April 2004 Issue
In this months Issue:
Getting the Facts: Were Not Foolin!
Forget Isadora Duncan!
Home Laundry Tip
Getting the Facts: Were Not Foolin!
Most people associate the month of April with April Fools Day jokes and tricks, but were not kidding around this time. Dont be fooled! Here is the truth about home remedies for stains.
Fingernail polish will not remove fingernail polish stains. It will likely take off the color in the garment and maybe even put a hole in the fabric, too. The only thing you should use nail polish for (other than your nails, of course!) is on buttons. To keep buttons from falling off, just dab a little clear nail polish right on the threads in the center of the button.
Hairspray does not take off ink. Its true that hairspray may help dissolve an ink stain, but it also will spread it around. (In the past, hairsprays did actually work, but they did not contain as much oil as they do today!) Instead of getting rid of the stain, the hairspray can actually stain the fabric and then youve got two stains. Then youre really in trouble! Heres a better use for hairspray: if you have a zipper that just wont stay up, spray a little hair spray on it and it will have some extra stick. (By the way, for ink stains, try soaking the item in milk!)
Water will not dissolve a lipstick stain. Just like the Wicked Witch of the West, lipstick and water dont mix! Since lipstick is actually an oily dye stain, applying water or heat will spread it, make it worse, and possibly set it for good! Instead, rub in vegetable oil and let it sit on the spot for about half an hour. Then sponge the area with some ammonia and then treat the garment with some liquid dish soap. Launder as usual. If that doesnt work, try a commercial spot remover like Zout or Shout.
Here are more stain-removing techniques that really work? Our best advice is to gently dab or blot the affected area with a lightly moistened cloth. Never rub the stain, since this can damage the fibers and spread the spot. Never iron or apply heat to spots and stains, since this will set it permanently.
When in doubt, leave it alone. Believe it or not, sometimes doing nothing is the safest course of action. Dont throw it in the back of your closet or get to it eventually. Bring the stained item to us immediately; the faster you get it to us , the better your chances for stain removal.
Forget Isadora Duncan!
For those too young to remember, Isadora Duncan was a famous dancer who tragically died in 1927 while riding in a car; her long scarf got entangled in the cars wheels and it broke her neck. Nowadays, however, scarves are not considered dangerous, and they are very popular!
Scarves are a wonderful fashion accessory. In colder climates, women wear heavy scarves in the winter to keep their necks warm and dress up their often dark, drab coats. With the knitting craze taking over the country, many first-timers are trying their hands at scarves. And of course, the scarf has always been a marvelous way to dress up an outfit.
Many scarves are delicate, however, and require special care. If you want to clean your scarf, first check the care label (we hope you didnt cut it out!). Many silk scarves are dry clean only, and well be happy to take care of them for you.
Some are washable, however, and we recommend washing them by hand using a mild soap solution. You can also use shampoo to wash your scarves. Fill your sink with warm water and add a little shampoo. Put the scarf in the warm soapy water, being careful not to wring it out. Rinse in cold water, roll in a towel to remove as much water as possible and then hang the scarf up to dry.
Now that your scarf is nice and clean, you will probably need to iron it. Once the scarf is completely dry, use a low-steam setting on your iron. Be sure to place some kind of thin towel or old sheet on top. Dont ever try to iron a delicate scarf with a bare iron or you will likely ruin it.
But what if the scarf is a wrinkled mess? If your scarf is prone to wrinkles, you can iron it while its still a bit damp. For this type of scarf, we recommend that you use a no-steam setting, and dont forget to use a thin, cotton press cloth on top.
While you can iron polyester scarves on either side, its best to iron cotton or rayon items with the right side facing up. For other fabrics, turn the scarf over to achieve good results.
Now wrap that beautiful scarf around your neck, and youre ready to go!
Home Laundry Tip
Want your clothes to smell great? The next time you do laundry, try this trick: Add in 1/2 cup white vinegar in the final rinse, instead of fabric softener. Your clothes will smell wonderful and will still be soft.
We know that some of the toughest odors seem to emanate from socks. Heres a solution that will leave your socks smelling so good, you wont mind taking your shoes off in public! Add 1/4 cup of baking soda to one gallon of water. Place the socks in the washer and set it on the spin cycle. Dont rinse out the baking soda solution. Just take them out and dry them, either on the line or in the dryer.