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Natural stain removers.
Why buy expensive special-purpose stain products when you already have solutions at hand. Baking soda reduces odors, boosts laundry detergent cleaning and naturally softens fabrics. Distilled white vinegar’s low level of acetic acid removes yellow underarm stains, brightens laundry, removes mildew stains and even cleans the inside of your washing machine. Hydrogen peroxide is milder…
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Home-brew stain magic.
Here’s how you can remove grease stains safely at home. You’ll need a double sink or bucket, a jug of white vinegar, a cleaner like Woolite, and half a bucket of ice cubes. First, submerge the item in an ice water bath. The thermal shock of the cold causes the fabric to contract, pushing debris…
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Tissue in the pocket?
Cold season leaves tissues pushed into pockets and run through the washer. How to remove the tiny shreds and lint? Pick out the biggest pieces before putting in dryer where the lint trap will do most of the work. Remove while damp and shake out the remaining scraps. Use a clothes brush on napped fabric,…
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Zapping a cranky zipper.
When you’re trapped in a stuck zipper, Windex can save the day. First, test a hidden part of the fabric to make sure it won’t be damaged by the Windex. Then soak the zipper and slowly, slowly pull it to unzip. Go a little bit each time, resoak, and gently keep pulling. Be sure to…
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Post-holiday sweet spots?
Did you think you were playing it safe with white wine and spritzers only to find nasty stains and marks on your party clothes? Those sugary spills soak into the fabric and, when cleaned, take the dye right out with them. White wines may taste sweet, but they are sneaky when it comes to leaving…
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Beanie or tuque, there’s nothing warmer than a stocking cap.
Pull on a snug knitted cap to add some style to your bundled-up look. Knit or crocheted hats made of natural fibers should be hand-washed in cool water. Soak for twenty minutes in a mild detergent, agitate gently and never squeeze or wring. Rinse in cool water, lay flat and air dry to prevent shrinking.…
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Clean gloves.
When the weather turns cool, we reach for our warm gloves. How to keep them clean? For leather, gently massage saddle soap foam into the gloves to remove stains, then polish/dry with a microfiber cloth. Knit wool gloves can be gently hand-washed in the sink, be sure to dry the gloves in their original shape.…
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Resolutions.
First, Peace. Followed by the usual list: eat better, smile more, lose weight, learn something new, share, drink more water, walk. To that we’ll add “Say Hello” to someone new every day. We say hello to a lot of people every day as part of our job. Seems like the more we do it, the more…
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Glittering holidays.
Here’s a very tiny tip: When the shine comes off, and the carpet’s covered in glitter from ornaments, decorating and celebrating, grab a ball of Play-Do. Roll it over the mess to pick up the loose bits of shine. That’s about as much housecleaning as we’re going to do today.
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Home for Christmas.
Please join us, our employees, our families and friends, in a Christmas wish for peace on earth, goodwill towards men. No matter your faith, station, nationality or color, we’re joined in this season of renewal, of hope and blessing.