How to Break Down & Soften Clothing

Break Down Clothing

• 1

  Wash clothing often to give it a broken-in look and feel. Use a light hand with detergents, as too much detergent can make fabric feels stiff.

• 2

  Dry clothing in the sun. Leave it outside for a week to withstand all kinds of weather. Wind, rain, sunshine and even hail will naturally break down the fabric and make the clothing look more aged.

• 3

  Spray clothing with lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide before putting it in the sun to fade the fabric faster.

• 4

  Brown the fabric with spray applications of coffee of tea.

• 5

  Focus on areas you want more wear. If you want the knees or elbows to look more worn and feel more pliable, rub the area with a piece of coarse-grained sandpaper.

• 6

  Fray hems with a wire brush, paying attention to where clothing would be frayed. Concentrate on the neckline and sleeve hems.

Soften Clothing

• 7

  Avoid commercial fabric softeners. They often include chemicals that coat the fabric and can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems and headaches. Reports suggest these chemicals may contribute to some cancers.

• 8

  Add ½ cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle when washing clothing. Vinegar will break down detergent, preventing residue that can make fabric feel stiff.

• 9

  Add ¼ cup baking soda to the rinse cycle as an alternative to vinegar.

• 10

  Throw a ball of aluminum foil in the dryer to reduce static electricity.

• 11

  Put tennis balls in the dryer with the clothing to soften fabrics.