6 Men’s Fashion & Grooming Hacks

From rubber bands to pencils, it’s amazing how everyday items can be used to patch up fashion and grooming nightmares in a pinch. Take a look at the following list of problems and the quick fix solutions you can use to solve them. Oh, and as always, use any of these tips at your own risk…

Bad Breath

Obviously, you should brush your teeth and use a good quality mouthwash before leaving the house. If you’re ‘out and about’ without the facilities though, a stick of sugar-free gum can do wonders before a business meeting.

But desperate times call for desperate measures; before leaving the restaurant, grab a good sprig of fresh parsley and start chewing. This herb is rich with chlorophyll – a great anti-mutagen and wonderful deodoriser.

Wrinkled Garments

If you need to remove wrinkles in a hurry, the old trick of hanging your garment near a hot shower for 20-30 minutes should definitely help. For those a little more prepared, a travel-sized bottle of ‘wrinkle release’ spray kept in your emergency travel kit will ensure your shirt is looking fresh following an all-nighter at the office.

Long Shirt Sleeves

So you’ve accidentally packed the one shirt in your wardrobe that’s too long for your arms. Don’t go around with sleeves covering your hands: instead, grab a couple of strong rubber bands and use them as makeshift sleeve garters.

Shirt Stains

It’s amazing the number of blemishs simple household vinegar will remove, but
if you don’t have time or access to a washer/dryer, the solution is simple: slip on a merino wool v-neck sweater. It’ll cover up most sizable blots, and mask other problems like chipped buttons or a small tear in the fabric.

Jammed Zipper

Trapped in the urinal after your zip refuses to budge? Try rubbing a little lip balm on the teeth above and below the slide tab to get it moving again. Too manly to carry lip balm with you? I’d urge you to reconsider, but a thick pencil will also do the same job; something like a 4B or 6B with plenty of graphite is best.

Dull Leather Shoes

I know, I know… you had a hundred and one other things to think about before your date, but that’s no excuse for neglecting your footwear. Naturally, shoe polish should be your first port of call, but failing that a banana skin might help.

Remove any excess pith and stringy peel, then start massaging the inside of the banana skin against the tip of the shoe; use some paper towel or strong-ply toilet tissue to remove any excess oils and buff gently until shiny.

It should go without saying, but I’ll mention it anyway – this only works with leather shoes, so don’t start rubbing banana peels into your finest suede.

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