unravel the seams. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

Step 1: Cut off the Old Zipper

Carefully cut through the spiral and zipper tape just above the reinforced plastic piece at the bottom of the zipper. Cut as close to the fabric as possible without damaging it. Do the same with the other half of the zipper.

Step 2: Remove the Box Part

Unravel the seams around the bottom end of the zipper and cut off the bottom end, removing any remaining teeth from the zipper tape. Do this for both halves of the zipper.

Step 3: Prepare the First Fabric Strip

Choose a fabric strip that is 6-8 cm wide and about 5 cm longer than the new zipper. Place the fabric with the right side facing up, and mark a spot 2 cm from the end. Place the new zipper on the fabric strip so that the bottom end aligns with the mark. Pin the zipper to the fabric strip along the edge.

Step 4: Sew the Zipper to the First Fabric Strip

Using a sewing machine with a zipper foot attached, sew the zipper to the fabric strip. Start at the bottom of the zipper and bartack the seam well with a few stitches back and forth. Run the presser foot along the teeth of the zipper to keep the seam straight. When you are about 6-8 inches from the top, open the zipper, then lower the presser foot and finish sewing. Backtack the top of the seam.

Step 5: Prepare the Second Fabric Strip

Place the second fabric strip with the right side facing up. Fold over the already sewn-on fabric strip and place it right sides together on the second strip, with the narrow sides of the strips and the zipper edge-to-edge. Pin the zipper and the second strip together.

Step 6: Sew the Zipper to the Second Fabric Strip

Sew the second fabric strip to the zipper, starting at the bottom. Adjust the zipper foot so that the needle runs along the other side of the zipper. Sew the strip in the same way as the first one, backtacking at the beginning and end of the seam.

Step 7: Pin the Facing and Zipper to the Hoodie

Lay the hoodie with the inside facing up and mark the place where the zipper should start. Open the zipper and fold the fabric strips over to expose the zipper teeth. Place the facings with the wrong side facing up, and pin the matching half to the cuff of the hoodie, making sure the end of the zipper is aligned.

Step 8: Sew the Facing to the Lower Waistband

Start sewing on the side without the zipper, using a thread that matches the colour of the cuff. Sew the facing onto the cuff, bartacking the seam and being careful not to sew over the zipper.

Step 9: Pin the Facing, Zipper, and Jacket Together

Flap the facing and zipper over the seam you just sewed, so that the zipper is between the jacket and the facing. Secure the layers with fabric clips or pins. When you reach the top, fold the overhanging fabric around the top of the zipper and secure it.

Step 10: Sew the Facing, Zipper, and Jacket Together

Use a strong needle, such as a 100 or 110 gauge jeans needle, and choose threads that match the colours of the jacket and facing fabrics. Start sewing at the bottom, moving the zipper up slightly to begin sewing close to the box piece. Lock the seam with a few stitches back and forth, then continue sewing close to the zipper. Keep the needle in the fabric and lift the presser foot as needed to slide the zipper past.

Step 11: Finish Sewing the Facing, Zipper, and Jacket Together

Lower the presser foot and topstitch the zipper and facing to the jacket opening, keeping the facing smooth and taut to avoid overhangs. Hold the top of the fabric strip tightly as you reach the end to prevent it from slipping out.

Step 12: Pin the Other Side of the Jacket

Turn the jacket inside out and place the side that is not yet sewn to the zipper in position, making sure the bottom cuffs are even. Fold the facing around the zipper and pin it in place.

Step 13: Sew the Second Facing to the Bottom Waistband

Sew the second facing to the bottom waistband in the same way as the first one, being careful not to sew over the zipper tape.

Step 14: Pin and Sew the Facing, Zipper, and Jacket Together

Fold the facing onto the jacket, ensuring the edge of the jacket fabric lines up with the seam where the zipper is attached to the facing. Secure with fabric clips and check that the zipper ends are an equal distance from the top of the jacket on both sides. Sew the facing and zipper to the jacket, starting at the bottom and being careful to keep the excess fabric folded around the zipper.

Step 15: Sew the Facings to the Upper Edge

Pin the facings in place, making sure the top edge runs parallel to the top edge of the jacket. Topstitch the facings with a single straight stitch close to the edge, bartacking the beginning and end of the seam. If desired, spot-fix the facing with a few zigzag stitches or hand stitch it in place with a blind stitch.

Final Step: Admire Your Work!

Your hoodie is now saved and ready to be worn again!

Frequently asked questions