Category Archives: Clothing Care and Stain Removal

How to Care for your Clothing and Tips, Ideas, How-to Remove stains from your t-shirts and clothing

Sock

How to Darn a Sock

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Sock

A common thing to do once your socks have holes in them is to throw them out and go get new ones, but did you know that you could save money and your socks by darning them? This doesn’t mean to belittle the socks by yelling at them and calling them names, but it is a process in which to repair the foot wear and make them as good, if not better, than new.

Darning a sock is not simply sewing up the hole as this would cause the sock to be mis-shapened and actually create a bump with the end result being a nasty blister where the bump resides. Darning is however a sewing technique and before the time of mass production it was a fairly common practice. You too can learn this method of sock saving and save yourself some money in the process.

Here are the steps to darn a sock:

1.    Get your supplies: Before you start to darn, you need the supplies to do so. You will need a darning needle, the proper thread, and a light bulb. For cotton or synthetic socks you will want to go with embroidery floss and if your socks are wool then you will want to go with, you guessed it, wool. The light bulb will be used in place of what is called a darning egg, which you can buy if you want to, and will keep the hole supported and make your repair much easier.

2.    Prepare the hole: Pull the sock over the light bulb, or darning egg, and gently cut away any jagged edges that the hole may have. Be sure not to make the hole any bigger than it already is though. Now thread the darning needle and get ready to go.

3.    Sew parallel: Begin by sewing a few running stitches above and to either side of the hole. Then push the darning needle through one end of the hole and make one large running stitch to the other side. Repeat this process until the hole is completely blocked up with parallel stitches.

4.    Sew vertical: Repeat the process going vertically this time. Be sure to weave in and out of the parallel stitches. Keep going until the hole is completely healed up.

It is important to note that you should not use any knots in your thread. If darned properly, knots are not necessary and will only add discomfort to you foot if used. You also need to be extremely careful when using a light bulb as opposed to an actual darning egg as too much pressure can be the cause of broken glass and thus lead to you having to go to the hospital to have your hand ‘darned’ up.

The key to successful darning is to get right after a hole once it has formed. Don’t wait until the hole is too big to work with and remember the old saying, ‘A stitch in time saves nine,’ meaning catch it early and save yourself some time and trouble.

Jeans

How to Care for Jeans

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Jeans

Jeans come in all shapes and sizes and nothing is more versatile when it comes to clothing. Jeans can be worn for just about any occasion and can be dressed up with a nice shirt or dressed down with a simple t-shirt. Jeans are even more popular these days because of the wide variety of colors that are available. Taking good care of your jeans will have you enjoying them for many years to come.

Because jeans are colored with indigo ink there will naturally be some color lost when you wash and dry them with your other garments. The best way to care for your jeans is to of course take them to dry cleaners, but this is too costly for most. With that in mind here are some tips to help you keep your jeans looking as good as possible:

•    Read the labels: All jeans come equipped with special care instruction sewn right in. Be sure that you read the labels as some jeans go against the norm and need to be washed in warm water as opposed to cold like most. Some jeans even say to dry clean only.

•    Don’t wash excessive pairs of jeans: Limit your jean washing to three or four pairs at a time. Because denim is heavy, too many jeans in the washer at the same time will diminish the effectiveness of the washer to clean the jeans. Instead of using more than three or four pairs of jeans, fill the remainder of the washer with lighter material clothing of the same color.

•    Inside out: This is perhaps the easiest trick to do. By turning your jeans inside out before you wash them you are lessening the impact felt by the jeans because of the washer’s agitator. This will help to keep your jeans from rapidly wearing down.

•    Be gentle: If you have jeans that have rips or holes in them use the gentle cycle to avoid making them any worse. Many jeans these days come pre-ripped and shredded and most of these will advise the gentle cycle on their care tags.
•    Avoid over drying: The more you dry denim the tighter it gets. Once your jeans are dry, take them out of the dryer immediately. Avoid over drying your jeans at all costs. Pay close attention to how long the dryer runs when your jeans are completely dry and make a note of the time so that the next time you will know how long to set the timer on the dryer for.

•    Avoid bleach: This sounds like a no brainer, but you would be surprised. Bleach can be found not only in the white plastic jugs these days, but also in many detergents. Bleach and jeans equals eighty’s music videos. If that is your goal, then go for it; otherwise make sure all forms of bleach stay far away from your jeans.

With proper care you and your jeans will look your best for many seasons to come. The only thing you will have to worry about is maintaining your weight so that you always slip comfortably into your favorite pair of jeans.

Sneakers

How To Wash Sneakers

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Sneakers

Everybody has a pair of sneakers. Usually it’s the most comfortable piece of a person’s wardrobe. You come home from work, step out of those uncomfortable shoes you have to wear all day and into your sneakers for lounging around. You go everywhere in them. Depending on your activities and the use they get, it might not take long for those sneakers of yours to get very dirty. While making sure the cleanliness of the rest of the wardrobe is a priority, sneakers often are overlooked when it comes to washing them regularly. How do you actually clean sneakers? It’s very simple.

There are two ways to wash sneakers. They can either be washed in a machine or washed by hand. Both do the job. Washing machines might be a little more rough than the direct care one could give when washing manually but either system will result in sneakers you will no longer be ashamed to be seen in.

Washing Machine Method – The first step is to remove the laces. Be careful when pulling them out. If they’re frayed in any way they could be torn in two pieces. Next, place the sneakers in a pillowcase and then directly into the washing machine. Placing the sneakers in pillowcases keeps the sneakers from being scratched as they bounce around the machine. The machine’s drum is also protected from the bumping and potential tangles caused by the laces. Set the machines setting to delicate and use cold water after adding about a half cup of detergent. When finished, the sneakers should be allowed to air dry. Stuff paper towels or newspapers into the shoes so that they retain their shape. Don’t use a drying machine as the heat might damage the sneakers.

Washing By Hand – Again, remove the laces and also inserts if the sneakers have them. Prepare a solution of soap and water or use a pre-purchased athletic shoe cleaner. A toothbrush can be used to clean the sneakers all over with the soap and water solution. Then using the same solution clean the inserts and laces. Once completed, hold your shoes under a running spigot or hose of fresh water until the soap is washed away. Any of the remaining solution can be wiped off with paper towels. Using more paper towels and/or newspapers, stuff the shoes so they retain their original shape as they dry. Replace the paper towels should they become saturated with water. Allow to dry in the sun if possible as the sun will actually help make white sneaker whiter. Once dried, replace the inserts and laces. To keep them fresh, baking soda can be sprinkled sparingly on the inside.

The cleansers that you choose are important as some are better than others. The best for cleaning shoes are stronger cleansers like Comet, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and Greased Lightning.

Now your sneakers should be thoroughly cleaned. Make sure they’re completely dry before using them as this will extend their life. Have fun showing off your like-new sneakers.

Watermelon stains

How To Remove Watermelon Stains

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Watermelon stains

Watermelons are practically a symbol of summertime. No other fruit so completely screams summer like a juicy watermelon. It is fresh, provides hydration, is sweet and is actually pretty fun to eat. Seeded watermelon is the perfect outdoor fruit, with many a watermelon lover enjoying seed spitting as part of the fun of partaking in their favorite fruit. Watermelon works for celebrations wonderfully. Just one watermelon and you’ve got enough fruit for a gang of people. Summer celebrations just seem to revolve about this colorful, fragrant fruit. There is just one drawback however- the juice. It runs everywhere. In fact, if you pick up a piece of watermelon to bite into, you can rest assured that you will be dealing with watermelon stains later when it is time to do the laundry.

If you notice that you have watermelon stains on your clothing, treat them right away. Use a paper towel to soak up any excess juice. Then if you can’t change out of your clothing right away to treat the stain, then use a wet paper towel to blot at the stain to get as much of it off your clothing as possible.

Luckily for you watermelon stains are one of the easiest types of food stains to eliminate from clothing. The juices of the watermelon are mostly water and contain very little pigment to deal with therefore you have a much easier stain to deal with than one from blueberries or beets, which are known serious stains.

The light pink stains from watermelon juice can usually be eliminated by pouring boiling water through the stain, if you are working on a fabric that can be washed in hot water. Before starting any type of stain removal treatments on clothes, be sure to read the fabric care label so you know what you can and can’t do with the fabric you are dealing with. You don’t want to pour hot water on a shirt that must be washed by hand in cold water only.

If the stain persists the easiest way to deal with a watermelon stain is to simply apply a commercial stain pretreatment to the item and then launder as usual. Be sure that the pretreatment you use is one that contains enzymes and is formulated for such types of stains. Choose a laundry detergent with enzymes also for added cleaning power. When the wash cycle ends, inspect the clothing carefully in good light. Make sure all traces of the stain are completely gone. If not, repeat one of the stain treatments already mentioned and leave the item soaking in the pretreatment for several hours before re-washing. Following a second washing your stain should be a thing of the past.

A little knowledge and a little time invested into dealing with clothing stains can save you a lot of money in new clothes and dry cleaning bills. Enjoy even the messiest food, like watermelon, without the worry of not knowing how to deal with clothing stains.

Soy sauce stains

How To Remove Soy Sauce Stains

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Soy sauce stains

If you’ve ever cooked with soy sauce or eaten a meal with soy sauce what will strike you is the strong odor and salty taste. What might also strike you, if you aren’t careful, are splatter drops of soy sauce on your clothes. A single drop of soy sauce can be a very problematic thing to remove.

Of course, the best way to stainless clothes is to prevent the soy from splattering on you in the first place. Don’t wear whites and always wear something protective, like an apron. Even cover carpet areas that could become stained. If serving soy sauce to a group, have them spoon the sauce onto their plate rather than pour from anything potentially spill able. Also keep in mind that there are light and dark soy sauces. Cook with the light version as it contains lighter colors and is healthier for you too.

If the damage is done then this list modern and traditional methods should provide you with what you need to know to rid yourself of pesky soy sauce stains.

Act Fast. If you’re cooking and notice a stain on your outfit wash it as quickly as possible. Soy sauce contains a staining substance and this substance takes time to be fully absorbed into fabric. By running the affected area under lukewarm water this will be fixed.

Try Detergents. Mix some detergent with water and rub the ensuing foam on the area with the stain. Remember that not all detergents will be appropriate for your particular fabric. Some might be too strong. Read the labels and judge for yourself. Even better would be to administer the cleansing agent with a spray. Then put the garment in the washer. You’ll want to go through a wash cycle quickly because some of the very modern cleansing agents can themselves leave stains.

Dishwashing Liquid. One traditional method is to combine a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in about a cup of water and pour it on the stained area. Then blot until dry. Next combine one tablespoon of ammonia with a cup of water and again pour it on the stained area and blot until dry. Finally, wipe the area with a clean water saturated sponge. Repeat these steps until the stain is no longer visible.

Ice. Another tradition technique involves ice. Simply rub an ice cube over the stained area. Then, run the fabric under cold water while rubbing the stained area with your hands. Hopefully, the stain will wear off.

Peroxide. For carpets that are made of stronger fabrics use a spray bottle with peroxide. Spray the stain, let it sit, and then blot up the stain with a paper towel. If the carpet is very wet, try a shop-vac on a high setting until you draw out the liquid. Just be sure to blot and vacuum without pushing the stain deeper into the carpeting.

Of course, if all else fails and you’re feeling totally hopeless, take the garment to the dry cleaner and plead for help.

Black clothes

How To Prevent Black Clothes From Fading

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Black clothes

Nothing looks as elegant and as chic as black clothing. It covers a multitude of sins, makes you look slimmer, works with almost every complexion and matches almost everything. Black clothes are the basis of many a wardrobe and are more versatile than practically any other color. The only trick with black clothes however is keeping them black. Faded black clothes just do not have the same style power as true black. Faded black looks tired and rather blah. Therefore it is important to know the tricks of how to prevent black clothes from fading.

The biggest thing to consider when you are worried about black clothes fading is how you wash them. If you choose to dry clean your black clothes, your worries about fading are over. However, this is not realistic for most people, especially if they have multiple pieces of black clothing. Therefore you need to understand the hows and whys of laundering black clothes.

When you are washing black clothes at home, do so in cold water. This will minimize any fading that might occur. Use gentle laundry detergents and do not add laundry boosters or bleach of any kind. Use the gentle cycle on your washing machine as much as possible when washing black clothes. Remember to never put towels or other abrasive fabrics in the same load as your blacks. They will agitate the fibers in the black clothes causing fading. Turn clothing inside out before washing to avoid fibers rubbing on other items.

When it comes to drying your black items, you should hang them to dry. If you put them outside to dry, keep them inside out, so the sun does not contribute to the color fading. Do not put them in a hot clothes dryer as this will speed up fading of darks.

Special detergents have been formulated in recent years to be used specifically with black clothes. It is supposed to prevent black items from fading. This is said to be a good investment especially if you have a predominantly black wardrobe. You can also do an at-home fix of your faded blacks periodically by adding a package of black color dye to your next load of black laundry.

Another trick to prevent black clothes from fading is to soak the item in a mix of cold water and vinegar prior to wearing it to set the color. In each of your subsequent washes, add a capful of vinegar to the rinse water. Some suggest adding salt to the first wash to set the color of black clothes.

One thing that will greatly reduce the anguish you suffer when your black clothes fade is to choose fabrics that do not fade greatly. Acrylics and polyesters tend to hold their color well. Silks and satins also resist fading. The biggest culprit when it comes to fading is cotton, the most popular of fabrics. However, with the right treatment, even cotton can have minimal fading.

Treat your black clothes right and you can succeed in keeping them true black as long as possible. You’ll look chic and sophisticated not faded and dull in your vivid black clothes.

Squeaky shoes

How To Fix Squeaky Shoes

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Squeaky shoes

Have you ever heard the sounds of a basketball game in a gym? I don’t mean the cheers and boos from the crowd, but the squeaky sounds made by the players as their shoes move against the floor when they perform quick starts and stops en route to a fantastic three-point shot. It’s a sound synonymous with sports, whether it is basketball, racquetball, or indoor soccer.

These sounds are fine and most likely expected inside a gym, but what if these sounds emanate from shoes when they’re not wanted? Shoes that announce your arrival long before you arrive can be quite embarrassing. Who would want squeaky shoes while walking down the street or in a library? Maybe you think that’s just the way it is and eventually the shoes will lose their squeaky sounds after they’re broken in. You’ve probably never considered that there are intentional things that can be done to correct the annoying squeaky shoe problem.

Well you’re in luck, and you’re not the only person with shoes that sound like you stepped on a child’s toy. Squeaky shoes are a common problem and it’s caused mainly by two materials that rub against one another. There are both home-made and professional remedies for this problem.

First, the home-made methods:

Remedy #1: Super Glue
If you’ve identified that the heel is the cause of the noise, it likely means that it’s loose. Simply add a few drops to the inside part of the heel and hold it tight against the main part of the shoes until it adheres. Then allow it some time to completely dry.

Remedy #2: Baby Powder
Most shoes come with an inner sole. Lift the sole, sprinkle baby powder inside, and then replace it. Hopefully the powder will soak up any moisture that could be causing the sound.

Remedy #3: Paper Towels
Have you been out in the rain and stepped in a puddle? If your shoes are wet in any way they will likely squeak. If this is your situation, stuff your shoes with paper towels and allow them to dry. The damper they are the more stuffing they’ll need

Remedy #4: Silicone Spray
Just spurt the spray around the regions that are rubbing together. This works great and doesn’t cause damage to leather shoes.

If you’ve tried all of these solutions and nothing seems to work, it might be time to call on a pro. It might sound old-fashioned, but cobblers still exist and are ready to help.

Remedy #5: Take Your Shoes To A Cobbler
If the shoes are very old and the soles are worn, a cobbler can resole the shoes for you.

Remedy #6: Take Your Shoes To A Repair Shop
Sometimes the shank becomes loose in old shoes and causes them to squeak. A shoe repair shop can help.

So now there is hopefully no more reason to adjust the way you walk to avoid squeaky sounds or feel ashamed when your shoes are louder than you are.

Crayon stains

How To Remove Crayon Stains From Clothes

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Crayon stains

Crayon stains are the inevitable hallmark of having little kids in your home. Sooner or later a crayon makes its way into the washer and dryer or melts onto clothes in the hot sun. Nothing is more disheartening than to discover clothes that have been stained with crayons. No matter how your crayon stains happen, it is important to know how to deal with them so that they do not turn into permanent stains.

One of the trickiest parts of crayon stains is that it is a combination stain. You will have to deal with removing color and grease. Therefore multiple stain treatments may be necessary, however typically grease removal products should take care of both aspects. The main thing to remember when dealing with a crayon stain is to get started removing it as soon as you notice it. As with any clothing stain, the longer the crayon stain sits before you attempt removal the harder it will be.

The first thing you must do is to use a blunt knife or other fine-edged object to remove the excess crayon residue. Since the crayon is made of wax, you need to treat it as you would a candle stain. Place an ice cube on it to make sure it is as solid as possible and scrape off as much of it as possible.

In order to treat the grease portion of the stain, you will need to treat it as you would any grease stain. One of the best pre-treatments for grease stains is Dawn dishwashing liquid. Designed to cut grease, it can be applied directly to the stain and rubbed in. The item should then be laundered with the hottest water that is considered safe for the fabric. Another great grease-fighting pre-treatment is hand cleaner that is formulated for mechanics. The same technique is used when pre-treating using this type of product. For particularly tough crayon stains, pre-treat the stain with WD-40 before laundering the item in hot water, color-safe bleach and regular detergent. You should test check a hidden part of the garment first before using WD-40 on it.

After the item has been washed, check to make sure the stain is out. If it is not, do not dry it. Repeat the stain treatment or opt for a different stain treatment method and wash the item again. Be sure the stain is completely gone before drying the clothes. If your clothes have been stained by a crayon that made its way through the washer and dryer, make sure you clean out the dryer before you put the newly cleaned clothes back in there. The best way to remove crayon from the drum of a dryer is with WD-40.

Now that you know the secrets of removing crayon stains from clothes, you can rest easy when it happens. You surely won’t wish for crayon stains to appear because dealing with them is time consuming, but at least you know the tried and true methods to ensure your clothes are not ruined forever.

Iron

How To Iron A Crease In Pants

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Iron

Nothing looks crisper than a properly pressed pair of pants. Nothing is more evident of a lack of attention to detail than poorly pressed pants that have multiple creases. Knowing how to iron a crease in pants is an art that is becoming increasingly lost as more and more people opt for wash and wear. If you want to appear nicely pulled together and professional, without spending a fortune on dry cleaning, you need to learn the proper way to iron a crease in pants.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you have the right tools. It is very important that you have a firm flat surface on which to do your ironing. A soft bed is not going to work well. Ironing boards are a great tool to have in your home if you plan to do any amount of ironing. If not, you can use the floor or a cleared kitchen counter top. Just be sure to pad the area with clean linen that you have pressed to ensure that no wrinkles are transferred from the padding to the clothes you are ironing.

You should also have a steam iron as a dry iron often does not give as good a finished result. Spray starch may be needed if you have fabric that is not holding its shape well or if you prefer a stiffer appearance to your clothes. The last piece of equipment you need is a pressing cloth, which is typically a fine piece of white fabric to be put between the iron and the pants to avoid scorching or discoloration of certain fabrics from the direct heat.

Before you begin actually pressing the pants, you will need to lay them properly on the ironing surface. Hold the ends of the pants together with the seams touching each other. This will create a natural crease in the middle of the front of the leg and the back of the leg. This is exactly what you want to iron. Lay the pants on the table exactly as you have lined up the seams.

Place the pressing cloth on the portion of the leg that is showing and pass your hot iron on the steam setting over the pressing cloth. Pay close attention to holding the iron down longer than usual at the crease to create a crisp line. Move the pressing cloth as needed. When the top portion is done, which is actually the exterior side of one leg, lift that leg gently and place it out of the way so you can iron the inner part of the other pants leg. Again use the pressing cloth as you go.

When you have completed that section, pick up the pair of pants and turn them over so that the unironed exterior part of the second leg is now on top. Repeat the process as you did before. You may also need to lay the pants flat to iron the waistband and pockets, but this will not affect the great crease you have created in your pants. An alternate method is to use a steamer to press your clothes in which case you can often create a crease in pants while they are hanging.

Now that you know how to iron a crease in pants, you are equipped to make your wardrobe look like it has been professionally dry cleaned, without the cost of doing so.

Swimsuit

How to Properly Care For Your Swimsuit

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Swimsuit

Regardless of how you treat it, your swimsuit gets a lot of rough treatment. It soaks in chlorinated water for long periods of time. Abrasive sand rubs the delicate fibers. Harsh chemicals, oils and colors from sunscreen products are smeared on your swimsuit. It is exposed to hours of bleaching sunlight almost every time you wear it. This is typical abuse of a swimsuit by those who are careful. However many people do worse by not washing their suits after each use, throwing them in a hot clothes dryer and other abuses. Knowing how to properly care for your swimsuit will ensure you get as much use as possible from yours.

Every time, without fail, when you are finished using your swimsuit, you should wash it out. Treat it like you would underwear. You certainly wouldn’t wear underwear a second time without washing it and swimsuits should get the same treatment. In fact, if you are swimming in a chlorinated pool or hot tub, you should hand rinse the suit as soon as you take it off to get as much chlorine out of it as possible if you cannot get it to a washer right away.

It is important to hand wash or use your washer’s gentlest cycle to wash your swimsuit. The fabric used in swimsuits is delicate and can easily get damaged when thrown in a regular wash cycle. Another thing to avoid is washing your suit with towels or jeans. The suit should be washed alone or with other swimsuits which do not have metallic additions on them. This is to prevent unnecessary damage.

Use a detergent that is formulated for delicates when washing your swimsuit. Such detergents are designed to work well in cold water, which you should be using to launder your suit. Make sure all the detergent has been thoroughly rinsed out, as residual detergent in swimsuits makes bubbles in pools and hot tubs.

When your swimsuit is adequately rinsed, roll it in a dry towel and squeeze gently to remove excess water. Then lay flat to dry. You may also hang your suit to dry if it is of a material that will not stretch. Be sure to get it as dry as possible with the towel before hanging it.

When the suit is dry, store it flat in a drawer until the next time you need it again. Hanging a swimsuit for extended periods of time is not advised. Some other things to avoid in the care of your swimsuit include the following. Never leave your wet swimsuit on the floor or in a bag for an extended period of time. Mold may grow on it and ruin the suit. Never throw your swimsuit in a hot dryer. It will compromise the material in your suit.

By properly caring for your swimsuit, you can get multiple seasons of enjoyment out of it. Learn what to do and what not to do to keep it in the best shape possible.

Curry stains

How To Remove Curry Stains

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Curry stains

Curry is a wonderful unique spice that is typically found in Indian dishes. More and more it is becoming a widely used spice throughout the Western World also. An enticing combination of sweet and spicy, curry has an unmistakable taste that people either love or hate. The more curry you use in your cooking the spicier the taste becomes. It also turns dishes an unmistakable shade of yellow. In addition, if you happen to drop some curry spiced food onto clothing, it leaves a distinct yellow stain. Make sure you act quickly if you want to prevent that curry stain from becoming a permanent one.

Immediately rinse the stain in lukewarm running water to minimize the damage. You will see the stain rinsing through. Keep the stained fabric in the running water until no more stain reduction can be observed. The next step is the pre-treatment of the stain itself. If you have an item which can be washed in chlorine bleach, apply some of the bleach directly to the stain and wash the item in a protein-based detergent as usual and the stain should be gone.

For clothing that cannot be treated with chlorine bleach, alternate methods must be used. Delicate fabrics and colored clothing that have curry stains should be treated with a half and half mixture of glycerin and warm water. Put the mixture on the stain and work it in. Let it sit for 10 to 30 minutes before you wash it in an enzyme-based laundry detergent.

For stubborn stains, big stains, set in ones or stains on rugged fabrics, a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water is just what is needed. You can dilute the peroxide in water in a 1 to 6 proportion to a 1 to 9 proportion. Try the solution on a hidden part of the garment before using it on the stain to check for color fastness. Once you are satisfied that this bleaching solution will not harm your article of clothing, soak the article in the solution for several hours. Check on the progress of the stain regularly and when you see that it is dissolved, remove the item from the solution and rinse it before washing it in an enzyme based detergent.

As you are working at removing a curry stain one thing to keep in mind is to never dry the item before the stain is completely gone. If you pre-treat the stain and wash it in the washer, be sure to check that the stain is actually out before you proceed with drying it. If not, you will have set the stain into the fabric. However if you catch it while the item is still wet you can do a second treatment and wash using the same method or a different one.

If worse comes to worse and you find that you cannot remove a curry stain from an item of clothing, don’t be too disheartened. Just designate that item as your official curry making and eating clothes and be sure to wear it whenever you are at risk for further curry stains.

Smelly shoes

How To Clean Smelly Shoes

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Smelly shoes

So why do feet smell so bad? It’s an age-old question. The answer is probably obvious. What might not be obvious is how to clean the smelly shoes that are caused by bad-smelling feet.

Feet contain hundreds of thousands of sweat glands. This is normal in all people. Sweat is basically just salt and water, and doesn’t have much of a smell of its own. The smell is actually caused by bacteria. Sweat attracts bacteria and is their source of food. These millions of bacteria eat the sweat and then excrete it out. The bacterial excretion causes the pungent smells we’re so familiar with.

Actually, hands have nearly as many sweat glands as feet but don’t smell as badly. So what gives? The reason is our socks and shoes. The sweat from our feet can’t easily escape into the air like the sweat our hands excretes. Bacteria love the dark, damp confines of sweaty shoes and have a feeding frenzy. When you remove your kickers at the end of the day, the smell that hits you is all of that collected bacterial waste.

An obvious way to keep shoes from smelling is to keep your feet clean in the first place. Be sure to dry your feet completely after bathing and add a moisture-wicking powder between the toes. Wear socks like cotton or bamboo that are great at absorbing sweat and change them a couple of times throughout the day. Make sure your shoes are not overly tight which is another way to stimulate sweat to build up. Finally, go barefoot and let your feet air-out as much as possible. If you can, put your shoes on a rotation. That is, try to switch to another pair so that previous pair can air out before you wear it again.

Ok so what if you’re too late in cleaning your own feet and simply have shoes that you can barely stand to be in the same room with? There are numerous ways to rid those old, or sometimes barely-worn shoes of the odors they accumulate. Some methods are backed by sound science while others are Grandmother’s old ways that she swears does the trick. Whether you’re inclined towards modern science or old wives-tale methods, try one of these ideas on for size.

1)  A combination of anti-bacterial spray and anti-fungal foot powder. There are various sprays and powders on the market that should work well. One to try is Fresh Wave.

2)  Cedarsoles (insoles made from antifungal cedarwood) have an easy long-lasting effect.

3)  Place each shoe into a plastic bag and place into a freezer overnight. The next day remove from the bag and freezer. Place the shoes outside in the sunlight to thaw, and dry.

4)  Place cat litter into a pair of tights. Tie the tights securely and place in each shoe overnight. The shoes will be odorless the following morning. You will need to change the cat litter periodically. It works, cost is minimal and environmentally friendly!

5)  Remove the laces and soles from your shoes and put them all in a single pillow cushion. Put a small towel in there too and then put on a single 40 or 50 degree wash. repeat this procedure again immediately after the first time.

6)  Put rubbing alcohol on a cotton square and wipe out the insides of the shoes that are not washable.

Now go take care of those shoes before they take on a life of their own!

Gas stains

How to Clean Gas Out of Cloths

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Gas stains

You are in a rush and late for an appointment. You swing into the gas station and begin to fuel your vehicle up. When you are done you whip out the nozzle only to find that the gasoline was not finished going into the tank. The result is you and your clothing being soaked in gasoline. While all you have to do is take a shower to get rid of the gasoline smell, how do you get it out of your clothing?

There is perhaps no harder smell to get out of cloths and for this reason many individuals simply throw out their gas soaked garments. Before you give up though, here are some steps to take to help you rid your cloths of gasoline:

•    Pre-soak: First take the cloths off and completely soak them in warm water and then ring them dry as best you can.

•    Sunshine: Lay the cloths that are soaked with gasoline out to dry in the sun. This will completely dry the cloths and the sun and fresh air will help to start the smell of the gasoline to dissipate.

•    Soak clothing: Next mix warm water with some vinegar and swash the clothing around in it. Make sure you agitate the material of the clothing well so that the vinegar can penetrate the gasoline and do its job. Let the cloths sit in the solution for about 20 minutes. Take them out of the solution and put them back in the sun to dry.

•    Soak again: Mix another solution of warm water and this time use Dawn liquid detergent. In addition to putting the Dawn in the water, put it directly on the spots where the gasoline soaked the garment and rub it in. Then swash the cloths in the solution and let it sit for an additional 20 minutes. Take the clothing out of the solution and once again put them in the sun to dry.

•    Use baby oil: Since gasoline is an oil based product, it will need the help of an oil based product to get it out of your cloths. Put your gasoline stained cloths in the washer and use regular detergent and top it off with a small amount of baby oil. Be sure you are only washing the gas laden cloths and nothing else.

•    Sunshine again: You guessed it, more sunshine. Because the baby oil will be in the clothing now, you will want to set the cloths back out into the sun and let them dry. If you put an oil based product in the dryer you could be risking a fire. You will have to wash the cloths several more times before the baby oil is completely gone.

•    Repeat: For tougher gasoline stains, you may have to repeat this process a couple of times.

While it is a lengthy process it does in fact work. At the very least it is worth a shot before you just throw away cloths that are perfectly fine and can be saved.

Dry fast

The Fastest Way to Dry a Shirt

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Dry fast

Isn’t it always the worst possible time, when you are in a rush to get out the door, that you discover your favorite shirt, your work shirt, or the shirt that is perfect for the occasion that you are heading to is still in the washer dripping wet! Those kinds of moments seem to happen way too often. However, if you know the trick to quickly drying a shirt, you will never have to sweat it again while your tee takes its time drying.

Much debate is held about the ideal way to dry clothing. Some people advocate hanging clothes to dry only, in order to avoid shrinkage and color fading. Others love the wrinkle-free softness that only a clothes dryer can deliver. When speed is what you are looking for in clothes drying, an electric or gas dryer is the way to go.

Before you even begin to officially dry your shirt in the dryer, make sure it is as dry as it can be so you don’t overtax your clothes dryer. It will also speed up the process if it is dryer. Put the shirt through an extra spin cycle in the washing machine, in order to spin out as much excess water as possible. You can also lay your shirt flat on a dry towel and then roll up the towel and shirt together in a jelly roll fashion. Squeeze the rolled up towel/tee combination to get rid of extra humidity.

Then, you will need to put it into the dryer inside out, with another dry towel. The towel will help to absorb some more of the moisture in your shirt. Alone, except for the towel, the shirt will not be competing for other wet clothes for heat or air and will dry amazingly quickly. Use the highest heat setting recommended on the care tag of the shirt.

When selecting a towel to go in the dryer with your tee, remember to choose one that is the same color as your shirt or there may be unwanted color transference. The towel may also transfer a little lint onto the shirt, so if it is in the same color as the shirt, it is less noticeable. (Use a lint brush before you wear it though.) Be sure to dry your shirt inside out because it will protect the exterior of the shirt from developing pills from the friction of rubbing against the towel. Drying it this way also minimizes the appearance of lint.

Another trick for those people who seem to get stuck needing to dry a shirt quickly often is to get a backup shirt. Having another duplicate shirt on hand when you are in a rush to get to work or when you want to go somewhere in your favorite shirt is the ideal solution. Just make sure that one is always clean and you’ll never again have the problem of trying to dry a shirt as fast as possible anymore.

Static cling

What Is Static Cling?

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Static cling

Putting on an item of clothing to find out that it is full of static cling is so annoying. It inevitably happens when you don’t have time to deal with the problem or the clothes affected by it are the ideal choice for the day or the occasion. Static cling is so annoying because the more you pull the item away from you, the stronger it clings. Knowing what static cling is, how to prevent it and how to get rid of it will keep it from ever being a problem again.

Static cling is an electric attraction created by two items when there is low humidity. When the items rub together, a transference of electrons occurs. When this happens one of the items becomes positively charged and the other becomes negatively charged. In this situation the items adhere to each other. Typically it is the lighter weight object which adheres to the heavier one. It is a very common problem for clothes which are dried in a clothes dryer, especially during winter months when humidity is low.

You can prevent static cling in a variety of ways. You can use fabric softener liquid in the wash or a fabric softener sheet in the dryer to get rid of static cling. It creates a chemical buildup on the clothes which prevents it from rubbing together and forming static cling. This is the most common way of dealing with static cling in the Western world, however as more and more people are becoming concerned with the use of chemicals in their daily lives, interest in alternative methods has risen.

For a more natural method of preventing static cling, you simply add a cup of vinegar to the rinse of your laundry. Of course, keeping the humidity up in your home will also help you to reduce the occurrences of static cling that you deal with because static electricity cannot thrive in conditions that are not dry. You should also remove clothing from the dryer before it is completely dry and hang it to finish drying. Another tip is to avoid synthetic clothes which tend to have many more static problems. Natural fiber clothing like cotton is much better in terms of static. Hanging your clothes outside to dry when possible is another way to help reduce the chance of getting static cling.

There are also static reducing sprays on the market that allow you to treat an item that you want to wear immediately. Another quick fix when time is of the essence is to rub a fabric softener sheet inside your clothes until the static cling is gone. Spraying a mist of water in the air and walking through it to get rid of static cling is another great, quick remedy. This one may not be the most long lasting method though and may need to be repeated throughout the day.

Static cling happens to everyone at one point or another. These tips should arm you with the knowledge to prevent it as much as possible and deal with it when it shows itself.

Cigarette odor

How To Remove Cigarette Odor From T-Shirts And Clothing

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Cigarette odor

Taking care of the T-shirts and clothing we wear is something we all have to do. For many people clothing care is simply nothing more than tossing clothes in the washer and dryer with some laundry detergent and fabric softener and hanging them up or folding them when they are dry. Occasionally there will be the need to do a little stain pretreatment, if an item of clothing gets something on it that is hard to get off. So all in all, it seems a pretty easy process. However, some things that get on clothes can not be seen but they can easily ruin the impression of a clean T-shirt. Such offenders are odors, like hard to remove cigarette odors. If smoke has permeated your clothing you may even be able to smell it after you’ve laundered it.

If you are not about to wash the clothes in question you can remove the odor by hanging your odorous item of clothing in the bathroom. Put about an inch of very hot water in the bathtub with 4 cups of vinegar added to the water. Leave the T-shirt or other smoky item hanging there with the door closed until the item smells fresh again. This is the best way to get rid of smoke odors without actually washing.

If you’ve come back from a night out and your clothes need to be washed anyway, you can remove the odor of smoke by adding vinegar to the wash. Simply fill the washer with water, add the laundry detergent and a cup of vinegar; then add the clothes. Never pour vinegar straight onto your clothes and never leave your clothes sitting in water with vinegar in it. Vinegar has a natural bleaching effect and while this is great for white clothing, it will fade darker clothing. When the wash cycle is done, dry the clothes as usual.

Adding baking soda to your laundry detergent or using a detergent with baking soda in it will also do an effective job of removing cigarette smoke from clothes. Mixing washing soda, borax and ivory bar soap flakes together in your washer will also make a great homemade remedy for removing smoke odors. Another suggestion is to use heavily perfumed laundry detergent in hot water and dry the clothes in a hot dryer to rid your clothes of cigarette smells.

Washing machine

Tips for Using a Washing Machine

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Washing machine

A washing machine is one of those appliances that is essential to keeping a household running smoothly. If yours breaks down, you quickly gain an understanding of just how much work this underappreciated piece of machinery does. That’s why it’s important to take care of your washer by using it correctly, and by performing some occasional maintenance to keep it in top operating condition. Taking care of your washer now will certainly save you a lot of hassles, not to mention expensive repair or replacement costs down the road.

One of the most important considerations when using your washing machine is capacity. Capacity refers to the amount of laundry (in pounds) that a washing machine can properly wash. An average capacity washing machine can wash 12 to 16 pounds of laundry per load, while a larger capacity family-size model can wash as many as 20 pounds per load. If an excess amount of laundry is added, the washer will become overloaded, leading to a number of problems. Here are some indicators that you may be overloading your washing machine.

1.    Your clothes do not come out clean. If you still find noticeable stains, grime or soap residue after running a load, then there is a problem with the washing method. If this is an isolated event, double-check to be sure that you added detergent prior to starting the load. If detergent was added but items in the load are still dirty or soapy, overstuffing may be the culprit.

2.    Your washing machine overflows. Overstuffing your washing machine can cause the water to overflow, ruining items on the floor of your laundry room. If not caught in time, flooring and other major components of your home’s structure could sustain water damage.

3.    Your washing machine makes a loud, clunky noise. When you load your washing machine beyond its capacity, there is a greater chance of throwing the spinning drum out of alignment. This happens when one side of the load is heavier than the other, causing the drum to spin unevenly and make a very noticeable clunking noise. If this problem persists over a long period of time, it can lead to eventual breakdown of the machine.

To avoid overloading your washing machine, first determine the capacity of your washer. If your washer will hold 20 pounds of laundry, find the correct weight by measuring laundry into a trash bag and weighing it on a bathroom scale. This will help you to know the approximate weight of future loads as well. Next, add the recommended amount of laundry detergent. Select the desired cycle and water temperature for the load. Add the laundry, loosely stacking each item and distributing evenly to be sure the load is correctly balanced. If yours is a top-loading machine, avoid winding large items around the agitator.

Laundry that has been properly washed will be evenly damp, smell fresh and be free of suds and grime.  While it may be tempting to stuff the washer to the brim, in reality you’ll be wasting time and money because the clothes won’t get clean and you’ll have to start from scratch. Respect your washer’s capacity, and both you and it will live a much happier life.

Hot sauce stains

How to Remove Hot Sauce Stains from Clothing

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Hot sauce stains

Nothing ruins the flavor of a great basket of hot wings quite like a giant splatter of hot sauce dripping down your white t-shirt. When this happens, it’s helpful to know a little about the ingredients in hot sauce and how to remove hot sauce stains.

There are countless recipes for hot sauce, with different variations found around the globe. Mexico, the United States, the West Indies, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan all feature unique versions of this distinctive sauce, among others. The primary ingredient in hot sauce is chili peppers. The peppers can be soaked in anything from vinegar, oil and alcohol to fruits and vegetable pulps. Other ingredients are often included to add flavor and/or heat, such as garlic or mustards.

Hot sauces vary in heat according to the types of peppers used in them. Jalapeño sauces are usually the mildest available, followed by sauces made from cayenne and red chilies. Sauces made with Tabasco peppers (such as the famous Tabasco® sauce) are hotter than jalapeño and cayenne sauces. Unlike some other hot sauces, Tabasco brand sauce is aged in casks before bottling, similar to wine. Habanero sauces rank among the fieriest, and are to be used with caution unless you’re a hot sauce veteran.

The staining ability of hot sauce is greatly affected by the recipe, particularly when ingredients such as tomatoes or carrots are added. Most Mexican-style hot sauces focus on the flavor of the pepper, so there is very little vinegar or other ingredients. In the United States, the primary ingredients of hot sauce are chili peppers, vinegar and salt. Some milder sauces also include tomato sauce to dilute the heat of the peppers. Asian chili sauces are more of a thick paste, or they are made by infusing the peppers in oil or brine.

Because peppers are organic and water-based, hot sauce stains should be removed the same way you would handle any tomato or red sauce stain. First, remove the shirt and run it under very hot water for several minutes. This will flush away most, if not all, of the stain. If a stain is still visible after several minutes of flushing, try rubbing it with a bit of dish soap or liquid laundry detergent, then let the stain soak for a half-hour. Follow with hot water flush. Repeat until the stain is gone, then run the shirt through your usual laundry cycle.

If the hot sauce ingredients include oil, it is also a good idea to soak the stain in a laundry treatment such as Shout or Oxyclean prior to washing to dissolve the oil. Never run stained clothing through the dryer as this will cook the stain into the fabric, making it nearly impossible to remove.

Sharpie

Will a Sharpie Leak Colors from the Fabric When I Wash It?

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Sharpie

Many people use Sharpies to mark their clothing or other item that must be washed. The ink is labeled as being waterproof, making it seem like the perfect ink to use on clothing. It is often used on write a person’s name on the tag to keep the clothing from being mixed up. It is also used to decorate the cloth portion of clothing to create a unique design or lettering. However, the meaning of the waterproof designation is often misunderstood, leading to some misconceptions about the pens and their ink.

The Waterproof Sharpie

Sharpie does advertise its ink as being waterproof. However, this does not mean what many people believe it does. It cannot be washed without expecting the ink to fade eventually. The waterproof guarantee that Sharpie promises actually refers to the ink being used for writing on sturdy paper.

The Sharpie website further explains that in the ink industry, the waterproof promise means only that writing done with the ink can still be read after the writing has been exposed to water. It does not mean that the writing won’t bleed a little or that it won’t fade. It also doesn’t mean that a Sharpie won’t fade in the wash or that the ink won’t eventually leak if an item is washed.

Sharpies come with packaging that says that the pens aren’t made to be used on cloth. This is because the ink is a solvent-based ink. Because of its chemical makeup, it may leak through cloth easily the way it does through thin writing paper. It is also discouraged on cloth because there are several effects that can happen once the marked cloth is put into the wash, and those effects aren’t limited to just the garment.

Washing Sharpie Ink

According to the company, Sharpie ink that is placed on cloth will eventually fade when it is washed. They also say that the ink can bleed when washed and that it may eventually develop a yellow halo. This halo develops around the ink, resulting in discolored cloth and a ruined design. And because the ink can bleed form the fabric, it is possible for the ink to leave the cloth in small amounts and to stain other items that are being washed in the same wash load.

Fading Ink

While the ink can bleed in the wash, what many people are concerned with is the level of fading that can occur. The ink is not guaranteed to last through washing, and eventually it will become illegible. For this reason, Sharpie ink is not a reliable way of marking clothing that will be washed repeatedly

To get ink that can be washed again and again without the ink fading significantly and without the yellow halo appearing on the cloth, there are markers that are specifically designed for marking clothing. These markers are made to last through washing without bleeding or fading. They can be used for marking tags or for creating designs and lettering on the cloth itself.

Cat hair

Tips on How to Remove Cat Hair From Clothing

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Cat hair

Every cat lover can list dozens of reasons why they can’t live without their favorite feline. The cuddling, the purring, the simple beauty … there are so many things to cherish about this amazing animal. Chances are, however, you probably won’t find anyone with the following item on their list: cat hair. If every rose has its thorns, cat hair is definitely the thorn associated with owning a cat. These clingy hairs can find their way onto every surface in a house, especially clothing.

So what can you do to remove cat hair from your t-shirts, sweaters and every other article of clothing you own? The first line of defense starts with your environment. Good housekeeping (the habit, not the magazine) can do wonders in the battle to keep cat hair from becoming a staple of your wardrobe. Frequent cleaning, including sweeping hard floor surfaces and vacuuming carpets, is very important to keeping pet hair out of the house. Be sure to thoroughly vacuum furniture as well. If your cat is fond of sleeping on a certain piece of furniture in your home, use a removable slipcover which can be frequently washed to remove hair.

Another method for keeping cat hair off clothing involves removing the hair from the cat itself. Try using a pet brush or a pet hair roller from your local pet supply store to remove loose hairs from your pet before they have a chance to cling to other items. As a bonus, your cat will likely enjoy the extra attention given during the process.

Once you have reduced the amount of cat hair in your environment, you can then focus on ways to remove those remaining hairs that find their way onto your clothing. Lint brushes and hair rollers are excellent tools to accomplish this task, and they can be found at nearly every retailer that sells clothing. For a cheaper solution, try wrapping a length of masking tape (or any type of thick tape) around your hand and patting it over the material’s surface to trap the hairs. While this method is probably not a good long-term solution, it will get the job done in a pinch.
If you have time, toss your fur-covered items into the dryer with a fabric softener sheet. The fabric softener will take away the static cling and the hair will be sucked into the dryer vent.

Washing your garments regularly will also remove cat hair. Be careful what you do with your clothing once it comes out of the dryer, however. Cats love to snuggle up in piles of warm, freshly washed clothing, so take the time to hang your items or tuck them away in a closet or dresser to avoid a repeat of cat hair cling.

If you enjoy cuddling and playing with your cat, it’s probably a good idea to find some “play clothes” that you don’t mind getting hair on. Keep this set of clothing away from other items in your wardrobe, ensuring a fuzz-free appearance.