| How to Fix Baggy Knees in Pants Posted: 01 Dec 2020 12:00 AM PST It can be a real bummer when you notice baggy knees on your favorite pair of pants, but don't shell out money for a new pair just yet! Whether you're dealing with jeans, joggers, or leggings, there are a number of simple tricks you can try to snap those baggy knees back into place. If baggy knees are a persistent problem, try wearing pants in a different style, cut, or material to see if that helps. - Spray the knees with fabric softener and wash the jeans to shrink them. Mix 1/4 cup (60 ml) of liquid fabric softener and 3/4 cup (177 ml) of hot water in a spray bottle and spritz it on the knees of your pants. Then, pop your jeans in the washer and run a hot cycle.[1]
- Turn them inside-out and dry them for 20 minutes for a quick fix. Set your dryer to tumble dry on regular heat. Then, turn your jeans inside-out and toss them in the dryer with a few fluffy towels or a just-washed load of clothes for 20 minutes to shrink the knees.[2]
- Avoid putting jeans in the dryer by themselves since they won't tumble properly.
- Wash the jeans in cold water to shrink the knees when you get home. If your jeans are dirty, wash them using the cold water setting to shrink the knees back into place. To preserve their shape even more, avoid washing your jeans after every wear.[3]
- Washing jeans in hot water is great if you want to shrink them all over, but use cool water if you just want to shrink a troublesome spot.[4]
- Washing denim too frequently makes jeans lose their shape. Try washing them after every 3-4 wears instead.
- Air-dry jeans after washing them unless you need to shrink them a lot. Popping dry jeans in the dryer for a few minutes is great for a quick refresh, but don't put freshly-washed jeans in there. The cold-water wash already shrunk the baggy knees back into place, so just lay them out flat and let them air-dry to preserve their shape.[5]
- If you want to shrink your pants all over, feel free to dry them in your dryer! Don't do this too often, though, since the dryer wears out denim.
- Once they're dry, fold your jeans and store them flat instead of hanging them up. Hanging jeans can stretch out the material.
- Put on a belt or tuck your pant legs into boots to improve the fit. If the issue is fit, tucking your pant legs into the tops of your boots can smooth the material and prevent bunching in the knee area. If you don't happen to be wearing boots today, putting on a belt can also pull the fabric taut.[6]
- Hitch your pant legs up a bit before you sit down at home or work. If the knees of your jeans are starting to look baggy, pinch the legs and pull them up a few inches right before you sit down. Keep your back straight and don't cross your legs so the baggy knees won't get any worse during the day.[7]
- Get up and move around often since sitting for long periods can make baggy knees worse.
- Try a more relaxed fit or style if baggy knees are a persistent problem. If your skinny jeans tend to get baggy in the knees, they might be too tight in the knee area to begin with. Avoid skinnies and try a straight-leg style or relaxed cut instead.[8]
- If your denim doesn't have any stretch to it at all, that could also be the problem, especially if you sit at a desk most of the day! Try a stretchy pair and see if that helps.
[Edit]Leggings and Joggers - Dampen the knees with vinegar and iron the fabric for a quick fix. Pour distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle and lightly mist the knees of your joggers or leggings. Straighten the material out on a hard surface and iron it like you normally would to get rid of bags and creases.[9]
- Don't soak the knees of your pants in vinegar! A light spritz is all you need to dampen the material. Don't worry—the vinegar scent fades quickly.
- If you don't have any vinegar on hand, plain water also works.
- If the fabric is delicate, spread a towel over the material before ironing it.
- Wet the knees and blast them with hot air from a blow dryer in a pinch. If you don't have time to iron your pants, drape them over a hanger and spritz the knee areas with water until they're damp. Set your blow dryer to HIGH and hit them with the hot stream of air for a few minutes until the material feels dry.[10]
- This works for any area that you want to shrink.
- Wash pants in hot water when you have time to snap the material back. Hot water is safe for pants made out of nylon, spandex, cotton, and polyester blends. Put your pants in the washing machine, set it to the hottest cycle possible, and let the cycle run like normal.[11]
- If your leggings are 100% spandex or Lycra, heat probably won't shrink them much since the material is tightly woven.[12]
- Always check the care tag for special instructions before washing pants.
- Pop just-washed pants in the dryer for 10-30 minutes to reshape them. Heat can shrink pants too much, so set the dryer to "regular" and tumble-dry your pants in 10- to 15-minute intervals. Try them on after each interval and stop drying them once they fit the way you want them to.[13]
- If the pants are still damp, lay them flat and let them air-dry the rest of the way.
- To avoid damaging your pants, avoid drying them for longer than 30 minutes.
[Edit]References |
| How to Organize Your House Posted: 30 Nov 2020 04:00 PM PST Tackling your clutter is a big task, but it's not impossible. Start with clear expectations and goals so you can move through each room in your home and reorganize it. Part of organizing involves getting rid of things you don't need or want anymore, so give yourself time to sort through your belongings. Once you're left with things you want to keep use storage systems that work for your space and style. [Edit]Decluttering Your Space - Tackle 1 type of clutter or room at a time. You'll get a better idea of what you own if you can see all of it together. Start by gathering all of a category and going through it before you move on. For example, weed through all of the clothes in your home before you do books, papers, miscellaneous items, and sentimental belongings.[1]
- If it's hard for you to focus on tidying 1 type of thing, it's fine to go room by room instead. Just choose a system that works for you!
- To keep you moving through things quickly, set a timer and tell yourself that you need to get through 1 category or room.
- Discard or donate things you don't want to keep or organize. Once you can see all of your belongings in 1 space, throw out any trash. Then, decide what else you'd like to sell or donate. Sort items you want to keep by which room they belong in and group items together based on what they are.[2]
- For example, put all of your office supplies into 1 pile. Once you're in your office, store your paperwork in a filing cabinet and put your chargers and cords into a spot on your desk, for instance.
- If you have a lot that you'd like to get rid of, consider holding a garage sale. Then, you can use some of your profits to buy organizational supplies for your home.
- Wait to buy storage containers until you've gone through your belongings. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of reorganizing your space, but don't get carried away. Go through all of your things before you buy shelving, containers, or baskets so you know exactly what you need and where you'll put it.[3]
- If you start accumulating storage before you've sorted through what to keep and discard, you may feel even more overwhelmed.
- Walk through your home and create a list of storage solutions for each room so you don't have to guess what you need.
- If you're trying to organize on a budget, shop garage sales and thrift stores. You can usually find shelving, hooks, and cabinets in a variety of styles.
[Edit]Organizing the Kitchen - Group your spices so they're easy for you to use. There's no right or wrong way to organize your spices since everyone has their own cooking styles. The important thing is that you put them near your stove and you can quickly find the spice you need at a moment's notice. Place your spices on a spinning spice rack that sits on the counter, in a spice drawer, or hang them from a spice holder, for instance.[4]
- You can group the spices by cuisine or alphabetically. If you reach for the same few spices again and again, ensure that you can get them out quickly.
- Get rid of utensils you don't use or that you have more than 1 of. Find all of the items that only serve 1 purpose and gather utensils that you have duplicates of. Try to get rid of the tools that you don't use often or that you can do with another tool. If you have more than 1 type of utensil, donate the extras. You'll save a ton of valuable kitchen space.[5]
- For example, if you have a 2 or 3 fancy garlic mincing tools, you could probably get rid of all of them and rely on a standard chef's knife to chop your garlic.
- If you have 3 or 4 can openers, keep the best 1 and donate the rest.
- Move your pots and pans so they're easier to access. Once you've donated pots and pans that you never use, install hooks above your stove or kitchen island. This creates new storage space and makes it easier to get the pieces you need. If you can't hang your pots and pans, place storage racks near your stove so you can store thin pieces or lids vertically.[6]
- Avoid putting your favorite pots and pans out of reach. You shouldn't have to scramble while you're cooking to get the equipment you need.
- Rotate the food in your fridge and pantry on a regular basis. It's hard to stay organized if expired food is taking up valuable space in your kitchen. Take time every month to ditch food that's expired or staples and condiments that you never use. Then, label the pantry staples and put them into airtight containers. This helps the food stay fresher and you'll be able to find what you need.[7]
- Clear containers are great since you can see what's stored inside. You can also place small packages or bottles into baskets or onto a Lazy Susan.
- Keep only the serving dishes and mugs that you actually use. It's really easy to hold onto lots of mugs, dishes, platters, and serving pieces that you intend to use for when you have company. However, if you're like most people, you probably don't use them often, so don't store them in your kitchen where they take up valuable space.[8]
- You probably have storage cabinets in your kitchen that aren't easy to get to. If you won't be reaching for serving ware very often, it's fine to use these storage spaces. For example, put the serving platters you use just for holidays in the cabinet that's above your fridge.
[Edit]Working on the Bathroom - Hang shelves or cabinets to create extra storage space. If you're like most people, you probably feel like your bathroom just doesn't have enough useful storage. Fortunately, you probably have empty space on at least 1 wall where you can install floating shelves or a small cabinet. Then, put extra towels, toilet paper, or beauty products in the new space, for instance.[9]
- If you don't have room for a long shelf or big cabinet, install 2 or 3 small, floating shelves. This creates a polished look and actually gives you some useful storage.
- Put baskets or a Lazy Susan under the sink to store cleaning products. Instead of tossing cleaning supplies, hairdryers, or your first aid kit under the sink, put stackable bins or a Lazy Susan under it. Then, group your items by type and put them into separate bins or levels on the Lazy Susan.[10]
- If you have small kids at home, keep all cleaning products high up and out of reach. You might prefer to store bath toys in a bin under the sink instead.
- Use hanging storage in the shower to store shampoo and skincare items. Home organization stores are full of clever products designed to maximize your bath and shower space. You can buy shelving that hooks onto the shower or baskets with suction cups that hang onto the side of your tub or shower. Install a few of these and put your personal grooming products into them.[11]
- This is a great way to free up counter space and you'll never knock things off of the side of your tub again!
- Hang a behind-the-door organizer for towels, makeup, and supplies. It's amazing how quickly towels pile up in the bathroom, even if you have a bar or hooks for hanging a few. Add valuable storage space by using the back of the bathroom door. You can hook a behind-the-door organizer in order to hang more towels or choose an organizer that has slots for holding brushes or hairdryers, for instance.[12]
- You'll probably be able to find an organizer that has a combination of these features.
[Edit]Organizing Your Living Room - Tidy the display shelves and coffee tables. Loose papers, clothes, toys, and dishes scattered around your living room can make the room look disordered. Spend some time picking up things that belong in other rooms. Then, clear off your shelves and coffee table so you only have a few items that you want to display.[13]
- Remove anything that stresses you out or causes you anxiety. You might be tired of looking at books that you never get around to reading or piles of papers that you need to recycle.
- Set up bookshelves, floating shelves, or hooks to store things in the open.
- Add closed storage to your living room. There are probably things you don't want to keep on display in your living room, so put a storage ottoman, small table, or sofa with a storage seat in the room. You can put DVDs, books, or kids' toys into storage while keeping them easy to access.[14]
- You can use small, decorative boxes to hold things like remotes or cell phone chargers.
- Choose coffee tables or ottomans that have storage space or put items into totes that you can store under furniture or in a closet. If you're using storage boxes, label the outside so you can quickly find what you need.
- Put a large basket in the living room to catch clutter or toys. Instead of letting things pile up throughout the room, set a big tote or bin somewhere in your living room. Throughout the day, put items into it that need to go into other rooms. Then, you can spend a few minutes at the end of the day sorting through toys, magazines, or laundry.[15]
- This is really helpful if you have kids that tend to drop things off in the living room. Make them a part of organizing the living room and have them sort through the clutter basket with you.
- Use available wall space for storage to keep items off of the floor. Your living room might feel cramped if it's filled with furniture, storage cabinets, and coffee tables. Don't forget that you have valuable storage space on the walls. Instead of using low storage tables, put a tall bookshelf against the wall or hang floating shelves and hooks.[16]
- Even though you're using vertical space, don't cram your shelves full of trinkets, which can still make your living room look messy.
[Edit]Updating Bedroom Storage - Sort through your clothing and accessories. Think about all the things you keep in your room and immediately take out the things that should go into other rooms like the living or bathroom. Then, decide if you can put coats or accessories in a separate closet or cabinet in another room. This reduces the number of clothes you have to organize in your bedroom.[17]
- Think creatively! For example, you might be able to store out-of-season scarves or shoes in a storage ottoman in the living room.
- Reassess how you store your clothes. If you have piles of clothes in your room or hangers all over the floor, you might need to store your garments differently. Try a new storage system to see what works for you. You might prefer putting your clothes into:[18]
- A wardrobe or dresser
- Garment racks
- Bookshelves or floating shelves
- Storage benches
- Hanging hooks
- Maximize the storage space under your bed. If you're not putting the space under your bed to use, you're missing out. Buy a few long, shallow storage containers and put clothes that are out-of-season into it. This protects the clothes and frees up space in your closet or dresser.[19]
- You may also want a container to store out-of-season shoes and accessories like belts, scarves, and socks.
- Use the space behind your door to hang shoes, accessories, or jewelry. Unless there's a mirror attached to the back of your door, you're probably not using this valuable space. Buy a behind-the-door organizer and put small items into the pouches or hang scarves and jackets from the bottom of it.[20]
- These types of organizers now come in a variety of styles, so you should be able to find an organizer that matches the look of your bedroom.
- Create an easy organization system so it doesn't feel like work to tidy things up. If you get into the routine of putting your things away, you'll develop a great organizational habit.
- Get your family or roommates involved in tidying up since they probably helped make some of the mess. You'll also finish cleaning a lot faster!
- If it's taking you a lot of time to keep things organized or you're changing the way you use space in your home, you might need to change your organizational system, too.[21]
- Don't fall back into old habits where you accumulate clutter. If you start to feel overwhelmed in your home, schedule some time to go through your things again.[22]
- If you have a hard time with this, make time every few weeks or every month to go through your belongings. Purging things on a regular basis makes it easier in the long run.
[Edit]References |
| How to Decorate a Balcony with Lights Posted: 30 Nov 2020 08:00 AM PST A balcony is your own little corner of the world—a place where you can relax and unwind while enjoying some fresh air. Good lighting can make a difference in transforming your outdoor space from a simple balcony to a cozy paradise. There are plenty of different lighting possibilities to choose from, whether you're decorating an apartment balcony or something larger. Experiment with different kinds of lighting and see what kind of special haven you can create for yourself! [Edit]String Lights - Drape strings of lights above your balcony for a cozy feel.[1] Look for a ceiling or support system above your balcony that can hold up your string lights. Attach the strings to the ceiling or rafters and let them drape in a slight curve over your balcony. Then, reattach the other side of the string lights to another section of the balcony ceiling, or another support on your balcony.[2]
- For instance, you can drape the string lights across opposite edges of the ceiling.[3]
- If you don't have a lot of space in your balcony, you can drape the lights from the ceiling to another support, like a balcony railing.
- You can hang up string lights over 1 wall, multiple walls, or around the perimeter of your balcony! It all depends on how much space you have.
- Display string lights on the wall as an easy lighting solution. Spread a section of string lights along 1 end of the wall, using glue, adhesive hooks, or something similar to hold your string lights in place.[4] Create a really dynamic look by zig-zagging the string of lights back and forth along the wall, which makes a cool lighting effect.[5]
- You can clip pictures to your string lights to give it a personal touch.
- For a more minimalistic look, hang up a single string of chunky lights behind a piece of furniture, like a couch.[6]
- Create a festive look with colorful fairy lights. Hang up multicolored strings of fairy lights all over your balcony, giving the space a friendly, vibrant glow. Display these lights along the upper edges of the walls, and drape them around your balcony door frame for an extra-special effect. Loop some fairy lights around your balcony railing to really go the extra mile.[7]
- For instance, you can line your walls and doors with multi-colored lights during the holiday season.
- Twist string lights around any columns or trees near your balcony. Loop the lights around the base of the trunk or column, leaving about or so between each row of lights. Plug your lights into a nearby outlet or extension cord to create a cozy glow.[8]
- This lighting style looks great with smaller string lights.
- Wrap string lights around your railing for a long-lasting glow. Railings are a great, hassle-free way to display your lights without leaving any nail marks around your balcony. Grab your favorite string lights and loop them around the length of your railing, which creates a nice, even glow around your outdoor space.[9]
- If you're using electric-powered lights, see if there's a wall outlet near your railing. If not, you can always use an extension cord.
- Battery-powered lights are a great option, too.
- Pair string lanterns with a bamboo screen to give yourself some privacy. Shop online or at a home goods store for bamboo screens that you can prop up in front of your railing. Drape a string of lanterns along the top edge of the screen, which gives your balcony a cozy glow.[10]
- The bamboo screen completely covers the openings in your railings, which helps your balcony feel a bit more private.
- Keep things simple with battery-powered string lights. Look for a special kind of lighting that's attached to a battery canister, which saves you the trouble of scrambling for a wall outlet. Drape these from the ceiling, wrap them around railings, or hang them wherever you'd like. Once the lights start fading, replace the batteries for an easy fix.[11]
- Play around with different types of string lights for a dynamic look. Shop for string lights with lanterns or larger bulbs, which can provide an entirely different feel to your balcony. You may also like starburst globe lights, or light bulbs with several string lights stuck in the glass. Experiment with different styles until you find a set of string lights that really fits your aesthetic.[12]
- For instance, Edison-style string lights are larger and longer, and give your balcony a vintage feel.
- For a more simplistic look, you might play around with smaller, rounded bulbs instead.[13]
[Edit]Ways to Attach String Lights - Display your string lights with screw eyes as a sturdy option. Climb a ladder so you can get a good look at the structural supports of your balcony, which is a great option for hanging and draping your string lights. Mark the anchor points, or places where you'll be draping the lights, in pencil, then pre-drill a hole into each pencil mark. Insert a screw eye into each anchor point, which will give your string lights some extra support. Connect a light to the screw eye with a metal carabiner clip to finish your set-up.[14]
- It might be easier to install the light bulbs after the string is set up. If possible, unscrew your bulbs beforehand and install them after your strings are in place.
- Don't plug in the lights until they're hung up already.
- Glue your lights in place for a quick solution. Squeeze a dot of hot glue beneath any strings or wires before displaying your string lights on the wall. This can save you from the hassle of unwanted nail marks, and is easy to take off if you ever want to switch things up.[15]
- Hold the string in place for several seconds until the glue dries completely, or else your lights may fall off.
- Hang up your lights with adhesive hooks as a temporary option. Press adhesive hooks along the walls and supports of your balcony, which offer a handy, nail-free way to show off your lights. Drape your lights over the hooks instead of nailing them in place around your outdoor space. Once you're ready to take down the lights, just pull the adhesive strips off the wall.[16]
- You can find these strips at most stores, or find them online.
- Display your lights with a special hook if your balcony is beneath a gutter. Visit your hardware store for gutter hooks, or S-shaped hooks that loop over the edge of your gutter.[17] Attach one side of the "S" over the curved edge of the gutter, and use the other half of the hook to display your lights.[18]
[Edit]Lamps and Lanterns - Light up your balcony with a simple plug-in lamp. Stick a plug-in lantern into any of the wall outlets around your porch to add a nice burst of light. You can use just 1 for a minimalistic look, or plug multiple lamps into the wall sockets around your balcony.
- Pick out a battery-powered lantern for a minimalist look. Shop for a rechargeable or battery-powered lamp that doesn't need a wall outlet to keep your balcony lit up. Set your lantern somewhere in the middle of your outdoor area, like on a coffee table, for maximum effect.[19]
- You can find these types of lanterns online, or in most home goods stores.
- For example, place your battery-powered lantern on a central coffee table or nightstand, where it can give off a subtle glow around the entire balcony.
- Think outside of the box with oil lamps. Oil lamps are smaller, rounded lamps that offer a tiny flame of light, similar to a lighter. Space these lamps around your balcony to give the outdoor area a quaint, minimalist glow in your living area.[20]
- You can find oil lamps online, or in some home supply stores.
- Place these oil lamps just about anywhere you'd like, such as a flat coffee table, nightstand, or another piece of flat furniture lying around your balcony.
- Don't leave oil lamps unattended, or else they can become a fire hazard.
- Stay connected with a Bluetooth speaker lamp. Shop for lamps that can connect with your phone or tablet. Turn on the lamp to give your balcony an extra glow, then put on your favorite tunes to really define the ambiance.[21]
- Some lamps will let you control the brightness settings from your phone.
- For example, you can place this lamp around the center of the balcony so everyone can hear the music.
- Place tasteful candle lanterns all around your balcony area. Pick up candle lanterns from your local home goods store—these provide a decorative touch while also minimizing the risk of a fire hazard. Stick a candle into the decorative lantern and place it anywhere around your balcony, like on a nightstand, table, or even on the floor.[22]
- Choose candles in your favorite scents to really give the cozy ambiance a boost.
- You can place your lanterns on tables and nightstands, or leave them on the floor for a more subtle glow.
- Oversized candles can make great balcony decor, as well![23]
- Never leave candles unattended, even if they're placed in a candle lantern. If the candle lantern breaks, a fire can start and spread through your balcony.
- Decorate with solar lamps if you live in a sunny area. Shop online for solar-powered lamps, which you can hang up in any area that gets a lot of direct sunlight. After a sunny day, your lamps will keep your balcony lit, electricity- and outlet-free![24]
- For instance, you can hang your solar lamps near your balcony railing, where the sun first enters the space.
- You can also shop for other types of solar lights, like solar string lights and lanterns.
- Star-shaped lanterns are a great option if you're looking for a more creative light source.[25]
[Edit]References |
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